The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-06-05

lHdL 1clSu 6udll never marry u4lu
I had ordered blackboard, and it
was now announced.
Don't trouble to go upstairs, Aunt
Pat; I will bring your things for you,"
said Rosalind; and Miss Pat turned
upon me with an air of satisfaction
and pride, as much as to say: "You
see how devoted she is to mel"
wish to acknowledge here my OBJ
legations to Sister Margaret for giving
me the benefit of her care and re
sourcefulness on that difficult day
There was no nice detail that she over
looked, no danger that she did not an
ticipate. She sat by Miss Pat on the
long drive, while Rosalind and chat
tered nonsense behind them. We were
so fortunate as to strike the first bat
talon, and saw it go into camp on
bit of open prairie to await the arrival
Of the artillery that followed But at
no time did I lose sight Of the odd
business that still lay ahead of me,
nor did 1 remember with any salts
faction how Helen, somewhere across
woodland and lake, chafed at the de-
layed climax Of her plot. The girl at
my side, lovely and gracious as she
was, struck me increasingly as but
tame shadow of that other one, so like
and so unliks! I maryeled that Miss
Pat had not seen it; and in period
of silence On the drive home I think
Rosalind must have guessed my
thought; for I caught her regarding
me with a mischieYous smile and she
said, as the others rather too generous
ly sought to ignore US:
You can see now how different
am-how very Different"
When 1 left them at ST. Agatha's
with an hour to spare before dinner,
Sister Margaret assured me with her
eyes that there was nothing to fear.
was neryously pacing the long ter
race when 1 saw my guests approach
ing. I told the butler to order dinner
at once and went down to meet them.
Miss Pat declared that she never felt
better; and under the excitement OF
the hour Sister Margaret's eyes
gl0Wed DflSnJy.
As we sat down in the screened cor
ner of the broad terrace, with the first
grave approach of twilight in the sky,
and the curved trumpet of the young
moon hanging in the west, it might
have seemed to an onlooker that the
gods of chance had oddly ordered our
little company Miss Patricia in white
was a picture of serenity, with the
smile constant about her lips, happy in
her hope for the future. Rosalind,
fresh to these surroundings, showed
clearly her pleasure in the pretty set
ting of the scene, and read into it, in
bright phrases, the delight of a story
book Incident.
Let me see," she said, refectively,
Just who we are: We are the lady Of
the castle perilous dining al fresco,
with the abbess, who is also noble
lady, come across the fields to sit at
meat with her And you, sir, are a
knight full orgulous, feared in many
lands, and sworn to the defense of
these ladies'"
And you''-and Miss Pats eyes
were beautifully kind and gentle, as
she took the cue and turned to Rosa
| lind, you are the well-beloved daugh-
ter of my house, faithful in all service,
in all ways self-forgetful and kind our
joy and our pride"
1t may have been the spirit of the
evening that touched us, or only the
light of her countenance and the deep
sincerity of her voice; but / knew
that tears were bright in all our eyes
for moment And then Rosalind
glanced at the western heavens
through the foliage.
There are the stars, Aunt Pat
brighter than ever tonight for your
birthday"
Presently, as the dark gathered
about US, the candles were lighted, and
their glow shut out the world. To
my relief the three women carried the
talk alone, leaving me to my own
thoughts Of Helen and my plans for
restoring her to her aunt with no
break in the new confidence that Rosa
lind had inspired. I had so completely
yielded myself to this undercurrent Of
reflection that 1 was startled to find
Miss Pat with the coffee service before
her
Larry, you are dreaming. How can
remember whether you take sugar."
Sister Margaret's eyes were upon
me reproachfully for my inattention.
and my heart-beats quickened as eight
strokes of the chapel chime stole lin
geringly through the quiet air. 1 had
half-raised my cup when l was
startled by a question from Miss Pat
"a request innocent enough and
spoken, 1t seemed, utterly without in
! tention.
Let me see your ring a moment,
Helen"
Sister Margaret flashed a glance
of inquiry at me, but Rosalind met the