The Irish standard., 1886-05-15
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY, MAY Is, 1886.

other? Psaugh! You're mighty chari-
table, ar'n't you? Take friends ad,
vice, sir, and mind your own business;
you'll have plenty TO do; ay, and if the
truth were told, more than ever you did
do in your life, sir. OF all the people
in the world, sir, you're not the very
man expected to keep life in these sail.
ors. or solder new toes on that unfor-
tunate negro
Here the soliloquy was interrupted
by the doctor speaking in his sleep.
Mr.. Guirkie turned his head slowly
round, and stood in twisted position fol
a second or two, looking at the dreamer
and waiting to catch the next words.
There was wonderi ul deal of beneyol'
ence in his face as it thus appeared in
profile. The little round blue eyes, sc
full OF soft and gentle expression-ar
expression which his recent effort tc
steel his heart against the influence Of
pity had not abated III the least; the
small mouth, with the corners turned
slightly up, like Uncle Toby's when lis
tening to Corporal Trim; the smooth,
unwrinkled, rosy cheeks; and stiff gray
hair standing on end all tended tc
convince the beholder Of Mr.. Guirkle's
eccentric habits and kindly nature.
Again the doctor muttered, and then
Mr.. Guirkie moved gently over, and
bent his head down to catch the words.
1.-The negro! the negro!' said the
sleeper.
''That's 1.-THE negro, Of course, " re-
peated Uncle Jerry. ''He must die
that's what you lnean.''
"Mary Lee" continued the dreamer,
'swarm blankets!--the decoction" and
abruptly turning on his side, he con-
cluded with groan that told how fatig
1ed he was after the labors of the pre-
vious night.
every we'll" said Mr.. Guirkie, kick
ing off his slippers, that puts an end
to it. I have no longer shadow Of
doubt about my obligations. It is evi-
IDENTIFY my duty to go down and visit
them. That is as plain as the sun, and
the doctors dream is clearly providen-
tial, and so. sitting down on the chair,
he put on his shoes, and then drew over
his leggings from the footstool. "As
for the rain,'' he continued. looking out
Of the window, 81 don't care q farthing
about it one way OF other. Neither the
heat Of the Indies nor the cold Of the
Canadas has taken feather out of me
yet. I'm just as good for all practical
purposes as I ever was. To be sure it
rains and blows hard and fast; but am
no sugar loaf i'll the rain, nor & jack
straw to be blow away with the wind y
Talking in this strain, he put on his
leggings. But he put them on, as he
always did, in a careless, slovenly sort
of way--omitting button here and a
button there Oh this way UP to his
knees. This time especially he was in
somewhat Of 81 hurry, and his thoughts
had nothing whatever to do with the
buttons. Next he opened his desk as
silently as possible, and took out what
seemed to be pocket book, looking
round stealthily at the doctor as he Sc
cured it under his vest, and finally re-
tired to his chamber to don his seal skin
cap dreb surtout with the double cape,
a riding dress he never laid aside sum-
mer OF winter, and from which no one
in the neighborEood ever thought Of
dissociating the idea of Uncle Jerry
Guirkie. These hasty preparations
included, he stepped on tiptoe from
the parlor, and closed the door noiseless-
ly behind him, leaving the doctor Sleep
ing soundly on the sofa, and the break
fast cooling beside him on the table.
On reaching the housekeeper's door,
however, great as his hurry was, he
paused and seemed to deliberate. He
was thinking whether he should apprise
her Of his intended journey, or steal out
unobserved. There was danger both
ways. If he told her, she might wake
up the doctor and detain him; if he did
not, his absence in such stormy weather
might occasion alarm for his safety.
Three or four times he coughed and
hemmed slightly at the threshold,
bringing his knuckle each time within
an inch of the door, but as often draw
ing it back. At length, however, the
fear Of giving alarm predoninated, and
summoning courage, he knocked-but
it was knock in which there was no
sign of authority-or rather it was the
gentle tap of child coming to beg aims
at gentleman's back door.
''Mrs, Motherlyr' said he, putting his
lips to the key-hole and speaking under