Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-03-31

lie with my father; it could not be
otherwise"
That is only natural. have moth
ing to say on that point"
And you can understand, too, that
it has not been easy for me to be de-
pendent upon Aunt Pat. You don't
know have no intention of talking
against her-but you can't blame me
for thinking her hard-a little hard on
my father"
nodded.
Il am sorry, very sorry, that you
should have these troubles, Miss Hol-
brook"
Il know you are" she replied, eager
ly, and her eyes frightened Your
sympathy has meant so much to Aunt
Pat and me. And now, before worse
things happen"
! Worse things must not happen!"
Then we must put an end to it all,
Mr.. Donovan. There is only one way.
My father will never leave here until
Aunt Pat has settled with him. And
it is his right to demand it," she hur-
ried on. 81 would have you know that
he is not as black as he has been
| painted. He has been his own worst
must not be charged to him. But he
has been wrong, terribly wrong, in his
conduct toward Aunt Pat. l do not
| deny that, and he does not But it Is
| only matter of money, and Aunt Pat
has plenty of it; and there can be no
| question of honor between Uncle Ar
thur and father 1t was Uncle Arthurs
Their has told me the whole story. Quite
likely father would make no good use
of his money! will grant that. But
think of the strain of these years on
all of us; think of what it has meant
to me, to have this cloud hanging over
my life! 1t is dreadful-beyond any
words it is hideous; and 1 can't stand
it any longer, not another week-not
another day! 1t must end now and
here"
Her tear-filled eyes rested upon me
pleadingly, and a sob caught her
throat as she tried to go on.
But" l began.
Please - please" she broke in,
touching her handkerchief to her eyes
and smiling appealingly. Il am ask
ing very little of you, after ALL"
Yes, it is little enough, but it seems
to me a futile interference. If your
father would go to her himself, if you
would take him to her-that strikes
me as the better strategy of the mat
ter"
Then am to understand that you
will not help; that you will not do this
for us-for me?"
81 am sorry to have to say no, Miss
Holbrook," replied. steadily.
Then / regret that shall have to
go further; must appeal to you as a
personal matter purely. 1t is not
easy; but If we are really very good
friends"
She glanced toward Sister Margaret,
then rose and walked out upon the ter
race.
You will hate me-" she began,
smiling wanly, the tears bright in her
eyes; and she knew that it was not
easy to hate her. Il have taken
money from Mr.. Gillespie, for my ia.
Their, since came here. 1t is large
sum, and when my father left here he
went away to spend ito waste it.
1t is all gone, and worse than gone.
must pay that back-I must not be
under obligations to Mr.. Gillespie. 1t
was wrong, it was very wrong of me,
/ but / was distracted, half crazed by
my fathers threats of violence against
Aunt Pat-against us all. / am sure
that you can see how came to do it.
And now you are my friend; will you
help me?" and she broke off. smiling,
fearful, her back to the balustrade, her
hand at her side lightly touching it.
She had confidence. thought, in the
power Of tears, as she slipped her
handkerchief into her sleeve and
waited for me to answer.
"Of course Mr.. Gillespie only loaned
you the money to help you over diff
flculty; in some way that must be