Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-01-27
CHAPTER x.
The Flutter of a Handkerchief


The next morning at eight o'clock
/ SAT- a note to Miss Pat, asking if she
and the other ladies of her house
would not take breakfast with me at
nine; and she replied, on her quaint
visiting card, in an old-fashioned hand,
that she and Helen would be glad to
come, but that Sister Margaret begged
to be excused. 1t had been in my
mind from the first to ask them to
dine at Glenarm, and now l wished
to see this girl, to test, weigh, study
her, as soon as possible after her
meeting with Gillespie. l wished to
see how she would bear herself before
her aunt and me with that dark trans
action on her conscience.
Breakfast seems to be, in common
experience, the most difficult meal of
the day, and yet that hour hangs in
memory still as one of the brightest
ever spent. The table was set on the
terrace, and its white napery, the best
Glenarm silver and crystal, and bowl
of red roses still dewy from the night,
all blended coolly with the morning.
AS the strawberries were passed felt
that the little table had brought us
together In new intimacy. 1t was de-
lightful to sit face to face with Miss
Pat, and not less agreeable to have
at my right hand this bewildering
girl, whose eyes laughed at me when
l sought shame in their depths. Miss
Pat poured the coffee, and when /
took my cup | felt that it carried
benediction with it. / was glad to
see her so at peace with the world,
and her heart was not older, could
have sworn. than the roses before her.
II shall refuse to leave when my
time is up" she declared. do you
think you could spend winter here,
ve!en?"
II should love it," the girl replied
ut would be perfectly splendid to
watch the seasons march across the
lake. We can both enroll ourselves at
st. Agatha's as postgraduate students,
and take special course in weather
here"
IF / didn't sometimes hear trains
passing Annandale in the night, l
should forget that there's great busy
world off there somewhere" said Miss
Pat. Il am ashamed of myself for
having been so long discovering this
spot. Except one journey to Califor
MIA, was never west of Philadelphia
until | came here"
Helen stood by the line Of scarlet
geraniums that marked the balustrade
at point whence the best view of the
lake was obtainable-her hands
clasped behind her, her head turned
slightly.
There is no one quite like her!'
exclaimed Miss Pat
she is beautiful" l acquiesced.
Miss Pat talked on quickly, a!
though our silence might cause Heller
to turn and thus deprive us of tn,
| picture.
Should you like to look over tn,
house?" ! asked little later, whel
Helen had come back to the table. Il
is said to be one of the finest house
in interior America, and there ar
some good pictures"
I'VE should be very glad" said Mis-
Pat; and Helen murmured assent.
But we must not stay too Ions
Aunt Pat. Mr.. Donovan has his ow
affairs. We must not tax his generos
ty too far"
And we are going to send some lei
tiers off to-day. If it isn't asking to
much, should like to drive to tn
village later" said Miss Pat.
Yes; and l should like a paper q
pins and new magazine" said Heller
a little, very little eagerness in he
tone.
Certainly. The stable is at you
disposal, and our entire marine"
But we must see the Glenarm pit
lures first" said Miss Pat, and W
went at once into the great cool house
coming at last to the gallery on tn
third floor.