More than Brothers.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXV, Issue 2126, 29 January 1909, Page 7

More than Brothers.

H» (By Chriatian A.. Winter.)'

Now First Publisnoil.

PART II; CHAPTER XXVII Thanks to Annie's untiring efforts and Mabels energetic help, Mrs Brandon's suggestions, based on recollections of the past, were all safely carried out. Mrs Brandon regretted her o wn weakness, she would have liked so prepare everything with, her own hands, but the heat ot the stove made her giddy, and he was obliged to leave the cooking in her daughters' hands. When Walter came in from his work he was surprised to find auch a goodly feast prepared, and to see his mother in such high spirits. The news oi the expected arrival was at once related to him, sufficient" explanation for the unusual preparations. "I'm sure it's about the time he came," Mrs Brandon kept saying. "Look, its quite dark outside. Bear ! dear I hope nothing's hindered him." Mabel hastened to reassure her, while Annie added, "JSo, I'd never had any idea who he was, if he nadn't told me." ... ■That's right enough, but it may be something else, an accident or—" "Oli. nonsense, mother ! It's nothing of'the kind! He's wait ng till it gets cfuite dark," sard M be!, putting on her hat to go home. "He'll be here before l''m back, yon 'sen if he isn't. I'll just run over aittd get George's tea and then run back. Ta-ta." "I think," said Mrs Brandon, as Mabel whisked away. "That I'll go and wait for him at the door. He c'an't be long now." "Are you well enough ?" asked Ate nie doubtfully, but Walter jumped at the suggestion. "It can't hurt her. The night's very mild. Come on, mother

"Oh Annie, there's one thing I forgot ! Have you got any eggs left ? Yes? ooukln't you make some pancakes, Ern's so fond of them ? No* now, of oourse, but after he comes, so he can have them straight from the pan V' Annie nodded a amiling assent, and Mrs Brandon left the room, leaning on Walter's arm

It may have been five minutes later when Walter slipped into me room, alone. He did not speak, but merely nodded to Annie's unspoken question, and took his seat at tire table. Then the tone's of a man's voice was heard at tie door, as if to corroborate Walter's reply. Several minutes passed ; all was silent in the house, it was a sacred silence, that no one dared to break. Walter sat as if in p. dream ; his memories of his brother wore not very vivid, and he oould not imagine wh a t he would be like now. He could not realize that Ernest was at homo ap-ain. His brother's voice roused him from hia thoughtful attitude, but not from the feeling of uncertainty that possessed him. "Hullo Walter ! that you, old fellow !" Walter grasped the outstretched hand eagerly, and looked uu at his brother with great interest. Could he be really Krn V Was there a resemblance to Annie in his face, or was it all imagination ? At any rate, Mrs Brandon had no doubts whatever abhut his identity, neither, had Annie, judging by her shyly affectionate greeting. * •'Whore's Mabel '!" enquired Ernest, looking- round the room, asi if he expected to find her hidden under the chairs or the table.

"She had to run home and get tea for her husband, she wanted very much to stay, but she thought he'd ■tarve if she left him to get tea alone. You know what men are," explained Mrs Brandon, with a fond smile.

"I know what girls are more likely," said Ernest, trying to look offended. ''Ho could have managed alright, but I'm nowhere beside him, that's very evident." "She'll be back in a few minutes, Ern. Sit down her, and we'll have tea at once, it'll spoil if it's kept waiting. And where have you been lately my bov?"

''Lately ? Oli. cruising round '>h iny yacht the only forbidden place is Neinel." "ies, wc heard somebody had informed on you there—Pass the gravy to Ern, Annie-Did you find out who it was, Ern '!" "Some of .Major De Renzy's work," replied Ernest, and then suddenly recollected that Alison had not kept his promise to tell him all his reasons for telling his grandfather the secret. This was his first recollection of the promise, Alison's illness had driven it out of his head entirely. Probably Alison had forgotten also. "Major De Renzy !" exclaimed Mrs Brandon, hotly, as she took her place at the table, choosing an ordinary chair in preference to the armchair sihe had occupied since her illness. "We were as friendly as—well, as w e used to be here," safci Ernest, beiore his mother's indugnation found words. "And I suppose he reckoned he'd been taken in, and ho wasn't too well pleased about it. besides that, think of aDe Renzy going about with me ! That was what he felt more than anything, I believe." " Alison doesn't inherit his grandfather's pride," observed Mr 9 Brandon.

"He does not !" exclaimed Ernest, shaking the pepper-tin violently to emphasise his words. "Have you seen Alison lately ?" enqnied Walter, passing his brother's plate for meat. "He's been staying with ua the last day or So—that's plenty, thanks, Mo-ther,-He:'s been ill lately, and I believe he's getting about too soon. I was hoping he'd stay with fa—with slr Seaworthy, but no, he would insist on coming along with me, obstinate fellow." "He might come along after tea, then '!" enquired Annie. "Have some more baked potatoes, Em ?" "No, he's gone on to Neinei. Thanks Annie, 1 believe I will. That's the to bake potatoes, along with the roust meat, I'd forgotten all about it. I'll try some when I go back to Rimurimu Island." "Do you do all your own cooking?'* enquired Walter. "Nobody else to do it, except Mi Seaworthy; we take it in turns, I'd

ftdyiseyou.to learn, Walter, or you might become aa helpless as Mabel's husband." "I should say it was? alright fun I" exclaimed Walter. "It's not too bad. If we could smuggle you over to the island—what say, mother ?" "I don't know, Ern, better wait til] you're a bit more settled. Was Alison ill there ?" "On the island ? Yes. Mr Seaworthy was there to look after him ; he's a splendid nurse, you can't put him out; he's just tho same however savage you may be. I ought to know, I was ill for ever so long when I first got there, and I didn't take it like Al ; 1 was as cross as ten dozen bears tlu? whole time. How he put up with me 1 don't know, but he never seemed to mind it a bit. Oh, he's, a splendid fellow, nobody can deny that. Ever seen him, Annie ?" "Once," replied Annie, and then, blushing deeply, turned away to cut some bread. She had been on the beach with Carl when a stranger passed, a stranger whom Carl greeted with a forma) "Good morning." Struck by a strong likeness between the two, she enquired - the stranger's name, and leurned that he was Carl's father. This was such astonishing news that she actually refused to believe it, be-, ing sure that Carl was only in fun, Carl could not but see that she thought him a better man than he really was, and. being struck with shame, he resoived that, in this matter as in others, he would live up to her estimation rather than deceive her. Hence his reconciliation with his father.

Annie was unconscious of the part she had taken in it, but Seaworthy suspected it, and now, for the first time, Ernest began to understand a little what her influence might mean. His instinctive dislike to Carl was not to be overthrown in a minute, yet he felt certain that in time itwould disappear. At present, ho could not disturb his mother's peace of mind by mentioning his distrust of Annie's lover, and even when he sat down to talk to her alone" when the others were in bed, there would be plenty to talk about, for she must hear about Elsie. She had heard all that Annie had to tell her, and no doubt it was enough for her that Carl was the son of Mr Seaworthy, who had been so good to her boy. It was not as if there was nobody else to find out if Carl was in earnest.

"Did you say Mabel was coming to tea ? ' enquired Ernest, presently. "What's that about Mabel?" cried a voice behind him, as the door sprang open, and Mabel herself, all vivacity and excitement, entered, out of breath with hurrying, yet nobly striving to welcome her brother, and at the same time to unfold her news, which she flourished wildly in the air, in the shape of the evening paper as if these exercises would help her audience to understand it.

"Oh, Ern, is that really you at last, old boy ? Here, let's have a look at you ! Why, you haven't altered the least little bit in the world! What a size you are, though ! A regular giant ! And you've grown a moustache ? Humph, well, it's an improvement, I suppose, but a few shades darker would have been better. What's that, Walter ? Then it would be the same colour as George's ? You go on with your tea, young man, you're getting too clever. Oh, isn't it just grand about Alison V Just fancy him doing a thing like that? What, haven't you read it? It's in the paper. You've got the paper, and you haven't looked at it. I thought so ! When George road it out to mo I said : Hero, give me that paper, you can do without it for once, and I'm going to be the first to tell Ern the news. How is jt these papers always crumple up when you want to turn them. Here, Walter, you manage it. Well, I'll tell you about it. It was in Neinei, and there was a horse, and somebody frightened it, and it went mad and reared and kicked and jumped and danced and carried on right and leit, and its rider managed to stick on somehow or other, but there were two little children, and it knocked them over and stunned them, and a inhiuto later they'd have been killed for certain, but Alison rushed right under tiio horse's feet and saved them there And nobody else was bravo enough to try it even, except old Al. And the best of it was he wasn't hurt a bit, he escajjed 'as by a miracle' the papers say ;no need of putting the 'as' in, I'm sure. And they say he must have been as quick as a Hash of lightning about it, or words to that oliect; and I can quite believe that, Ern ! Aren't you proud of your old churn ? Why, can't one of you say something ? I've got to do all' the talking. Have you opened that paper, Walter ? Here you are, Ern."

"Sit down" said Ernest. "I've heard sonie streams of elopuence from your rosy lips before, Mabel, but I think this beats all. Sit down here beside me, where I oan see yo,u behave yourself. I believe a cup of tea might be refreshing after this great exertion, Annie. Now, give <us the paper, and let's see what old Al's been up to."' Mabel sank, rather than at down, upon the offered chair, but would not begin her meal until .she heard Ernest's news. "Just the sort of thing Old All would do.''' observed Ernest, quietly, wjien he had read the account of it "Like to see it mother." "Is that all ?" exclaimed Mabel, pretending to be highly offended. "That's all," said Ernest, quietly. "Well, if my friend had turned out a hero "

"I didn't read anything about his turning one out. Where was the hero in question- when Al turned him out?" "He hasn't improved the least little bit," Mabel indignantly informed her mother. "He teases as bad as ever." "Try some more baked potatoes, Ern," said Mrs Brandon. "That's right, give him something to eat, that'll keep him quiet." "Is that the method you follow in your married life?" asked Ernest. "Children"! Children !" exclaimed Mrs Brandon; and Annie came to the rescue with a roast chicken, and restored comparative peace. After tea the family settled round the table for a long talk. There was a great deal to be said, Alison's heroism to be read and discussud at full length, Ernest's adventures to 4ra told and talked over. It was late when Mabel at last tore herself away, and Annie and Walter retired, buit it was still later when Mrs Brandon and Ernest parted. If there had been a

lot to say in the evening, there was much more to be recounted in confidence, and each was reluctant to go to bed. Ernest at length proposed that his mother should retire, she looked white and tirod ; her weakness was proving'stronger than her power of will.

"If wo say everything to-night there'll be nothing lelt for next time," said Ernest. "And now I've managed to get home once 1 don't see wny it shouldn't bo done again. You'd better go to bed, Al other, and I'll turn in with Walter. Good-night." Early next morning, just as Walter, the first to rise, was lighting the kitchen lire, there came a knocK at tho door. Walter, with sudden misgiving in hid heart, laid down his box oi matches, and went to see who was there, trying to persuade himself that it was only a neighbour. A tall sharp-featured man stood on the steps ; a man with a nose that seemed to give the impression that it was maue for poking into other people's business. His eyes were small but very keen, and as Walter opened the door they darted round the kitchen, and took in every detail. After this suspicious glance he spoke, and his words confirmed Walter's fears.

"Is this place where Young Soaworthy's staying ?"' Walter shook nis head. "iNo" he replied, rather nervously, and then, gaining courage, suggested, "Perhaps, you've come to the wrong, house." "I was-told the family lived here." The sharp eyes seemed actually piercing as they fixed themselves on Walter's face. A slow flush mounted to the boy's face, but before he could speak again, the stranger was continuing, in the low, cautious tones ho had used beiore.

"W.'hnt's his real name +hetn? I've clean forgot it ! 'Ernest' that's what Seaworthy always calls him. Hasn't h.i come home yet ? Why the worKd. can't you answer ? What's your name thou ? Brand—no. that ain't it. Brandon " Ajinio came into the room at tii's moment and at siglit of her Walter braced himself up realizing that he was his brother's only protector for the time being. To his astonishment however, the stranger, seeing Annie, ma'de a quick step forward as if ho recognised her, while Annis, as suddenly, Stepped back. For half a minute they stood, facing one another, then Annie made a quick movement, as if to leave the room again, but the low tones of the stranger's voice, n'ow imploring as well as low, held her as it were, to the spot. "iMiss Brandon, you've seed me at Keinei, don't you remember, and whatever 1 may have did, I've been a good friend to your brother all along, and there can't nobody deny it. xoung Mr De Renzy, he trusts mo too, 'cause he's sent this hero note through me. And has Young Seaworthy come home 1"

"Would you " Annie stopped for just one second, and the visitor chimed in :-- "Would I like to see him ? Oh, I won't trouble you, Miss Brandon 'I did it for his -sake, but if I'd knowed Young De lienzy at the time, I'd never have did it.' Tell him that, ho'll understand, and give him this hero note. Good-day." and before either of thorn could speak he was striding oil, his shoulders slouched, his eyes roving round in a queer, underhand manner, as if he was ashamed of himself. "Who on earth is he?" exclaimed Walter. "Exactly what I should like to know," said Ernest., as he entered the kitchen. "Well he's evidently a friend of Annie's" continual Walter, "You should have seen how he brightened up wnen she came in ?" "Another of your young men, Annie ?"

from Xeinc.i, Ern, but I forgot Ills name. He brought a note from Alison ; here it is" and Annie dishppeared from the room, without waiting to hear more about her young men. "Discretion Is the better part of valour," observed Ernest. "What did he sav Waiter V

'•fie said, tha if he'd koo-wad Alison he would never have did it," replied his brother, smiling. "And he said you d know what he meant." i '•'Me made a mistake there," said Ernest opening the note. "How am 1 to know wkit he was talking about ? i don't even 'know who he was; though to be store the language sounds familiar. 1 wander—no, it couldn't have been my friend Scott—and. yet, I don't know, Al is too cautious to send a message except by a trusted messenger. It's a wonder he didn't stay a bit, thofugh, if he was 1 _ Scott, but he's been queer lately, trying to turn over a new loaf perhaps. The note might oxplabi this mysterious message of his." Then he looked down at the note and read '•—

Dear old Em, I promised to tell you my reason lor telling Grandfather who you were. I have found proof that Dick Graham fell by my hand, and this has had the effee't of bringing erything back to my memory. 1 have J come to Neinei to confess.. For ten whole years you have been under a | cloud, but now that I know the truth | I will be able to clear your najno. oh, may God give me strength to do it.—Krom your old chum for over Alison Dc Renzy. (To be Continued.)