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

but Father Stoddard's message was
delayed"
You are kind to respond at ALL"
she said, her wonderful eyes upon
me; "but Father Stoddard said you
would not fail me-"
HE is a man of great faith But
l have trap waiting. We can talk
more comfortably at st. Agatha's."
Yes; we are to go to the school,
Father Stoddard kindly arranged it.
1t is quite secluded, he assured me-"
You will not be disappointed. Miss
Holbrook, if seclusion is what you
seek" -...
l picked up the brown bag and
turned away, but she waited and
glanced about. Her I'VE" had puzzled
me; perhaps she had brought a maid,
and / followed her glance toward the
window of the telegraph office.
"Oh, Helen; my niece, Helen Hol-
brook, is with me. / wished to wire
some instructions to my housekeeper
at home. Father Stoddard may not
have explained-that it is partly on
Helen's account that / am coming
here"
mo; he explained nothing-merely
gave me my instructions" l laughed
HE gives orders in a most militant
fashion"
In moment l had been presented
to the niece, and had noted that she
was considerably above her aunt's
height; that she was dark, with eyes
that seemed quite black in certain
lights, and that she bowed, as her
aunt presented me, without offering
her hand, and murmured my name in
voice musical, deep and full, and
agreeable to hear
She took their checks from her
purse, and / called the porter and
arranged for the transfer of their bag
gage to st. Agatha's. We were soon
in the trap with the bays carrying us
at lively clip along the lake road
There's a summer resort some
where on the lake; how far is that
from the school?" asked the girl.
That's Port Annandale. It's two
or three miles from ST. Agatha's," /
replied. "On this side and all the
way to the school there are farms.
Port Annandale lies yonder."
"Of course we shall see nothing of
it," said the younger Miss Holbrook
with finality.
l sought in vain for any resem-
blance between the two women; they
were utterly unlike. The little brown
lady was interested and responsive
enough; she turned toward her niece
with undisguised affection as we
talked, but l caught several times a
look of unhappiness in her face, and
the brow that Time had not touched
gathered in lines of anxiety and care
The girls manner toward her aunt
was wholly kind and sympathetic.
I'm sure it will be delightful here,
Aunt Pat. Wild roses and blue water!
I'm quite in love with the pretty lake
already"
This was my first introduction to
the diminutive of Patricia, and 1t
seemed very fitting, and as delightful
as the dear little woman herself. She
must have caught my smile as the
niece so addressed her for the first
time and she smiled back at me in her
charming fashion.
"Tou are an Irishman, Mr.. Donovan,
and Pat must sound natural"
"Oh, all who love Aunt Patricia call
her Aunt Pat!" exclaimed the girl.
Then Miss Holbrook undoubtedly
hears it often" said /, and was at
once sorry for my bit of blarney, for
the tears shone suddenly in the dear
brown eyes, and the niece required to
the summer landscape as topic, and
talked of the Glenarm place, whose
stone wall We were now passing, un.
til we drove into the grounds of ST.
Agatha's and up to the main entrance
of the school, where a sister in the
brown garb of her order stood wait
ing.
first introduced myself to Sister
Margaret, who was in charge, and
then presented the two ladies who
were to be her guests. Sister Marga-
ret said just the right thing to every
one, and | was glad to find her so
capable person. fully able to care
for these t..-!es without aid from my
eide OF the wall,