Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1909-12-31
CHAPTER XI.
The Carnival of Canoes.

| had dined alone and was %lounging
about the grounds when I heard voices
near the Glenarm wall. There was no
formal walk there, and my steps were
silenced by the turf. The heavy scent
of flowers from within gave me a hint
Of my whereabouts; there was, | re-
membered, at this point on the school
lawn a rustic bench EMPOWERED in
h~oneysuckle, and Miss Pat and Helen
were, 1 surmised, taking their coffee
there. started away, thinking to enter
by the gate and join them, when Hell
ems voice rose angrily-there was no
mistaking it, and she said in a lone
that rang oddly on my ears:
But you are unkind to him! You
are unjust! 1t is not fair to blame ia
ther for his ill fortune"
That is true, Helen; but it is not your
fathers i'll fortune that l hold against
him. All I ask of him is to be sane,
reasonable, to change his manner of
life, and to come to me in a spirit of
fairness"
But he is proud, just as you IRE
and Uncle Arthur ruined him! 1t was
father, but Uncle Arthur, who
brought all these hideous things upon
u.s.
passed rapidly on, and resumed my
walk elsewhere. 1t was a sad bust
ness, the shadowy father; the criminal
uncle, who had, as Helen said, brought
ruin upon them all; the sweet, mother
ly, older sister, driven in desperation
to hide; and, not less melancholy, his
beautiful girl, the pathOs of whose po-
sition had struck me increasingly. Per-
haps Miss Pat was too severe, and I
half accused her of l know not what
crimes of rapacity and greed for with
holding her brothers money; then l
set my teeth hard into my pipe as my
~slumbering loyalty to Miss Pat warmed
my heart again.
ITS the night Of the carnival, sir"
lima reminded me, seeking me at the
water-tower
Very good, lima. You needn't lock
the boathouse. l may go out later"
The cOttagers at Port Annandale
hold once every summer a canoe fete,
and this was the appointed night. I
was in no mood for gayety of any sort,
but it occurred to me that l might re-
lieve the strained relations between
Helen and her aunt by taking them
out to watch the procession of boats.
l passed through the gate and took
a turn or two, not to appear to know
Of the whereabout of the women, and
to my surprise met Miss Pat walking
alone.
She greeted me with her usual kind
ness, but I knew that I had broken
upon sad reflections. Helen was not
in sight, out 1 strolled back and forth
with Miss Pat, thinking the girl might
appear.
to-day" said Miss Pat.
Il congratulate you," 1 laughed. HE
doesn't honor me"
He's much occupied" she remarked,
defensively; land l suppose he doesn't
indulge in many letters. Mine was
only ten lines long. not more!"
Father Stoddard feels that he has
a mission in the world, and he has lit
tie time for people like US, who have
food, clothes and drink in plenty. He
gives his life to the hungry, unclothed
and thirsty"
And now, q1ite abruptly, Miss Pat
spoke of her brother.
Has Henry gomez"
Yes; he left ten days ago"
She nodded evera times, then
looked at me and smiled.
You have frightened him of! / am
grateful to you!"-and l was glad in
my heart that she did not know that
GAlespie's money had sent him away.
(TO BE CONTINUED)