The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17

smile faded from his face. My dear chap, if you only knew how 1 looked forward to your knowing my beauti- full Beryl Furnabyl It was kind of self-conceit with me"
 "Self-coneit"
 "Why, yes. You looked upon me as an old fogey-as dry-as-dust old bachelor. And so I was, until little Beryl made me young again. Good Lord, it seemed a miracle that night I first took her in my arms. I marveled at my own audacity. That l, the poor tired drudge of a coutnry school, should have been honored above all men by this gift of beauty, of exquisite youth. It put great song into my heart. This room which l had hated so much was changed into a paradise. Even those 1 hobbledehoy boys of mine noticed that had been transfigured by some queer miracle. But in the midst Of my joy one thought was always young brother of mine will be proud of me; he won't think I'm such a dull old dog, after all; how splendid it will be when l introduce him to Beryl. An then-be hanged if you don't go quarreling together!"
 Aubrey Trant was staring out of the window at the boys in the play ing fields. There was . queer note | in his voice when he turned round and faced his brother.
 I'm frightfully glad you're happy with her" he said. You deserve it, old man. You deserve every happi- ness that any fellow can have"
 Henry Trants eyes brightened at those words.
 "It's good to hear you say that. Do you know, you have been so grumpy with me lately that l thought had offended you in some way" "Offended me?" The bronze on Au- brey Trants face deepened to rudd5. glow. Being an English boy and an oxford man" he was not prone to reveal emotion, especially before his own brother, but his stammering words now were more emotional than | any he had spoken in his life. It would be fine cheek of me to be of tended with you. You've done every hting for me. You toiled at this schoolmaster drudgery so that l might go to Oxford. Even now you have let me be cad enough to sponge | on your hard-earned salary so that 1 may start a literary career"
 Don't be silly" said Henry Trant very calmly But as he had listened to those stammering words a beautt- ful light had shone out of his eyes, and there was a wonderful tender ness which sottencd the hard lines of his face. You'll pay me back one of these days. I'm only dull old peda- eogue, with brains just good enough to correct schoolboy howlers. But you've got the imaginative touch. When your literary birds come home to roost-eh, old boy?"
 Aubrey Trant smiled in a mirth- | less way.
 i've earned 12 guineas during the last 12 months. It doesn't inspire ore with enormous self-confidence. It's | time I was earning my own living"
 He crossed the room and picked up pair Of golf shoes.
 What are you going to do with those things?" asked Henry Trant suspiciously.
 Pack me up," said the boy, rather stubbornly.
 Henry Trant strode across to him and seized the shoes.
 I'll be hanged if you do! Look here, Aubrey, if you talk any more about packing up l shall feel hurt
 I'd best be off" said Aubrey, "back to London"
 "Gammon and spinach' said the schoolmaster. You've got the blues, | or something. That's what's the mat ter with you. Go upstairs, old lad and finish that short story of yours l When I've got through these internal | exercises we'll stretch our legs bit { reasonable, there's a good chap."
 He pitched the golf shoes into the corner, and clapped his young brother on the shoulder.
 Aubrey hesitated for a moment His l lips moved as though he were about to say something. But he was silent. and then slipped out of the room, with | his hands in his pockets. His brother | listened to his footsteps going up stairs, heard him cross the bedroom and sit heavily down in the cane chair. Then all was quiet.
 Henry Trant had perplexed frown on his face. He could not make out what had come over Aubrey, what had changed a merry boy with great l gifts of laughter into a moody fel- low. But the Latin prose was wait | ing to be corrected, and, with a sigh, the schoolmaster sat down again al his desk in front of the window, and | forced his brain to read the riddles of schoolboy scrawl.
 | But once again the exercises were