The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-03-27


Miss Holbrook, will you please
steer for me?'-and in effecting the
necessary changes of position that /
might get to the engine we were all
able to regain our composure. I saw
Miss Pat touch her forehead with her
handkerchief; but she said nothing.
Even after St. Agatha's pier hove in
sight silence held US ALL The wind,
continuing to freshen, was whipping
the lake with a sharp lash, and l
made much of my trifing business
with the engine, and of the necessity
for occasional directions to the girl at
the wheel.
which 1 had stupidity brought them
was strong in me; but there were
other things to think of. Miss Pat
could not be deceived as to the animus
of our encounter, for the Italians
conduct could hardly be accounted for
on the score OF stupidity; and the
natural peace and quiet of this region
only emphasized the gravity of her
her plight. My first thought was that
I must at once arrange for her re-
moval to some other place. With
Henry Holbrook established within a
few miles of St. Agatha's the school
was certainly no longer a tenable har-
boFage.
AS tended the engine saw, even
when 1 tried to avoid her, the figure of
Helen Holbrook in the stern, quite in
tent upon steering and calling now
and then to ask the course when in
my preoccupation I forgot to give it.
The storm was driving a dark hood
across the lake, and the thunder
doomed more loudly. Storms in this
neighborhood break quickly and I ran
full speed for St Agatha's to avoid
the rain that already blurred the west.
We landed with some difficulty, ow-
ing to the roughened water and the
hard drive of the wind; but in few
minutes we had reached st. Agatha's
where Sister Margaret flung open the
door just as the storm let go with a
roar.
When we reached the sitting room
we talked with unmistakable restraint
of the storm and of our race with it
across the lake-while Sister Margaret
stood by murmuring her interest and
sympathy. She withdrew Immediate
| ly and we three sat in silence, no one
wishing to speak the first word. saw
with deep pity that Miss Pats eyes
were bright with tears, and my heart
/ burned hot with self-accusation Sister
Margaret's quick step died away in
the hall, and still we waited while the
rain drove against the house in sheets
and the branches of a tossing maple
scratched spitefully on one of the
panes.
I'VE have been found out; my BROTH
er is here" said Miss Pat.
Il am afraid that is true" l replied.
But you must not distress yourself.
This is not Sicily, where murder is a
polite diversion The Italian wished
merely to brighten us; it's a case Of
sheerest blackmail. I am ashamed to
have given him the opportunity 1t
was my fault-my grievous fault; and
I Gill AColNA4y oOA4g III ny OIupANAeJ-
DO not accuse yourself! 1t was in
evitable from the beginning that
Henry should find u.s. But this place
seemed remote enough. l had really
begun TO feel quite secure-but now!"
But nowl" repeated Helen, with q
little sigh.
1 marveled at the girls composure
at her quiet acceptance of the stu
alton, when l knew well enough her
shameful duplicity Then by one Of
those intuitions of grace that were
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. 1t
may not have been-father-wh did
that"
She faltered, dropping her voice as
she mentioned her father. was aware
that Miss Pat put away her niece's
hand with a sudden gesture-I 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,
Il think we ought to go away-at
once the girl broke out suddenly.
"The place was ill-chosen; Father
Stoddard should have known better
than to send us herei"
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"
4 have blundered badly enoughi"
{ confessed, penitently.
ut might be better, Aunt Pat" be-
gan Helen, slowly, to yield. What can
it matter, A quarrel over money-it
is sordid-''
Miss Pat stood nm ahruntlv ond said