Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-26

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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 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" I replied.
But you must not distress yourself.
This is not Sicily, where murder is q
polite diversion. The Italian wished
merely to frighten us; it's case Of
sheerest blackmail. I am ashamed to
have given him the opportunity. It
was my fault-my grievous fault; and
I am heartily sorry for my stupidity"
do not accuse yourself! It was in
evitable from the beginning that
Henry should find us. But this place
seemed remote enough. I 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 I knew we'll 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. II
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 sudden gesture did not
know whether of Impotence, OF
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
'"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. It is unfair tt
blame him." said Miss Pat, quietly
And Mr.. Donovan has been much
more than kind in undertaking tc
care for us at ALL
Il have blundered badly enough!'
I confessed, penitently.
1T might be better, Aunt Pat" be
gan Helen, slowly, ito yield. What cal
1t matter! A quarrel over money!
is sordid-''
Miss Pat stood up abruptly and sale
quietly, without lifting her voice, ant
turning from one to the other Of US:
I'VE have prided ourselves for 1O(
years, we American Holbrooks, thai
we had good blood in us, and charac
ter and decency and morality: ant
now that the men Of my house have
thrown away their birthright ant
made our name plaything, I 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 Henr,
ready to murder me in his greed, it is
time for me to test whatever blood il
left in my own poor old body, and
am going to begin now! I will MOI
run away another step; I am not go
Ing to be blackguarded and bounded
about this free country or driver
across the sea; and / will not give
Henry Holbrook more money to use IL
disgracing our name. I have got t
die-1 have got to die before he gets
it"-and she smiled at me so bravely
that something clutched my throat
suddenly-"and I have every inten
ton, Mr.. Donovan, Of living a very
long time!"
Helen had risen. and she stood star