Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-05-19
CHAPTER xxIV.-continued.

ct will hear what you have to say,
Arthur" said Miss Pat; and I knew
that there was no arresting the tide.
/ snatched out the sealed envelope and
turned with it to Arthur Holbrook;
and he took 1t into his hands and
turned it over quietly, though his
hands trembled.
Tell me the truth, gentlemen!"-
and Miss Pats voice thrilled now with
anger.
"Trickery, more trickery; those
were stolen from Helen" blurted Hen
ry, his eyes on the envelope; but we
were waiting for the canoe-maker to
speak, and Henry's words rang empti-
ly in the shop.
Arthur looked at his brother; then
he faced his sister.
Henry is not guilty" he said,
calmly.
He turned with quick gesture and
thrust the envelope into the flame OF
one of the candles; but Helen sprang
forward and caught away the blazing
| packet and smothered the flame be-
tween her hands.
1--WE will keep the proof" she said
in a tone of triumph and knew then
how completely she had believed in
her father
Il don't know what is in that pack
et," said Gillespie, slowly, speaking for
the first time. 1T has never been
opened. My lawyer told me that ia
Their had sworn to a statement about
the trouble with Holbrook Brothers
and placed it with the notes. My ia
Their was a peculiar man in some
ways" continued Gillespie, embar
raised by the attention that was now
riveted upon him. His lawyer told
me that I was to open that package
before-before marrying into"-and he
grew red and stammered helplessly
with his eyes on the fioor-"before
marrying into the Holbrook family.
gave up that packet"-and he hest
tated, coloring, and turning from Hell
en- to Rosalind-"by mistake. But its
mine, and l demand it now"
Il wish Aunt Pat to open the en-
velope," said Rosalind. very white.
Henry turned look of appeal upor
his brother; but Miss Pat took the
envelope from Helen and tore it open
and we stood by as though we waiteC
for death or watched earth fall upon ;
grave. She bent down to one of tn,
candles nearest her and took out thu
notes, which were wrapped in shee
of legal cap. A red seal frightened II
the light, and we heard the slight rat
tie of the paper in her tremulous fin
gers as she read. Suddenly a tea
flashed upon the white sheet. Whel
she had quite finished she gathers
Gillespie's statement and the notes il
her hand and turned and gave then
to Henry; but she did not speak t
him or meet his eyes. She crossed t
where Arthur stood beside me, hi
head bowed, and as she advanced b
turned away; but her arms stole owe
his shoulders and she said Arthur
once, and again very softly.
Il think" she said, turning towar
us all, with her sweet dignity. he
: brave air, that touched me as at frs
= anu Always USyOnu any VIRUS VI Alin
to describe, but strong and beautifu
. and sweet and thrilling through m
now, like bugles blown at dawn;
think that we do well, Arthur, to Civ
Henry his money"
And now 1t was Arthur's voice ths
rose in the shop; and 1t seemed ths
he spoke of his brother as of one VIII
: was afar off. We listened with pair
full intentness to this man who had SUI
) fered much and given much, and VIII
l STILL in his simple heart, asked %
praise for what he had done.