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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 26, 1925)
BREEME HOUSE I By Katherine Newlin Burt I 4‘By Gad!” said Alec, laugh tng not very naturally, and look ing him coolly over through nar rowed eyes, “I didn’t think you’d dare.” For an instant it seemed as though lightning ran through the body of the Wcstener. Then, after a keen, probing glance, he relaxed, flung away his cigar ette, threw up hia chin, and laughed aloud. “I like that!” said Rufus, then laughed again. ‘‘I • like that.” it was I mo enu oi ine inter view. Alec swung away up the hill side, his pillses beating. Tre mont very slowly followed. Both enger and amusement had settled deep in bis eyes. “He’s as queer ns a bronc. Thought 1 had him roped that time. Lots of nerve. Guess he’ll throw over the little girl for the heiress, unless I make a quick oiove. ’ ’ But Alec’s thoughts were grirn enough. “I couldn’t ask father to sell the Van Dyke,” he said to him «elf. “1 couldn’t—when it comes to G»at—sell her myself. Bo there’s an end to it. The lady Jane is still for Brecme House -and for Claire, Countess u>f Brecme.” fie passed Aline and Sir Geof frey, giving them a long, queer look, and his purpose hardened tpto very stone. Sir Geoffrey was drawing a diagram in the earth with a twig. “I could throw out a wing here,” said he, “and start a rose ^garden under these windows. And what do you say to a tennis court out beyond the rose-gar den. Eh’ what?” Aline looked at him, and her patient, beautiful eyes grew ten der. “You’ll havo to run up with me some morning soon,” went on Sir Geoffrey, “and look things over. 1 want suggestions. It’s «uch an old barracks of a place. 43uch a bachelor den. Couldn’t you get off to-morrow?” 441 don’t think so. No; not to morrow.” “When?” ’“I’ll have to ask Lady Breeme.” Aline decided that the keynote «f her feeling for Sir Geoffrey was gratitude. More and more *he leaned upon him, more and more she turned to him for un derstanding. How he or any other man could be satisfied with just frankly that from her was puz *ling. But since God had made * man so simple and generous, she would do what lay in her power to repay him. They were hitting under a broad-spreading beech. A few yards away, Claire, with the sun «ot her hair, .played at prisoners’ base with Y’iolet and .Jane and Humphrey an i Rufus Trewont. Abe had found Miss Meriden «nd Maellurncy on a wall, and Was indolently ti using the little .lady while AlacBurney silently admired. Everyone looked happy, careless, unthinking, careless, unthinking. “When is it coming offt” asked Sir Geoffrey putting up liis eyeglass, and looking towards the trio. ■“It!” Aline half started. He dropped his glass with a deep, apologetic flush. “Claire and Alec, you mean!” ■he asked. “I—I was thinking aloud. Tell me, it doesn’t hurt! Not now.” “No,” said Aline. “It doesn’t hurt.” He blew a big breath, his chest lifting. “It makes me hope a great, many things for you. I promised a ball in my barracks, Aline,” aaid Sir Geoffrey, “in Claire Wilton’s honor. But I believe I’ll give it in yours, eht” “Give your ball in my honor by all means,” said Aline, “be cause Lord Breeme is planning <ue for Claire. It will be fancy dress. Next Thursday, I believe; ahortly before she goes. Will you come!” VRftttfer!” There was a silence, not quite the easy, comfortable silence that bad once been between them. Suddenly Aline felt a pang for that lost friend of hers, Sir Geof frey Brooke. It started in her an absorbing train of thought, in which she loot the first steps of the swift tragedy that liras enact 13 , cd. She did not see Alec come running to where the horses were tied. “A wager,” said he. “ Mac Burn ey and I are to jump the hedge and Devil’s Ditch for Miss Wilton’s first waltz next Thurs day night.” Rufus Tremont glanced at .lane. “Where’s Devil’s Ditch?” he asked. Jane looked alarmed. “Oh,” said she, “they can’t really mean to do it. What made Miss Walton think of such a tiling: It’s two fields over, down below the cove,—a nasty jump. Captain Mastertoir broke his neck there three years ago. Alec 1” Alec was in his saddle and rode past her down the hill be fore the vague eyes of Aline, who did not heed. MacBurney was close after him. They looked excited and reckless. Alec turned his face back to Jane for an instant with a teas ing little smile. “Pray for me, Jane.” “Oh, Claire! We must stop them. Mr. MacBurney is a splendid horseman, but Alec—” “I’ll stop them.” Rufus started down the hill at a run. It was too late. The young men spurred their horses for the ditch. “You fools! Come back!” shouted Rufus fiercely, and set off, hot foot, for the hedge. Both horses went over, and a moment later MacBurney ap peared on the far side. As soon as he could get control he wheeled his horse and frantic ally waved his arm. “Come over! Quick!” he shouted, “Lord Tremont’s off. He’s hurt.” It was this that Aline heard, breaking in on her thoughtful silence. She stood up, white, and looked where everyone pointed. Prom her vantage ground at the hill top she could seo Alec’s still body and the moaning, restless mass of his fallen horse. still body and the moaning, rest less mass of his fallen horse. “He’s killed, Sir Geoffrey,” she said simply, looking up into his face with eyes that told him for the first time the whole true secret of her heart. “My Alec’s dead.” A tremor of utter collapse passed through her strained figure, and she fell fainting to the ground. XI orten occurcci to Sir Geof frey, in after years, that at this crucial moment it was not of Aline nor of Alec that he thought first. Instantly he turned and called for Claire Wilton. But she was there al ready, and had lifted the girl’s unconscious heap into her lap. And Claire’s eyes were not up on Aline s white face; they were look ng straight up into his, with such depth of pity as made them seem to him like wells of strength and comfort. “I’ve wanted so much to help you,” she said as she loosened Alines collar; “but I ivnildn’t say a word. I was put under seal of secrecy.” “Alec told you—of our en gagement?” lie asked. “Yes. Ah, Sir Geoffrey, it was so splendid of you—hut a forlorn hope! And you didn’t know it?” she asked, as she chafed Aline’s cold hands. “Not till this moment. I must have been blind. I saw he was tormenting her, toi'turing her; and I never thought she cared for him. I wanted simply to pro tect her. Her father left them to me—as a kind of unofficial guardian, you know.” “It was not protection she needed; it was courage—enough for him and for herself. She was freer than he, weak as he was— and inhuman 1” Aline stirred, sighing, but re lapsed into unconsciousness again. “Fetch me some water, please, Sir Geoffrey,” Claire asked. He ran to the pails that Rufus had filled, and Claire saw the others, far below them, carrying Alec towards Sir Geoffrey’s ear. “They will want you now”, she said to him when he return ed. “If he should live, please, please won’t you let ms kelp you!” she pleaded. “It’s not too late to set things right. We must, we must find a way.” “If he lives,—pray God he does,” he answered. “The fool that I’ve been—the double .fool,” —and his eyes dwelt upon Claire ns if he were experiencing a miracle. “I would rather,” she said looking up at him, with her warm smile, “be such a fool, than the wisest man on earth. You will let me help?” she urged hurried ly “God knows I shall need you. I shall never trust myself again.” And he went towards his car, and left her, Aline’s head rest ing in her lap. Almost immediately then, con sciousness returned, and with a quick, pale self-po&scssion that cut Claire to the heart, Aline in sisted on rising, and walked shakily but with the forced calmness of determination to Sir ueotrrey s car, into winch Alec s inert body was being lifted. Sir Geoffrey’s place was near er to Lone Tree Hill than Breeme "House, and it was advisable, too, not to alarm the earl; so Alec was taken there in Sir Geoffrey’s new machine, with his head on Jane’s lap, his young face turn ed up blankly and rigidly to the sky—for on being lifted into the car he fainted again. It was typical of Sir Geoffrey’s con sideration that he saw to it unob trusively that Aline went with them in the car. Her duty clear ly lay, however, in a promjTt re turn to Breeme House, and after Alec had been put to bed there was nothing for it but that she should go. She stood alone in one of Sir Geoffrey’s great, bare, ugly downstairs rooms that flanked the 'entrance-hall, put ing off the moment of her de parture, hoping against hope that the doctor, ridden for at once by Rufus Tremont, might come before she left. A servant came to her pres ently with a message. “The cart’s ready for you, miss. Sir Geoffrey has given orders for one of the men to drive you home.” She got numbly into the hat and jacket she had thrown aside. The room was almost dark. Sir Geoffrey came in. “You here, Alinef” She started towards him. “I gave orders for lights and a fire,” said he, standing grave ly beside her, with his eyes upon her face. “I’m sorry you’ve had to wait here so cheerlessly. Altc is conscious. We can’t tell yet how seriously he is hurt be cause he doesn’t seem quite him self—the natural result of a blow on the head.” Aline quivered. Then sudden ly, with her intended husband standing so quietly there, his hands locked behind him in the old way; and his grave, gray fac®, she felt the need of an apology or somo sort from her self to him. She put her hand uncertainly on his arm. “Geoffrey, you know he’s my friend. I played with him when he was a little fellow.” His hands came to lie quietly on her shoulders. He had never been anything but tenderly nn domoi-strative with her. Ilis touch*was pure fatherly. “My dear girl, don’t apologise. What could be more natural?” “It was the shock—the sud denness—that bowled me over. I am so ashamed.” “You’ve been under a strain. Don’t try to explain it, Aline. Go home, since you must. I wish I could take you, my dear. I shall be over in the morning, or I shall send someone.” Again she touched his arm. “You, please, Geoffrey; no one else.” “If I can, I shall come. Don’t pass to anxious a night. I believe Alec is not much hurt. Make light of it to his father till we hear what the doctor says.” He followed her out of $he door and down the steps and helped her into the cart, still with that gentle air of restraint. It awed Aline. “Good-bye, Geoffrey, thank you.” “Good-bye.” He pressed the hand she held to him and went in without waiting to see her drive away. Aline didn’t notice the omission. CHAPTER Xin AMENDE HONORABLE For the next two days Breeme House was all anxiety and rest lessness. The doctor’s first re port, brought by Sir Geoffrey before sunrise, was uncertain.*'A concussion—impossible to tell how serious. The earl had to be told. He was impatient. He must know the truth about his “boy”. And, knowing it, he had neither rest nor appitite. He sat biting his lips, his eyes wistful with fear, comforted by Claire, who turned all her energies to his distraction. She sat beside him, his hand in both of hers, en couraging him to talk about Alec. Aline saw them together in this intiate fatherly and daugh terly fashion with a sharp pang, She, too, loved the earl. He had b< en always kind. But never for an instant, even at his kindest, had he looked at her with such affection. Aline busied herself restlessly about the house, with the chil dren, or waiting on Lady Bree me, who wras inclined to regard Alec’s accident as a judgement on his faults. Every now and then, as she went upstairs and down, she noticed with a dis agreeable shock the presence of the long-haired copyist. He came ' early and stayed late, working ceaselessly, and his skill was manifest. His Lady Jane was distinguishable only by the freshness of color and canvas from Van Dyke s. ‘‘I shall be glad when he is gone,” said Aline half pettishly to Sir Geoffrey. This was on his fourth visit, three days after the accident, when he came with good news. The doctor was cer tain of a rapid recovery. The concussion. After all, had been very slight. Sir Geoffrey cele brated the good news upstairs with the earl and Claire, and downstairs with Lady Breeme. Jane had never left her brother, and Rufus Tremont had been tactfully absent in London. Aline had not been told of Sir Geof frey’s visit till it had lasted over an hour, and then she hur ried from her nursery to meet him comiag in search of her. She had taken his tidings quietly, the strained weariness of her face relaxing. They had walked up and down together while Sir Geoffrey went over, for the third tie, every joyful detail of the report, and then they had gonee down by way of the gallery and hall to out of doors. It was just after they had passed Mr. Cardoni that Aline had made her pettish re mark—“I shall be glad when he is gone.” (TO BE CONTINUED) " POLAND FEARS RUSSIAN WAR Soviets Spread Propaganda Among Ukranians and White Russians '_ « Whrsaw.—Revolutionary outbreaks simitar to the recent unsuccessful Communist uprising In Esthonla are feared In Eastern Poland at any time. Polish frontier guards on the Russian border engage In sporadic fighting with well-equipped flying columns of Insurrectionists who come, apparent ly, from Soviet Russia. More than 5.000,000 White Rus sians ,and Ukranians, who Inhabit the district, oppose Polish rule over them, a fact which complicates the problem of patrolling the border. Most of the local population regard the brigands who make Incursion Into Polish ter ritory as national heroes fighting for the freedom of the country against Imposed Polish rule. Appointment of military governors with extraordinary powers has failed to put down the unrest. The question of martial law for the border districts will be discussed shortly In the Polish Diet. Soviet propaganda, wrucn is even more pronounced since the rebuff administered to the Soviets by the British Conservative Government, has been responsible for keeping the revolutionary Bplrit alive. The pro paganda falls on fertile ground, for the Ukranlans and White Russians, who comprise the bulk of the popula tion of the doubtful districts, differ from the Poles In both languages and religion, and consider the Poles only temporary occupants of their country, The possibility of armed conflict be tween Poland and Soviet Russia to settle tho status of the Inhabitants of the border districts Is generally realized by Polish leaders. Soviet Russia regards herself as high pro tector of the Slavic national minori ties In Poland. A Polish-Soviet war could hardly be localized. It would draw In at least the other States carved out of former Western Rus sia after the war and might lead to a more general conflagration. “Poland cannot disarm from tip to toe," War Minister Sikorskl declared In the Diet. “The Soviets, during the last 8lx months, have raised fifteen new Infantry divisions In addition to the old sixty two divisions. The Soviets have an air fleet of 100 squadrons, which they are Increasing daily. Russian factories In the last few months have constructed fifty airplanes. In addition the Soviets have purchased 1,000 airplanes from abroad.” Pretty Good Himself. From the Santa Barbara N«wi “Why this rube makeup. Uncle Heck? You've got city clothes.'!, “Slick graftsrs generally buy m> meals wksn I'm to Nsw York.” ■ **■ "*■ ^ — TODAY BY ARTHUR BRISBANE President Coolidga says "the un broken practice of three generations of permitting the president to choo3* his own cabinet, should not now be changed". The people that elected Mr. Cool ldgc with 7,000,000 votes tc spare would surely vote to jet him choose his cabinet, holding him responsible for- what the cabinet does or fails to do. It is preposterous to make a man responsible for a Job. and let others choose the tools with which he shall work. Nevertheless, the constitution de mands that the Senate pass on cabi net appointments, and there is the rub. The people who believe that Mr. Coolidge has chosen In Warren, a thoroughly honest, cap able and conscientious man for at torney general, believe also that his nomination should bo confirmed by the Senate. In the Shepherd caso In Chicago, the prosecution deserves thanks for good work. A young man very rich made a will leaving all he had to Guardian Wil liam D. Shepherd. Soon thereafter he died of typhoid. The charge Is made that Shepherd, the boys guardian, planted the typhoid germs in the body of his ward to cause death and get the money. . Shepherd denied that he knew anything about typhoid, or typhoid germs, and promised to make somebody suffer, Now a witness swears that Shep herd in laboratory studied disease germs and inquired into the possibil ity of administering typhoid germs without detection. The witness swears that after Shepherd left, a vial containing deadly typhoid germs was missing. Such murders, especially with the connivance of a physician, could be committed 99 times out of 100 with impunity. How many such mur ders have been committed to obtain inheritance or life insurance? In Omaha a murderer serving a II year sentence for killing his wife, Is fighting to collect $1,500 life in surance on the wife he murdered. And he may get the money. The district judge explains that while th® law forbids “inheriting money through an act of violence," an in surance policy is a contract and even murder may not cancel it, Mr. Bonflls in his Denver Post publishes the news that for every bath tub in the United States there are three automobiles. A meeting of sanitary engineers is startled by the information, but the Bonfils announcement is just an other proof of progress. Queen .Elizabeth who had 1,000 dresses In her closets, did not have any bath tub, not even a shower. No wonder she retained her title “The Virgin Queen.” Three automobiles to one bath tub isn't as bad as 1,000 dresses and no bath tub. There is progress. Besides, an air bath la almost as good as a water bath. Bathing the Inside of the lungs with fresh oxy gen, may be more important, even, than bathing the outside of the body with fresh water. Only one person at a time can bathe In the same bath tub. whereas from five to 10 can take an air bath In each automobile. Everything you read indicates progress. Roman emperors and their very rich courtiers had bath tubs. And once only a few vanderbilts and others equally rich had automobiles. Now millions have bath tubs and automo biles both. Barnard college authorities tell what “a normal young woman must be.” “She must be able to Jump 3 , feet, 2 inches; throw a basket ball 25 feet; run 25 feet in 4.4 seconds; . climb 4 feet and vault a helghth of | 3 feet, 8 inches: She must have a straight line posture—no curves to front or back or sides, and she must huve clear eyes, nearly rod cheeks and a ready smile." You wonder nature takes pains to put carves on young worn tn, in front, in the back and on the jides, if a young woman really doesn’t need the curves. Even the Venus of Milo, noble majestic creature, is curved here and there, and the beau tiful “stooping Venus" is all curvea Perhaps there is a useful place In the world for young women, not quite so “normal.” Consider tha Bronte sisters. They had no red cheeks, and a "ready smile” was rare among them. They never saw a basket ball, never vaulted, or Jumped, but they did something more important. Think also about Bertha “with the big feet,” mother of Chariamagne, Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln; Olympias, mother of Alex ander the Great, and the wide hipped, very curvy Lastitla Ramollno, mother of Napoleon. Those four ladies wouldn’t fit into the Barnard college description at all. But they were useful. The Image of Evil. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Apropos of the hopes of the bigots for an official censorship of books and plays, the Rev. Nelson Junius Springer said all that need be said in a paragraph: "The whole spirit of censorship Is wrong. It begins in an overweening desire to mind other people’s busi ness, and it commonly expresses It self In grotesque, Irrelevant and op pressive Judgment. The censorial mind Is almost Invariably a hateful mind, bitter, bigoted, blighting. 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