The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-04-29
"You have nothing to fear, Henry

But Henry glanced uuedSlly llol
Gillespie to me-"Gillespies notes.
They are here among you somewhere,
You shall not give them to Pat. II
she knew
IF she knew you would not get
cent" l said, wishing him to know
that l knew.
He whrled upon me holly.
You trcked Helen to get them, and
now, by God, | want them! l want
them" And he struck at me crafty.
| knocked his arm away, but he flung
himself upon me, clasping me with
his arms caught his wrists and held
him for a moment | wished to be
done with him and off to Glenarm with
Arthur; and he wasted time.
Il have that packet you sent Helen
to GET have it-still unopened Your
secret is as safe with me, Mr.. Hol-
brook, as that other secret Of yours
with your Italian body-guard.'
His face went white, then gray, and
he would have fallen If had not kept
hold of him.
| was beside myself with rage and
impatient that time must be wasted
on him. | did not hear steps on the
deck, or Gillespie's quick warning, and
| had begun again, still holding Henry
| HolbroOk close to me with one hand.
1--WE expect to deceive your sister
we will lie to her-lie to her--lie to
her,"
For Gods sake, stop" cried Arthur
Holbrook, clutching my arm,
| flung round ard faced Miss Pat
and Rosalind. They stood for mo-
ment in the doorway; then Miss Pat
advanced slowly toward us where we
formed a little semi-ctrCle, and as |
dropped Henry's wrists the brothers
stood side by side. Arthur took a step
forward, half murmuring his sisters
name; then he drew back and waited,
his head bowed mis- hands thrust into
the side pockets Of his coat. In the
dead quiet | heard the babble of the
creek outside, and when Miss Pat
spoke her voice seemed to steal off
and mingle with the subdued murmur
Of the stream.
Gentlemen, what is it you wish to
lie to me abOut?'
A brave little smile played about
Miss Pats lips. She stood there in
the light of the candles, all in white
as | had left neY on the terrace OF
Glenarm. in her. lace cap with only a
=, light shawl about her shoulders.
felt that the situation might yet be
saved. and | was about to speak when
Henry, with some wild notion Of JUS
tifying himself, broke out stridently:
Yes; they meant to lie to you.
They plotted against me and bounded
me when | wished to see you peace
ably and to make amends. They have
now charged me with murder; they
, are ready to swear away my honor
. my life. | am glad you are here that
you may see for yourself how they
are against me-"
Yes; father speaks the truth, as
Mr.. Donovan can tell you!"
could have sworn that it was Rosa
lind who spoke; but there by Rosa
lind's side in the doorway stood Helen
Her head was lifted, and she faced us
all with her figure tense, her eyes
:. blazing. Rosalind drew away little
and | saw Gillespie touch her hand
1t was as though quicker sense thar
sight had on the instant undeceivet
him: but he did not look at Rosalind
his eyes were upon the angry CIR
who was about to speak again. Mis-!
Pat glanced about, and her eyes restet
on me.
Larry. what were the lies you were
, going to tell me?" she asked, ant
y smiled again.
: They were about father; he wished
. to involve him in dishonor. But n
shall not, he shall not" cried Helen
rs that true, Larry" asked Mis-
), | Pat.
Il have done the best | could"
j., replied evasively.
Miss Pat scrutiniZed us all slowly a
though studying our faces for tn
y truth Then she repeated:
l But if either of my said sons shal
have been touched by dishonor throug
). his own act, as honor is accounted
reckoned and valued among men
/ and ceased abruptly, looking from Al
e thur to Henry. What was the trut
. about Gillespie?" she asked.
And Arthur would have spoken.
r saw the word that would have save
his brother formed upon his lips.
r Miss Pat alone seemed unmoved;
r saw her hand open and shut at ne
" side as she controlled herself, but he
d face was calm and her voice wa
steady when she turned appealingly t
T the canoe-maker
What is the truth, Arthur" sh
4 | asked, quietly.
- why go into this now? Why nc
~ let bygones be bygones?'- for
moment I thought | had checked tn