Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-03-24

OouAOnC De Oetter. lies the cove TO
turn to in case like this"
Jarvis, a white haired, digniAed but
Ter, who had served the family man
and boy, came in at this juncture with
visiting card on salver.
Alaric picked 1t up and glanced at
1t. He gave an expression of disgust
and flung the card back on the salver.
"Christian Brent"
For the first time Ethel showed
more than passing CLEAN Of inter-
est. She stopped stunning the piano
and stood up. very erect and very still.
Mrs. Chichester rose too. II can't
see any one." she said imperatively.
Nor IT, added Alaric. "I'm all
strung up" He turned to Jarvis. TELL
Mr.. Brent we're very sorry, butt
'Tll see him." interrupted Ethel, al
most animatedly. Bring Mr.. Brent
here, Jarvis"
As Jarvis went in search of Mr.
Brent Mrs. Chichester went up the
great stairs. my head is throbbing:
I'll 80 to my ROOM"
Don't you worry, mater" consoled
Alaric. "Leave everything to me. III
thrash the whole thing OUT
AS Mrs. Chichester disappeared Alar.
ic turned to his calm sister, who.
strangely enough, was showing some
signs Of life and interest.
Really going to teach?"
Eyes"
Fright! I'll find something, too
very likely doctor. Well pull through
somehow"
Ethel made a motion toward the door
as though to stop any further CONVEX
satiOn.
"Mr. Brents coming" she said, al
most impatiently.
Alaric started for the window lead
ing into the garden.
Jolly good of you to let him bore
you. l hate the sight of the beggar
myself. Always looks to me like the
first conspirator at play"
The door opened, and Jarvis entered
and ushered in "Mr. Brent" Alaric
hurried into the garden.
A few words of description of Chris
tan Brent might be of interest since
he represents type that society al
ways has with it.
They begin by deceiving others; they
end by deceiving themselves.
Christian Brent was dark, tense,
eager. scholarly looking man of twen-
ty-eight years of age. His career as
diplomatist was halted at it's outset by
an early marriage with the only daugh-
ter of prosperous manufacturer.
Brent was moderately independent in
his own right, but the addition of his
wife's dOwry seemed to destroy all am
bition. He no longer found interest in
carrying messages to the various lega-
tons or embassies of Europe or in fill
ing routine position as some ones
secretary. From being an intensely
eager man of affairs he drifted into a
social leunger-the lapdog of the draw
ing room-where the close breath of
some rare perfume meant more than
the clash Of interests and the conquest
of woman greater than that of ma
ton.
Just at this period Ethel Chichester
was the especial object of his adora-
ton.
Her beauty appealed to him.
Her absolute Indifference to him
stung him as lash. 1t seemed to be-
little his powers of attraction. Conse-
quently he redoubled his efforts.
Ethel showed neither like nor dislike
Just form Of federation. Brent &C.
cepted this, as dog crumb, in the
hope of something more substantial
to follow. He had come that morn
ing with a fixed resolve. His man.
ner was determined. His voice wOoed
as a caress. he went tenderly to
Ethel the moment the door closed on
Jarvis.
How are you?" he asked, and there
was note Of subdued passion in his
| tone.
Fair" replied Ethel without even
| looking at him.
"Where is your mother?'' suggesting
that much depended on the answer.
Lying down." answered Ethel truth
fully and without any feeling.
"And Alaric?'
I'm the garden"
| 'Then we have q moment or two
alone?" Brent put world Of mean
ing into the suggestion.
VERY likely" said Ethel, picking up
a score of "Boheme'' and looking at 1t
as if she saw it for the first time, all
the while watching him through her
half closed eyes.
Brent went to her. "Glad to see
me?' he asked.
"Why not?'
II am glad to see you''-he bent over
her-"more than glad"
"Really?"
He sat beside her. "Ethel," he whis.
pered intensely, II am at the cross.
roads,"
"Oh!' commenced Ethel, without any
interest.
1T came last night"
did it,"
This is the end-between Sibyl and
myself"
lis it,"
"Yes-the end. It's been horrible from
the first-horrible. There's not wore
of mine-not an action-she doesn't
misunderstood"
"How boring" said Ethel blandly.
"She would see harm even in this!'
"Why?"
"She'd think I was here to-to'- II,
stopped.