The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-12-31

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.
"Iou are an Irishman, Mr.. Donovan,
and Pat must sound NATURAL
ooh, all who love Aunt Patricia call
her Aunt Pat!" exclaimed the girl.
"Then Miss Holbrook undoubtedly
hears it Often" said 1, 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 sister in the
brown garb of her order stood wait
ing.
I 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 I was glad to find her so
capable person, fully able to care
for these exiles without aid from my
side of the wall.
"Helen, if you will see our things
disposed of will detain Mr.. Donovan
few minutes" said Miss Holbrook.
Cor l can come again in an hour-1
am your near neighbour" I remarked,
thinking she might wish to rest from
her journey.
II am quite ready" she replied, and
l bowed to Helen Holbrook and to Sis
ter Margaret, who went out, followed
by the maid. Miss Pat-you will par
don me if begin at once to call her
by this name, but it fits her so CAPT
tally, it is so much part of her, that
l cannot resist-Miss Pat put OF her
bonnet without fuss, placed it on the
table and sat down in a window seat
whence the nearer shore of the lake
was visible across the strip of smooth
lawn.
"Will you please close the door,"
she said, and when came back to the
window she began at once.
1T is not pleasant, as you must
understand, to explain to a stranger
an intimate and painful family trouble.
But Father Stoddard advised me to be
quite frank with you"
'That is the best way, If there is a
possibility that I may be of service, !"
said in the gentlest tone I could
command. "But tell me no more than
you wish. am wholly at your serv-
ice without explanations"
1T is in reference to my brother;
he has caused me great deal of
trouble. When my father died nearly
ten years ago-he lived to a great
age-he left a considerable estate, a
large fortune. A part of it was di.
vided at once among my two brothers
and myself. The remainder, amount
ing to $1,OOO,000, was left to me, with
the stipulation that I was to make q
further division between MY brothers
at the end Of ten years, or at my dis:
erection. was older than my broth.
ers. much older. and my father left
me with this responsibility. not know.
ing what 1t would lead to. Henry
and Arthur succeeded to my fathers
business. the banking firm Of Hol
brook Brothers, in New York. The
bank continued to prosper for q time;
then It collapsed suddenly. The debts
were all paid. but Arthur disappeared
there we're unpleasant rum orr
She paused 81 momey and looked
] ont Of the window toward the lake
We i..saL N AZ H7 5SaRBSI.