The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-09-30

handkerchief out of her muff. "I'm
so awfully fond Of poor Fred" she
said, brokenly. you don't know
what he is to me, Lord Brentwood.
He Is my only brother, and he says
that If he doesn't get this he will go
abroad and settle in Australia, or
some such awful place, and you can't
think what that would mean to me.
l simply could not do without him.
We see each other nearly every day,
and | should be miserable, perfectly
miserable, If my favorite brother
went--abroad- -and-left-me." She
lowered her voice, and raised the
small handkerchief to her face Il
i simply couldn't go through long,
dreary winter here IL he went away.
l should have to go with him. You
know how badly Birmingham and l
get on. and have only Fred to care
for In the world" She leaned back
and gave little sob.
Lord Brentwood crossed the room.
and, bending over her, took the hand
kerchief out of her hand and raised
the little gloved hand to his lips.
Dear lady, don't fret; l can't bear to
see you fret; pray do not"
"He -only-brother," re-
peated Lady Birmingham, with a clev.
er little catch in her voice.
I'm afraid I'm very weak, but
think l must see what l can do for
you," he said, kindly. "There, don't
cry, my dear; please don't distress
| 80
yours" He laid the small handker-
chief unconsciously on his writing ta-
Bile. and Lady Birmingham smiled di-
vinely up at him.
"How good you are!" she said,
gratefully; "how good and kind you
are"
He smiled back at her. 81 am
afraid l am wax in your hands," he
said, "and l can only hope he will be
worthy of the post"
She rose, and gathered her furs
and laces gracefully about her. How
am | to thank your"
81 require nothing but your graft
tude," he said, courteously, "and to be
allowed to see you sometimes during
the winter, If you you can find time
to waste on an old mans society, my
dear"
"Of course can. Please come and
see me soon-or, better still, come
and dine with me.
It was month later, and a concert
was being held at Redford House, by
the kind permission Of the Duchess
of Redford, in aid of one of the hospi-
tails.
The duchess had gently insisted
upon Lord Brentwood's attendance.
You know you are such an important
war man Just now that it is really
your duty to come to my function; so
do come, there's dear" And Lord
Brentwood promised TO go, and. re-
luctantly sacrificing an afternoon,
attended the concert
Music was no hobby of his, and he
would far sooner have been idle at
home or busy abroad, than listening
to the singer who at this moment was
bidding him Come out, come OUT;
but he sat there listening patiently,
now and again nodding his head with
the every-ready appreciation of the
skilled diplomatist.
The song was over, the lady who
was bidding every one Come out"
had told them for the last time that
they were "all the world to her.; and
Lord Brentwood, giving a sigh of re.
lief, leaned back more comfortably in
| oh Of hah 4
him had kept up the incessant, low
chatter of the fashionable and un-
musical concertgoer, and they now
slightly raised their voices.
"My dear, it's perfectly true. Lola
told me herself; she told me the whole
story in her best style-you know
what she is-half asleep, but very
wideawake, as livingstone says"
How did she manage it?"
Lord Brentwood half closed his
eyes. He was thinking of Lady Burn
ingham and he was glad that he had
been able to help her. The converse
ton going on behind him was of no
interest to him, but he heard 1t vague
ly, without consciously listening to it.
|
managed 1t. She went to him and told
him that they were inseparable, and
that she couldn't live II he went
abroad, and then he gave 1t to her,
and now she's gone to Homburg for
the whole winter?"
why did she do It! thought she
hated Miriam So"
"Ah my dear, you don't suppose
Lola ever did anything from pure
philanthropy, did your"
The other laughed. why was 1t.
then?"
well. you see. she owed Mrs. Stew
enson two thousand pounds, and the
debt was not only to be Cancelled. but
she was 10 have another FIVE hundred
pounds from the father II it came of. /"
"No7"
Yes, It is quite true; and now
she's gone abroad, to spend and en-
Joy the five hundred pounds. Clever
of her, wasn't it?"
IL always thought Lady Burning
|