The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-07-07

lalQ MS tired mead against Aliens SnOuluor
and was soon buried in slumber.
g Poor little fellow" said Allen, gazing
into that young face, disfgured with care
and WEAKNESS His being part Of that
terrible mystery has had fearful effect on
him. &
The child had wonderful resemblance to
Bertha. The fair, beautiful face and gold
en- curly hair was similar to hers. Undis-
turbed by the easy motion Of the horse, his
slumbers were not disturbed.
Allen was kept awake by the responsible
ity that was on him. Sometimes he blamed
himself for having undertaken this journey
at the request Of one whom he really did
not know Was ever man engaged in .
more madcap enterprise? 1t might be, aft
er all, that it was only shrewd scheme to
make him tool in an abduction.
81 Heaven knows it is no wrong on my
part" sighed Allen. "But know that
am committing no wrong. She who babe
me do this errand is too good, too pure to
mediate wrong. / will not for a moment
doubt her motives. By whomsoever she
may be surrounded, by whatever mystery
she may be engulfed, her goodness and the
purity Of her motives can not be ques-
toned"
He reached a long bridge which spanned
small stream. Before he reached the ap-
proach he discovered a horseman descend
ing the opposite hill, and, fearing that it
was a returning pursuer, Allen rode down
the creek bank under the approach to the
bridge where he remained until the horse
man had come over and had gone out OF
hearing up the very road he himself had
come.
eff that was pursuer, he is now on the
back track" thought Allen. 4
/ Our hero was really in poor condition
for either flight or defense. The sleeping
child lay heavily on him, and he was totally
unarmed. When the horseman was out OF
ear-shot Allen returned to the road,
crossed the bridge and galloped over the
opposite hill and along the hard-beaten
road. e
Night was wellnigh spent and. he was
several miles vet from his journeys end.
"This is certainly q remarkably patient
child. >, said the horseman, gazing into tho
face Of the sleeping boy, as his horse can
tered along the road. "He has not, by
gesture Of movement, indicated either
WEAKNESS or impatience. Poor little fell
| low, this Journey, hope. will result in great
good to you"
The moon, well on toward morning, came
struggling above the eastern horizon, but in
it's old age its light was but little. The
silver ray thrown upon the earth was very
pale indeed.
Darkness, slowly but surely, began to
fade. The child slept on. The eastern hor-
izon grew to a bright vermillion, and stars
in the far east began to slowly pale and go
out before the approach Of more powerful
light. A new day was coming into exist
enee, and the Journey lacked several niles
of completion.
CHAPTER XIII.
MILE. CAMILLE.
Day dawned, the sun rose above the bills
and fields and dried the sparkling dew
drops from the grass. What glorious
scene that sun revealed. AS far away as
eyes could see were the gently rolling Nus
and green valleys with dark, solemn forests
massed in the background. Farm cottages
and fields were everywhere in view. Smoke
could be seen issuing from the kitchens
where the good housewives were prepar-
ing breakfast for their husbands. Thin,
spiral clouds of pale blue ascended into mid
heaven to become part of it.
A glorious day it promised t. be. Prairie
peoples and roses saucily nodded their
heads in the gentlest Of warming breezes.
The dew drops sparkled like diamonds IN
the early morning sun, and the air was
laden with the sweetest perfume.
The child awoke shortly after sunrise,
and turned his large blue eyes inqulrlngly
upon his companion. Allen knew he want
&c to ask some question, but was unable to
tell what the question was, or convey any
answer to the boy.
The light of the morning sun revealed
still nearer resemblance to Bertha, and he
knew that the child must be a very near
relative of hers. She had not said how
nearly related the child was to her, or that
he was any relation at all. There was SO
much hidden in the manner OF the beautiful
girl that allen was unable to come to any
satisfactory conclusion.
At last the little fellow began to show
signs OF restlessness. He gave utterance
to inarticulate sounds and pointed down the
road.
81 suppose be is anxious to know how near
we arc to our journeys end, Allen thought.
ssIf even knew, it. might be impossible to
get him to understand. 1t can not be over
ten miles, and will try to tell him some
way"
The child,s mind was very bright, and he
understood by the mods and gestures OF his
companion that it was not far.
For several moments the little fellow was
quiet, and then he began to make signs that
he was hungry.
s,Poor little fellow, no doubt You are hum
erv.'' said Allen. sSThe first house we come
to, we will try to get breakfast and have
our horse fed
Unaccustomed to the saddle, Allen was
stiff, sore and weary in every joint. The
long ride, without q moments sleep Or rest,
was telling even on his iron constitution.
He drew rein in front Of country house,
and hailed farmer who was just harness
ing his horses to go to his days work.
sCan we get breakfast and horse fed
here?" he asked.
The farmer, with one eye closed and head
slightly to one side, gazed OF him moment
and said:
II reckin so, stranger. Breakfasts bout
over, though I reckin the old CONAN kin
skeer up a leetle fur ye. Whar'n the Worp
dye come froml''
The fire Of an inquisitive old farmer was
until this moment unthought OF, and for
moment Allen was a little Disconnected. He
knew so little about the mission on which
he was engaged that he doubted if he could
make the explanation satisfactory to the
countryman, even&if he attempted it. He.
I s =