The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-09-14

Respondent diamond. I pressed it, and to
my qualification and Mrs. Courtney's sur
prise, the locket flew open, revealing a
handsome face.
'sWasn't he handsome, though?" ex-
claimed my compar lon, rapturously, shut
the little ones picture isn't here" she add
ed in disappointed tone. I stood staring
at the miniature. fThat's him, reckon"
queried Mrs. Courtney, noticing my alb
stracted look.
ssOh! yes,'' l al swered, pulling my
thoughts together CHATS him. But, al
though it was ''him," it was not the face of
Arthur Fairfax which looked up so bright
ly from it's costly setting: 1t was the face
of handsome young Allan Percival.
'sIt is too awful bad,n said Mrs. Court
ney, ':that they NUT be separately
"Yes," answer, sit is" but she means
one and mean another She thinks that
this picture is one of the deceased husbands,
and is plying in her kindly heart the sad,
sad separation made by death; while
know that it is the exact likeness of Allan
Percival, and can not help but bewail the
fate that keeps them apart, knowing what
do now.
This locket. then, is the key to the story in
cipher have been trying to read. There
is really more between Miriam and her
handsome cousin, after all, than I had dared
to hope. I gaze into the bright countenance
of the picture in my hand, and my heart
throbs faster as I Think Ana! Allan,
have come to an understanding now with
you. I know now why that wistful, happy
expression lighted up your fine eyes when
saw you last. You had reason to hope.
s'Mrs. Courtney said, softly, shutting
up the case, tive need not say any thing to
Miriam about this, as she is rather peculiar,
and devoted to her husbands memory.
Perhaps she might think we had no right to
open this locket.'
ooh! won't mention it, she answered
81 only wanted to see the picture, and
thought maybe. the little ones was there,
too"
CHAPTER XIV.
1t is mid December. The sun CLEANS out
ftfully between great, dark snow-clouds,
and, dances coquettishly over the carpet
after having dashed through the frosty
pane.
Outside the air is piercing cold, and the
deep white drifts lie all over the dreary
earth. The jingle Of bells betoken by their
merry music that somebody is brave
enough 10 DC OuG duu tuJOy uA0 "SoonSA
yet it may be that they are out nole''
vole,as, and have the music Of the bells to keeI
up their courage and render the monotonJ
of snow, snow, snow more bearable.
Inside the plants abloom IN the alcove
give us a glimpse Of summer, and the blro
in his cage above them is warbling hil
matchless matin as merrily as If all eartt
were but garden Of June.
Esconced in the depths OF my favor1tt
easy chair Miriam is cuddled up, rathe1
than sitting, just where the ftful sunshine
strays over her dark tresses, which in the
sunlight are rich brown. and in thu
shadows black color. She is very pale
and those dark, haunting eyes are darker
and more haunting than ever.
She has asked me long since if i ''man
aged to get her portrait and have tole
her that when she was able to Sit up
would show it to her.
ssControl yourself my dear" said hall
hour ago, when started upstairs Tor tht
much-coveted picture, and pray do not ge
excited in the least, as Doctor Cushma1
says the last excitement may bring on 9 re
lapse' She promised me to be calm and
brought the portrait down, just IS Peggy
wrapped It up, and laid it in her lap.
"A deathly Wilderness orept into her THU
face, but with steady fingers she unite
the string and undoes the picture.
s,It has been long time sinco ] have bee1
face to face with myself, she says, dream
ily, passing her white fingers caresstnRN