The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-11-05

and saw her clasped hands tighten;
but she went on bravely.
THAT was seven years ago. Since
then Henry has insisted on the hna4
division of the property. My fatheT
had high sense of honor and he slp-
ulated that if either of his sons should
be guilty of any dishOnOrable act he
should forfeit his half of the $1,000
900. Henry insists that Arthur has
forfeited his rights and that the
amount withheld should be paid 10
him now; but his conduct has been
such that feel should serve him Ill
to nav him so large a sum Of money.
Moreover, | owe something to his
daughter-to Helen. Owing to her IA
theirs reckless life | have had her
make her home with me for several
years. She is a noble girl, and very
beautiful-you must have seen, Mr..
Donovan. that she is an unusually
beautiful girl
Yes" | assentea.
And better than that" she said,
with feeling, she is lovely char
acter.'
| nodded. touched to see how com
pleteIy Helen Holbrook filled and sat
isfed her aunt's life. Miss Pat con
tinued her story.
MY brother first sought to brighten
me into settlement by menaCing my
own peace: and now he includes Hell.
en- in his animosity. My house at
Stamford was set on fire month ago;
then thieves entered it and was
obliged to leave. We arranged to go
abroad. but when We got to the steam
er We found Henry waiting with a
threat to follow US if | did not acCede
to his demands. 1t was Father Stod-
dard who suggested this place and
we came by circuitOus route, paus-
! ing here and there TO see whether We
! We're followed. You can imagine how
distressing-how wretched all this
| has BEEN
Yes: it is a sad story Miss Hol-
| brook But you are not likely to be
molested here. You have a lake on
| one side, a high wall shuts off the
| road, and | beg you to accept me as
your near neighbor and protector. The
servants at Mr.. Glenarm's house have
been with him for several years and
not likely that your brother will find
you here, but if he should've will
deal with that situation when the time
comes,"
You are very reassuring, no doubt
We shall not need to call On you. And
| hope you understand" she continued
that it is not to keep the money tina,
| wish to avoid my brother: that If il
We're wise to make this further di
vision at this time and it were fol-
his good, | should be glad to give
him all-every penny Of it,
Pardon me, but the other brothe,
he has not made similar demands
you do not fear him." | inquired
with some hesitation
"No-no.' And a tremulous smil.
played about her lips Poor Arthur
He must be dead He ran away ate
the bank failure and | have neve
heard from him since He and Henri,
were very unlike. and | always fel
more closely attached to Arthur. H,
was not brilliant, like Henry: he wa
gentle and quiet in his ways, and ia
Their was often impatient with him
Henry has been very bitter towar,
Arthur and has appealed to me on tn
score of Arthur's ill-dong 1t took al
his own fortune, he says, to save Al
thur and the family name from dis
honor"
She was remarkably compose
throughout this recital, and | maj
. veled at her more and more. Now
after moments silence, she turne
10 me with a smile.
+ I'VE have been ANNOYED in anothe
o way. 1t is so ridiculous that | hes
, tate to tell you of it
Pray do not-you need tell m
" nothing more, Miss Holbrook."
e 1T is best for you to know. NJ
niece has been annoyed the past yea
+ by the attentions of a young ma
r whom she greatly dislkes and who's
, persistence distresses her very niue
O indeed
Well, he can hardly find her here
q and if he should"
p" Miss Holbrook folded her arm
d upon her knees and smiled. bendir
n toward me.
v OH" she exclaimed; "he isn't
violent person, Mr. Donovan. He
'; silly, absurd, idiotic. You need fei
If no violence from him."
y And of course your niece is not i
1t terested-he's not a fellow to appe
a to her imagination"
L. That IS quite true; and then
IS present unhappy circumstances, wi
T. her father hanging over her like
n menace, marriage is far from h
a thoughts. She feels that even if 81