Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-12-30

across the lake-while. Sister Margaret
stood by murmuring her interest and
sympathy. She withdrew immediate
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 tossing maple
scratched spitefully on one of the
panes.
1--WE have been found out; my broth,
er is here" said Miss Pat.
II am afraid that is true" 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 case OF
sheerest blackmail. / am ashamed to
have given him the opportunity. 1t
was my fault-my grievous fault; and
l am heartily sorry for my stupidity"
do not accuse yourself! 1t was in
evitable from the beginning that
Henry should find US. But this place
seemed remote enough. l had really
begun to feel quite secure-but now"
But now!" repeated Helen, with a
little sigh.
/ marveled at the girls composure
at her quiet acceptance of the stu
alton, when / 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 rs though
In assertion of kinship.
Dear Aunt Pat! You must not
take that boat affair too seriously. 1t
may not have been-father-who 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.
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 than kind in undertaking to
care for us at all"
Il have Numbered badly enough"
/ confessed, penitently.
'It 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 plaything, am go
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! ! will not
run away another step; I am not go
ing to be blackguarded and bounded
about this free country or driven
across the sea; and l will not give
Henry Holbrook more money to use in
disgracing our name. I have got to
die--I have got to die before he gets
it"--and she smiled at me SO bravely
that something clutched my throat
suddenly-"and have every inten-
ton, Mr.. Donovan, OF living very
long time!"
Helen had risen. and she stood star.