The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-22

OGnCe
Your mother fasclnates me-" she
confessed, but / am sure she has
suffered terribly. and yet how
brightly she laughs and smiles"
MY mother is a brave woman"
Borradale said slowly. II believe
she would smile on her death-bed
If she thought 1 needed cheering.
But she has known trouble. You
have, too" His eyes got very ten
der as he said the last words, his
voice rich in sympathy.
81 lost my sister only a few
months ago" murmured Esther,
"and ever since her death I have
felt so terribly alone. oh, II IL
fearful, this sense Of lonellness!"
she went on rapidly. at is like lIv-
ing by ones self in the dark.
don't seem to have any aim or OBJ
ject in life. Mrs. Meredith Is very
kind, and have a cousin whom I
am heartily sorry for. But I don't
mean anything to anybody now. any
more than people mean to me-"
Esther's Eyes Filled With Tears.
Her eyes filled with hot tears;
she looked a dropping, pathetic fig
ure. in her long black dress, a de-
spairing Clytie. Harold Borradale
thought he had never seen a more
beautiful or more pathetic face, and
his whole heart went out to the
lonely girl
May be your friend?" he asked.
gently. I'VE are going to be near
neighbors. viii you promise, Miss
Nassell, to send for me II you ever
need help or. advice? Believe me,
] am in earnest-I was never more
in earnest in my life"
Esther glanced UP at the man and
believed him. There was something
in the strong, open face that for
bede man or woman ever to doubt
Harold Borradale. A curious sensa-
ton of relief came over the girl.
"A hero at last" she murmured.
Here at last was a champion. a
knight, who could do battle in her
service. She became aware OF her
tired weakness the more she real
lied the others strength.
81 do need a friend" she muir
INJURED. in low tones. "Ah, more
than you can guess or suspect. But
] am not a very lucky person. Mr..
Borradale. l sometimes wonder il
some wicked fairy godmother cursed
me at my christening" She laughed
family, then started as she noticed
the curious expression that had
come over her companions face.
Harold's Family Is Cursed.
DO you believe in curses?" he
asked with hoarse earnestness;
that II is possible for a family to
be burdened with a curse even unto
the third and fourth generation?
Why, ! thought such superstition
did not exist in our day. Why
should the innocent suffer for the
guilty? 1t isn't right: IL isn't fair"
He spoke with strong excitement,
striking a lavender bush with his
bare hand till the bruised and
sSnitten spikes made the air heavy
with their fragrance.
Esther hardly knew what to say.
Half unconsciously she laid her fin
gers on the young mans arm,
checking the work of destruction.
Poor lavender bush" He sur
veyed the wounded bush ruefully.
'One should always be tender to
lavender It is the delicate old
maid OF the garden"
Take 1t Miss VasselI," He Said.
He broke off a spike and handed
1t to Esther. Take il Miss TasseII,
and make it happy among your
laces. / expect you thought my
conduct utterly mad just now. But
I don't know" He paused a sec
ond and looked at the girl thought
fully. Have you ever heard of the
Borradale curse?" he asked
THE Borradale curse" repeated
Esther neryously, fno-what is it?''
81 don't know myself'-his brow
knit into a puzzled frown-"nor
shall l be told till am ~thirty.
Ny years at present number twenty
eight The curse-whateYer il is
hangs over our Adderley property.
pay my state visit there on my
thirtieth birthday" He laughed,
but uneasily.
"Oh," She Said. Never Go There
"Adder!ey." muttered Esther. her
face becoming very drawn and
white, "Oh, never go there she
cried almost passioRRtely. Keep
away from Adderley."
You both look so serious" Mrs
Meredith was the speaker. She and
Mrs. Graves had come up behind
Mr.. Borradale and Esther: they had
walked across the lawn. and the
soft turf deadened the sound of
their footsteps I'm sorry to have
to drag YOU away from this de-
lightful old garden" continued the
lady. cheerfully. but Mr.. Graves
has just been remarking 20 Mrs.
Borradale, time and trains 'yal for
no one"
THE train leaves at O'clock"
said the lawyer, consulting his
heavy gold watch. land it is now a
little past 3-that only just allows
US enough time"
'Oh. l must go and say Eood-by
TO Mrs. BOrradale." exclaimed
Esther, with some dismay, land I
have not seen the fountain. after
ALL" she addressed Mr.. BorradaIe
with smile. THE famous Canova
statue one hears so much about. I
am sorry"
Continued Tomorrow
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