The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-04-24
CHAPTER xr.
The Carnival Of Canoes.

near the Glenarm wall There was no
Formal walk there, and my steps were
ailenced by the turf The heavy scent
of flowers from within gave me hint
OF my whereabouts; there was, 1 re-
membered, at this point on the school
lawn rustic bench empowered in
honeysuckle, and Miss Pat and Helen
we're, I surmised, taking their coffee
there. Istarted away, thinking to enter
by the gate and join them, when Hell
ems voice rose angrily-there was no
nistaEing 1t, and she said in a tone
that rang oddly on my. ears:
''But you are unkind to himl You
are unjust! It is not fair to blame ia
Their for his i'll fortune"
That's true, Helen; but 1t is not your
fathers i'll fortune that 1 hold against
aim. 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 are;
and Uncle Arthur ruined hint It was
not father, but Uncle Arthur, who
brought all these hideous things upon
Us"
Z 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
", older sister, driven Ia desperation
to hide; and, not less melancholy, this
beautiful girl, the pathos Of whose pc
ssition had struck me increasingly. Per
haps Miss Pat was too severe, and 1
half accused her of I know not what
crimes of rapacity and greed for with
holding her brothers money; then I
set my teeth hard into my pipe as my
slumbering loyalty to Miss Pat warmed
my heart again.
It's the night Of the carnival, sir"
lima reminded me, seeking me at the
water-tower.
Very good, lima. You needn't lock
the boathouse. 1 may go out later"
The cottagers at Port Annandale
hold once every summer a canoe fete,
and this was the appointed night 1
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 10 watch the procession of boats.
I 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, but I strolled back and forth
with Miss Pat, thinking the girl might
appear
q had note from Father Stoddard
Today" said Miss Pat
81 congratulate you" 1 laughed. He
doesn't honor me-"
Hes much occupied" she remarked
defensively; "and suppose he doesn't
indulge in many letters. Mine was
only ten lines long, not morei"
Father Stoddard feels that he has
mission in the world, and he has lit
sle time for people like us, who have
food, clothes and drink in plenty. He
gives his life to the hungry, unclothed
~ thirsty"
and now, qIite abruptly. Miss Pat
spoke of her brother.
Has Henry gomez"
Yes; he left ten days ago"
She nodded several times, then
locked at me and smiled
You have frightened him OF, am,
gratefu, to you,"-and I was glad in
my heart that she did not knoT that
Giiiespie's money had sent him away
Helen had not appeared, and now
made bold to ask for her.
Let me send the maid to tell her
you are here, said Miss Pat, and we
walked to the door and rang.
The maid quickly reported that Miss
-Holbrook begged to be excused
she is a little afraid of the damp
might air of the garden" said Miss
Pat, with so kind an intention that I
smiled to myself felt from her man.
ner that she wished to detain me. No
one might know how her heart ached,
but IL was less the appeal OF her gentle
ness that won me now. I think, than
she remembrance that flashed upon
me Of her passionate outburst after
orr meeting with the Italian; and that
seemed very long ago. She had been
magnificent that day, ike queen
driven to desperation, and throwing
down the gauntlet as though she had
countless battalions at her back In
decision took fight before shame; 1t
was a privilege to know and to serve
her!
Miss Holbroo5, won't you come out
50 see The water fete2 We can look
upon it in security and comfort from
the launch. The line Of march is from
Port AnnandaIe past here and toward
the village, then back again. You can
come home whenever you like. l had
Hrs-- opraan f0n