Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1900 — Captain Brabason [ARTICLE]

Captain Brabason

BY B. M. CROKER

./AiJit&py.

CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continued.) Closer and closer he came; his eyes bent on the ground, his hands behind his back, evidently lost in the deepest abstraction. He had approached to within • few paces of the summer house. Esme’s heart was thumping as loudly as a big drum, it seemed to her own terrified ears, and that every other sound was swallowed up in its audible pulsation. Miles came nearer. He was within a yard of the summer house, and while they themselves were wrapped in darkness, he himself stood in the full view of the searching moonlight. They could note the accuracy of his tie, the rather withered little flower in his buttonhole, the parting of his hair, the gold links in his Bhirt cuffs. Nojr he stood on the very step. iTheu he turned slowly away and began to retrace hfs footsteps, “Oh, Ted, I feel so dreadfully frightened,” murmured Esrne. “I know I’m very foolish; for, after all, if he had come In, and I had told him who you were there would have been no harm done.” “Of course he has never heard of me—the family black sheep!” “I believe Mrs. Brabazon told him you were dead!” “Upon my word! She does not stick at a trifle!” “Oh, Teddy! may not I tell him?” “You shall the moment I get my com-mission-no sooner! Just have patience! You’re always so impetuous, and in such a hurry about everything. Pm glad Tve had a good stare at him. He’s a goodlooking fellow; very like that picture in the hall—the chap with the dish-cover and red sash, that was killed at Naseby? 5 ’ “I suppose you mean Rupert Brabazon, in the steel cuirass?” , “Yes. I’m glad to have seen him,” nodding his head toward his now distant cousin, “but I doubt if the satisfaction would be mutual were he to see me.” In another moment Esine had said a hurried good night to her brother, darted round the corner of the summer house, and buried herself in a thick, dusky walk, which led straight to the friendly side door, through which she vanished. Miles had been a prey to Mrs. Brabason all the evening, her grand friends, her health, and her airs; bound to her side by strong social cords, he could not get away, but he had not been indifferent to the fact that Ksme had stolen out of the room an hour ago. He had seen her running down the pleasure ground. Why should he not slip out, too, and meander by her side through the shady walks under the chestuut trees, instead of being pinned to the apron strings of a prosy, egotistical old woman? At last he was released, and had come out - in hopes of meeting Esme. He was going away for a whole week, and to return and learn his fate at the bachelors’ ball at Saudborough, which was to take place within a w r eek. Something told him that the angwer would be “Yes.” But that photo be had seen on the moss at his feet that very morniug kept protruding its ugly presence into his rosy dreams, and trying to imbue his mind with the poisonous taint of suspicion. Who could it have been? A man in uniform. “No one that Esrne cared a straw about,” he kept assuring himself, but still it was a man in uniform! His soul shrunk from the plain truth, but was compelled to embrace it, all the same; Esrne and his aunt had positively assured him that she had no other suitor but himself, and he believed them. He was not such au infidel as to doubt the solemn word of two ladies of his own family—one who bore the weight of years of uprightness, and the other who looked at him with eyes so true and so frank that, if her tongue had dared to utter a falsehood, they themselves would have betrayed her. That meeting at the gate he had now put dowti to Miss Bell. Yes, he had been mistaken; Esrne and Miss Bell were friends; she had been from home, and she was an unusually tall young woman, of almost masculine proportions. Yes, the apparition at the gate was peacefully laid. It is wonderful how young men in love will eagerly furbish up and present excuses to themselves, and accept them, rather than be brought face to face with auy little imperfection or flaw in their divinity. The photograph. Miles boldly ♦old himself, was some public character. Girls carried all manuer of queer things la their pockets, ns he knew from his experience of his own sister, Esrne hud a craze for collecting the photos of royalties and celebrities. Why should not that suspicious picture be the Crown Prince of Germany, our own Prince of Wales, or that handsome man, the late Emperor of Russia? What a fool he was not to have asked her! "He is an idiot about you,” paid Gossip, one afternoon. In a sudden burst of frankness, “aud it is very pluin that he has never been in love before; if he had he would know better than to show his hand. If he wore to ’dissemble' as they any in plays, or to bully you n little It would be all the better for him, poor, deluded young man!" Prom which it will he seen that Augusta pitied Miles. CHAPTER IX. The great day of the bachelors' ball, at Bandborough, dawned at last; and, had you been on the platform at Byford, about 2 o’clock, you would have seen Mrs. ftrabaaon, Miss Jsne, her two nieces, her own maid, Flack, and Nokes, all departing with a world of baggage. The two Miss Olippertoas and their meek little mother filled up the compartment in which the Brabasons had taken their places. They were fwo young ladies, bound for the ball, whose slangy conversation nearly made Miss Jane’s hair come out of enrl. They wore tbeir hair cropped done to tbeir heads, very manly hats, coats and collars, and were ah' entirely novel experience to the dear old person wMh the bobbing cnrls and worked black patln handbag. They were going to the ■ama hotel—horror! their rooms were already taken. *! 1

And now behold our party descending at the Town Hall, and stepping delicately on the red cloth carpeting which was lined at either side by a dense, discriminating crowd, who exchanged audible and critical remarks anent-the arriving company. Miss Jane and Mrs. Brabazon swept their young people on the stairs before them into the ladies’ waiting room, where great pulling out of skirts and touziing of fringes and rearranging of flowers was going on. The new arrivals were carefully looked over by those already on the spot. “Who were these new girls?”was whispered. However, they had some acquaintances, who welcomed them cordially, helping them to take off their wraps, and envied Eame her first ball. “Indeed, you need not envy me,” returned that young lady, emphatically; “if it were my fifth or sixth, I should be far more easy in my mind. Feel me!” holdr ing out her hand; “I’m quite cold and I’m shaking all over.” While this conversation was going on Mrs. Brabazon had arrogated to herself an entire toilet table, and was pulling out a ruffle here, straightening a fold there, and’rearranging her diamond stars as deliberately as if she were in her own apartment, and not keeping an aristocratic old lady, with a haughty nose and very white hair, awaiting her good pleasure. This old dame waited for some five minutes with ill-concealed impatience, and as she waited she had ample time to fctudy the lady who was figuring before the glnss with such aggravating tardiness. Suddenly she started, looked scrutinizingly iuto Mrs. Brabazon’s face and said, in an awe-struck tone, “Why, Jupp! I declare it is Jupp! How do you come here?” measuring her and her velvet gown, lace, diamonds and all, from head to foot, “Madam,” exclaimed the other, with a face the color of a brick, “what db you mean?” trembling violently all over. “I mean that it is a pretty thing that I should have to stand and wait while my sister’s maid arranges herself at the looking glass!” returned the other, in a hard, uncompromising tone, and with an inexorable eye. “I—l—am Mrs. Brabazon of Baronsford,” replied that miserable woman; “yon are making some mistake.” “None whatever!” very decidedly; “whoever you are now, you were and are Jupp; you can’t deny it; and you know me; you have brushed my hair and buttoned my boots many and many a time! I am Lady Augusta Sharpshooter, and you are my sister’s *’ “Hush, Lady Augusta!” implored the other; “for mercy sake, hush! You are quite right. I have became what you see —the widow of a gentleman of fortune. 1 entreat you to keep my secret,” pleaded Mrs. Brabazon, brought to her knees for once in her life, and, in truth, a most abject spectacle. At this moment Gussie and Esine came forward, accompanied by Miss Jane, and declared “that they were quite ready now', if she was,” and, with an extraordinary effort to regain her composure, and one beseeching glance at her austere old acquaintance, Mrs. Brabazon was carried away. No words could paint her feelings; she felt that a veritable sword of DamodeH-was hanging over her head. She had no spirit to seek out aud nttach herself to the great oues of the land. She sat alone and aloof for fully half the evening, reviling fate for having sent Lady Augusta across her path, and asking herself what the world would say , when they were acquainted with her former career. As Esrne stood under the gallery and gazed timidly about her, she felt absolutely dazzled; the imiueuse hall was filled by a gay crowd, who were walking, standing, sitting after the second dance. Miles had appeared on the scene, full of apologies for his tardy arrival, the sole fault of the train, which was late. He could hardly believe his eyes when he beheld Esine floating around with such grace, looking even more lovely than the image he hud fondly carried away in his mind. Certainly there was no doubt that this dress was an adornment, and that even Esine was more beautiful in this silvery gauze garment, with pearls on her neck, flowers in her hands, excitement in her eybs, than in her ordinary common white gown, even when re-en-forced by the crimson parasol. “I have kept two dances for you,” said she, holding out her hand with a smile. “What! Only two?” uugrntefuliy. “Yes, lancers and waltz. Aunt Jaue,” lowering her voice, “made me promise not to dance more than twice with anyone.” “Not even with me?” expressively. _ “Not even with you.” Here Esine’a partner made a bow and retired gracefully. "Evidently,” be said to bimaelf, “the dark fellow was the man.” “I suppose your card is rull?” “Yea, I can’t believe It,” smiling’, “for I don’t know anyone in the room. Isn’t It funny?” "Excessively funny; most unaccountable,” replied Miles, with a smile quiver lug under his mustache. "But who la your friend opposite? the man with the shiny face, who is nodding at yon like a mandarin?” "Oh, look away, look away! he Is a horror I met at the Toppingtous’ Christmas party.” “Esrne,” whispered her sister, breathlessly, over her shoulder, “there’s lltlle Madden, and lie la coming over; he caught your eye; mind you mount your very highest horse.” “Now for It,” said Milea, as a little man with a red face and the tallest of collars, and an air of being on admirable term* with himself, advanced with a kind of grin. “So charmed to see yon, Mlsa Brtba*«n; this is Indeed a treat. Hope yon tove kept a couple of dances for me?” • "No, I have not,” very stifliy returned the young lady, ostentatiously avoiding the, proffered hand.

“Ah! but you’re gong to da-ance this with me, arc you not? or the next? I’ll get you lots of partners. Don’t yon recollect me?” in a tone slightly tinged with amazement. “We had the pleasure of meeting at Mrs. Top’s,” “I do not remember the pleasure,” returned Esine, with very emphatic significance, while Miles and Gussie exchanged glances of the keenest delight. put even this anub had but little effect on Mr. Madden. He rose to the surface with cork-like buoyancy, and boldly demanded at least one dance, and hia persistent entreaties were only cut short by Miles leading hia partner away to take their places in one off the rapidly forming seta of lancers. “I did not thing you had it in you to snub anyone but me. Poor beggar, you were awfully rough on him,” said Miles, as they came to anchor. “Rough! You don’t know him!” viciously. “At the Toppingtons’ party he was qijite —quite ” “Intoxicated?” suggested her companion, interrogatively. “Yes, very much so; he actually took me for a school girl, and had the impudence to try to kiss me under the mistletoe,” growing rather red, and speaking very fast. “Confounded cad!" muttered Miles, looking over in the direction of Mr. Madden with a countenance now the reverse of indulgent or sympathetic. “I suppose,” said he, looking round, “that you are as great a stranger to all these people ns I am; and you don’t know anyone from Adam?” “Not quite so bad as all that,” responded Esme, with a smile; “some of the Maxton and Byford people are here. There, you sec that nice-looking lady over there in the white lace shawl, she is Mr. Bell’s sister, and between you and me that is Mrs. Bell’s shawl!” lowering her voice to a whisper. “Oh, and the girl near her in the swell dress?” “That is a bride—and the old gentleman with the bald head, holding her fan, is her husband. She is his fourth wife.” “Oh, come now,” in a tone of amused expostulation. “She is!” indignantly. “She is a courageous woman!” ejaculated Miles. _ “How do you do, Miss Brabazon?” said a tall, plain girl in a pink dress, accosting Esme in the tea room, while Miles was procuring her a cup of coffee, addressing her with such warmth that she felt quite taken aback, tor she had only' met Miss Courtenay Green at one or two garden parties, and then she had barely deigned to notice her save by a few tepid monosyllables and a fishlike clasp of the hand. “Your first ball, I suppose? I hope you are enjoying it,” eying Esme’s dress, aa she spoke, with an air of critical inspection, looking at it sideways and frontways, and evidently not merely appraising its value, but taking the pattern in her eyes, as she drawled forth remarks about the band, the floor and the lights, in an abstracted manner. “Is'that you* cousin Captain Brabazoq?” she asked, having at length summed up Esme’s ball costume; “the dark young man who was dancing with you?” lowering her voice mysteriously. ’ “Yes.” “The one who has come in for such heaps of money?” with still greater animation. “Very good looking, too. You may Introduce him to me when he comes back. Here he is,” eagerly. “Now,” with a sharp nudge from a still sharper ■elbow. “Miles,”"said Esme, in the innocence of her heart, “what ages you have been getting this coffee. Miss Courtenay Green wishes you to be introduced to her.” Miss Courtenay Green beamed and bowed with laudable presence of mind, but felt at the moment that she would have been almost justified in having Miss Brabazon’s life. However, Miles duly begged leave to inscribe his name on her rather empty program and led his partner once more back to the ball roam. (To be continued.)