The Irish standard., 1909-04-10

was my fault-my grtevous fault; and
I am heartily sorry for my stupidity"
do not accuse yourself! It was in
evitable from the beginning that
Henry should find us. But this place
seemed remote enough. I had really
begun to feel quite secure-but now!"
But now!" repeated Helen, with
little sigh.
marveled at the girls composure
at her quiet acceptance of the stu.
alton, when / knew we'll enough her
shameful duplicity. Then by one of
those intuitiors Of grace that we're
so charming in her she bent forward
and took Miss Pats hand. The en-
erald rings flashed on both as though
in assertion Of kinship.
Dear Aunt Pat! You must not
take that boat affair too seriously. It
may not have been-father-who did
that"
She faltered, dropping her voice as
that Miss Pat put away her niece's
hand with sudden GESTURE did not
know whether of Impotence, or
whether some new resolution had
taken hold of her. She rose and
moved nearer to me.
What have you to propose, Mr..
Donovan?" she asked. and something
in her tone, in the light of her dear
eyes, told me that she meant to fight.
that she knew more than she wished
to say, and that she relied on my sup
port; and realizing this my heart went
out to her anew.
II think we ought to go away-at
once" the girl broke out suddenly
1.-THE place was ill-chosen; Father
Stoddard should have known better
than to send us here!"
Father Stoddard did the best he
could for us, Helen. 1t is unfair to
blame him." said Miss Pat, quietly.
"And Mr.. Donovan has been much
more more kind In undertaking to
care for us at ALL"
az have Numbered badly enough!"
confessed. penitently.
ut might be BETTER Aunt Pat" be-
gan Helen, slowly, Ito yield. What can
1t matter! A quarrel over money-it
is sordid-"
Miss Pat stood up abruptly and said
quietly. without lifting her voice, and
turning from one to the other of us:
I'VE have prided ourselves for 100
years. we American Holbrooks. that
we had good blood in US, and charac-
ter and decency and morality; and
now that the men Of my house have
thrown away their birthright and
made our name a plaything, am 60
ing to see whether the general de-
cadence has struck me. too; and with
my brother Arthur, fugitive because
Of his crimes. and my brother Henry
ready to murder me in his greed. It is
time for me to test whatever blood is
left in my own poor old body, and
am going to begin now! I will not
run away another step: am not CO.
ing to be blackguarded and bounded
about this free country or driven
across the sea- and will not give
Henry Holbrook more money to use in
disgracing our name. have got to
die-1 have got to die before he gets
| it"-and she smiled at me so bravely
that something clutched my throat
suddenly-"apd I have every inten-
ton, Mr.. Donovan, Of living very
long tipne!"
Helen had risen. and she stood star
ing at her aunt in frank astonishment
Not often. probably never before u
her life, had anger held sway in the
/! soul of this woman; and there was
something splendid in its manifesto.
tion. She had spoken in almost her
usual tone. though with passionate
tremor toward the close: but her very
restraint was in itself ominous.
1T shall be as you say, Miss Pat" I
said, as soon as had got my breath.
Certainly, Aunt Pat" murmured
Helen, tamely. I'VE can't be driven
round the world. We may as we'll
stay where we are"
The storm was abating, and l threw
open the windows to let in the air.
IF you haven't wholly lost faith in
me, Miss Holbrook-"
Il have every faith in you, Mr.. Don.
ovan!" smiled Miss Pat.
II shall hope to take better care Of
you In the future"
Il am not afraid. think that II
Henry finds out that he cannot frighten
me it. will have calming effect upon
him."
"Yes; suppose you are right. Aunt
Pat said Helen, passively.
| went home feeling that my resp4r
sibilities had been greatly increased
by Miss Pats manifesto: on the whole
/ was relieved that she had not or.
dered retreat. for 1t would have dis.
tressed me sorely to abandon the game
at this juncture to seek a new hiding
place for my charges.
Long afterward Miss Pats declara.
ton of war rang in my ears. My heart
leaps now as remember 1t. And I
should like to be poet long enough
to write "A Ballade of All Old Ladies'"
or lyric in their honor turned with
the grace Of Col. Lovelace and blithe
with the spirit OF Friar Herrick. I
oh