The Irish standard., 1909-03-20

the tears shone suddenly in the dear
brown eyes, and the niece required to
the summer landscape as topic, and
talked OF the Glenarm place, whose
stone wall we were now passing, un.
til We drove into the grounds of St.
Agatha's and up to the main entrance
of the school, where a sister in the
brown garb of her order stood wait
ing.
Margaret, who was in charge, and
then presented the two ladies' who
were to be her guests. Sister Marga-
ret said just the right thing to every
one, and l was glad to find her so
capable a person. fully able to care
for these exiles without aid from my
side of the wall.
disposed of I will detain Mr.. Donovan
. few minutes" said Miss HclbroolS.
"Or can come again in an hour-I
am your near neighbour" I remarked,
thinking she might wish to rest from
her journey.
b Il am quite ready she replied, and
I bowed to Helen Holbrook and to Sis.
ter Margaret, who went out, followed
by the maid. Miss Pat-you will par.
don me if begin at once to call her
by this name. but it fits her so CAPT.
tally, it is so much a part of her. that
I cannot resist-Miss Fat put off her
bonnet without fuss, placed IL on the
table and sat down in K window seat
whence the nearer shore of the lake
was visible across the strip of smooth
lawn.
will you please close the door,"
she said, and when came back to the
window she began at once.
. TT is not pleasant. as you must
understand. to explain to stranger
an intimate and painful family trouble
But Father Stoddard advised Inc to be
quite frank with you"
THAT is the best way. if there is a
possibility that 1 may be of service"
said in the gentlest tone I could
command. But tell me no more titan
you wish. I am wholly at your serv.
fee without explanations"
ut is in reference to my brother:
he has caused me q. great deal Of
trouble. When my father died nearly
ten years ago-he lived to a great
age--he left considerable estate, a
large fortune. A part Of it vas d.
vided at once among my two brothers
and myself. The remainder, amount
ing to 100000, was left to me, with
the stipulation that I was to make a
further division between my brothers
at the end of ten years. or at my dis
erection. was older than my broth
ers, much older. and my father left
me with this responsibility. not know
ing what it would lead to. Henry
and Arthur succeeded to my fathers
business, the banking firm of Hol-
brook Brothers, in New York. The
bank continued to prosper for a. time:
then 1t collapsed suddenly. The debts
were all paid. but Arthur disappeared
there were unpleasant rumors-'
She paused a moment, and looked
out Of the window toward the lake,
and I saw her clasped hands tighten;
but she went on bravely.
THAT was seven years ago. Since
then Henry has insisted on the final
division OF the property. My father
had high sense of honor and he stip-
uiated that IL 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 to
him now; but his conduct has been
such that feel should serve him i'll
to pay him so large sum of money.
Moreover, I owe something to his
danghter-to Helen. Owing to her IA.
theirs reckless life I 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 .
EYES," assented.
"And better than that" she said.
with feeling, "she is lovely char
acter."
nodded, touched to see how com.
pletely Helen Holbrook filled and sat
isf1ed her aunt's life. Miss Pat con.
tinued her story.
my brother first sought to frighten
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 a month ago:
then thieves entered 1t and was
obliged to leave. We arranged to 70
abroad, but when we got to the steam
err we found Henry waiting with
threat to follow us if did not accede
to his demands. It was Father Stod-
dard who suggested this place, and
we came by circuitous route, paus.
ing here and there to see whether We
were followed. You can imagine how
distressing-how wretched all this
has been"
Yes; 1t is a sad story, Miss Hol-
brook. But you are not likely to be
molested here. You have a lake on
one side. high wall shuts off the
road, and I beg you to accept me as
your near neighbor and protector. The