Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-11-04

Helen, if you will see our things
disposed of l will detain Mr.. Donovan
a few minutes" said Miss Holbrook.
"Or l can come again in an hour-I
am your near neighbor," remarked,
thinking she might wish to rest from
her journey.
Il am quite ready" she replied, and
l bowed to Helen Holbrook and to Sis
ter Margaret, who went out, followed
by the maid. Miss Pat-you will par
don me IL / begin at once to call her
by this name, but it fits her so capt.
tally, it is so much part of her, that
| cannot resist-Miss Pat put off her
bonnet without fuss, placed it on the
table and sat down in 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.
1T is not pleasant, as you must
understand, to explain to stranger
an intimate and painful family trouble.
But Father Stoddard advised me to be
quite frank with you"
That is the best way, if there is a
possibility that l may be of service"
l said in the gentlest tone l could
command But tell me no more than
you wish. | am wholly at your serv-
ice without explanations"
1T is in reference to my brother;
he has caused me a great deal of
trouble. When my father died nearly
ten years ago-he lived to a great
age-he left a considerable estate, a
large fortune. A part of it was di-
vided at once among my two brothers
and myself. The remainder, amount
ing to 100000, was left to me, with
the stipulation that l 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 time;
then it 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 l 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 slip
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 to
him now; but his conduct has been
such that feel should serve him Ill
to pay him so large 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" / 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
isfied 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 a 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 II ! did not accede
to his demands. II was Father Stod-
dard who suggested this place, and
we came by a 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; II is sad story. Miss Hol-
brook. But you are not likely to be