Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-12-21


lim; and he had never before mani,
Tested the slightest irritation at her most
cal'aciou> and tantalizing moods
She had, doubtless, allowed the fiat
i"ring attentions oi Mr.. thadock with
some c"Iuctti>h qualification; hut she
| could scarcely he blamed ii She pre-
! ierred the wealthicr and more fortunate
man, whose dpvoticn WAS 50 unmistak
! able and persistent. And then Reuben
| had never seemed to care; he had never
| interposcd the smallest Jealous remun-
STRANGE; to accuse him of jealousy was
insolcnt, cruel, and ridiculous.
She was too willlul and too provoked
| just then To- vouchsafc any amends for
her ohtnSc; that gricved him more than
she could know. But after he had left
her, coldlv, with avertcd face and angry
eyes, she began to feel somewhat peni-
tent and wholly uncomfortable.
For a long time she sat hy the win
dow meditatng, ahsently watching the
big snowilakcs whirliny down through
the icy air.
Presently curious figure appeared
through the thick white storm, bobbing
through the deep soft drifts, and halted
ut length on the lowest step before her
door. The figure was that of an eX-
tremcly aged man, whose long locks,
white as snow around him, clung damp
lv about his pallid and withered cheeks.
lie looked as sorrowful, as honestly de-
serving in his evident misery, as could
have looked the beggar, who had eX-
cited Reuben's generous pity and Eve's
careless scorn.
While the man crouchcd there, shiv
| ering, Mr.. Chadock, wearing Il stylish
| ulster, and swinging Il costly cane jaun-
tily with his iastidiously gloved fingers,
came briskly toward the house.
Those expressive black eyes were very
unbeautiful. the expression Of his aris
tocratic countcnance was very hateful
as, with Il coarse and untimely exclama
ton, he lifted his elegant cane for an
untimely blow upon the white head of
the old laan, whose startled protest
sounded strangely distinct through the
peculiarly resonant wi 1ter air.
81 bes here for Wister Wright, when
he'll be comm" Eve, watching at the
window, heard him say ale bes Il
rale gintleman-God love him AS lint
me the dollar in the storm this day
week. Yess may save yer fine cane.
Mister Chadock, or another fine thafe
like 'yerself, for thaving it is, and no less,
OWN money as We does to your beth
ers. Faith, know We we'll. Yees had
betther pay back the thray hundred dol
lars yees borrowed of Misther Wright
when he had the plenty than be batting
an honest man wild your unholy sthick.
1t is yerself as would have the swate
throuhle if tells Misther Wright how
yees put mp the mind of dhirty lawyer
to chate him of his own legacy. Ii it
bes the gurril yees would decaive away
from him by yer thricks to kape him
down wild the poor, then yees had bether
be goin' back to the ould country to
the ill-treated colleen who ought to be
your thrue wife"
The girls cheeks burned scarlet as
she listened. In an instant she had sprung
from her seat and flung open the door,
and stood gazing with scathing contempt
down npon Willis Chadock, who was
perceptibly uneasy, although there was
brazen assurance and an Odious sneer
still upon his countenance.
"Miss Eve, my dear GIRL" he began
meIlifluously; but she interrupted him
by an imperious gesture.
al believe all this poor man has as
serted" she said firmly and haughtily.
And as he bowed submissively and
turned away he understood that thence
forth he must be stranger to her and
hers.
At the sound of her voice the old man
tottered to his feet. and extended to-
ward her Il large and rather grimy en-
velope.
at bes for Misther Wright-the gintle-
man as lent me dollar" he exclaimed
as he turned and hobbled away.
And while she marveled at the oddity
of it all, Reuben himself came slowly
through the drifts and ascended the
steps.
81 have come back to make peace
Will you, Eve, iic sIiu SihiPiy, -
mean if you still have any affection for
one so unlucky as am"
81 am sorry Il grieved you, dear, "
she answered with charming frankness.
But goodness what does it all mean ?'
she cried as she glanced over the paper
he had just unfoltled.
at means, my darling" he said in
wonder, "that my beggar is not a beg
gar at all. He is one OF the most
eccentric men in the city, II miser by
reputation, and very wealthy. This is
his check-a loan until shal. have
prospcred sufficiently for convenient
payment-for an amount quite enough
for me to re-establish my business and
to claim my bride whenever she may be
| pleased to come to me-"