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

Ti6i,4 l!gl|ll!
@sH SIG4::;.s:::
WHEN LOOKED ON THIS PICTURE LAST. =
this side, this side, the lesson have beer
learning" Then she paused, and, leaning
her head back among the cushions, shut
her eyes. Presently the teardrops slipped
from beneath the closed lids. s'Miriarn!"
said, half alarmed, "let me hang up the
portrait; you are losing your self-control;
no wonder you are so weak. ought to have
known better than to have been so rash and
risky"
At this she opened her eyes and looked
at me through her tears. t'Nol" she ejacu.
lated, with quite an emphasis for one SO
weak, ''you have done right. Ineed some
thing to help me out of this rut of desolate
heartache, even though it come through the
outlet of tears. They will do me no harm
they will ease the pain here" and she
placed her hand over her heart.
had told her previously of the Hall and
of Peggy's mourning her for dead; and OF
how the two old servants would be over
1OyCu CO ScG AcI UCttI 1C1C0 dSdlus 81 Uu0I0
was no need to reiterate my belief that it
was her duty to go back and see them, even
if she did not choose to stay. No there was
no need ever to press the subject again, for
her firm and fat refusal was more pro-
nounced perhaps this time than before
went to England, so / knew enough not to
touch on that. only said: eyes, know
but you ought to cheer up for the sake of
your friends"
'sFriends," she repeated, with ghost of
III have such an array! Patty and YOU ~
into her eyes and faint color tinged her
cheek. She was thinking OF Allan, be-
lieved, but kept judiciously quiet. We
did not fail, by easy, pleasant stages.
After a moment she looked up with such
wistful, yearning look in the dark eyes,
but she did not say sAllan." No, she said
'Of course have Peggy and Ancil who
are good and true in their way; but they
are-only Peggy and Ancil, after all; not
companions" 49,
.sMiriam,' said, rather authoritatively
for me, ''you are not speaking of whom you
are thinking at all, nor have you even men
toned the ones name whom you desire
very much to see. Why not be candid with
me, dear? Ihave done all in my power to
render you happy"
A wild, frightened look flashed over her
features, and was afraid I had ssid too
much. ''Never mind,''I added, apologetic-
ally, II only had fancy"
She shot questioning glance at me, and
a faint flush again overspread her counte-
c1r,;ft %,,or, oh nc
again in tears II had friend,n she be-
think great deal of, but have lost all
he ISL The tears dropped down UNDECIDED
should write to him, but have lost the adj
dress did have" she added, after the first
paroxysm of grief had subsidized.
s'Would you like aletter from him, Miri-
am?' asked with great Joy Juggling at
my heart-strines. I felt like Tennyson's
hero, so "Close on to the promised good"
only the ssgood" belonged to some one else.
ooh! yes" she answered, a hopeful light
beaming through the tears and illumining
her wan face.
s'Well, Miriam Irepied, "wait until you
are calm again, and will give you one
which he sent by me-"
ooh! Father IN Heaven! Can 1T be true?'
she exclaimed, joyfully. It was the very
hrst time lever saw happiness so completely
outlined on her usually sad face. I had
seen look similar once long ago when we
were wandering among the hills and rest
ing beneath the shade of a tree while we
py anticipation.
ct 1,roc11rno Won hnvo rofaronoo to Allan
Percival?" she questioned, rosy flush
sweeping up from cheek to brow.
"Yes," answered, smiling II met him
in England, and he seemed very much
pleased to hear that you were at my home
in Rhode Island, and he gave me a letter,
saying: Give it to her with your own
hands, know you will be very happy
with him, Miriam, he is so noble and good -
I said this last at a venture, but not
amiss, for her sweet face was almost trans
figured with the joy that shone from the
windows of her happy soul. ''Now, when
you are calmer," added, II will give you
the letter.
The flush has gone from her face, and she
IS sitting over there in the fitful sunshine
calm as a summers morning, outwardly at
least. II am calnn," she says, presently,
looking away outover the frosty landscape,
but there is a little, happy tremor in her
voice, and know the love-light is in her
eyes,
take the portrait from her lap and go of
upstairs. hear her sigh as shut the
stairway door behind me, and my heart
throbs for the denouement.
Down in the bottom of my trunk, where
placed it weeks ago, l find the letter which
I was to deliver 'swlth my own hands,
''Allan," | say, happily, ''the darkest hour
is just before dawn, you know,'' and ]
go down stairs light of foot and light OF
heart. Why shouldn't I, when I was the
medium of so much life happiness, and ]
had so longed to bring it about, tooa Il
seems to me that as pass down the shad
owy staircase that the face of my dear
dead friend, Lady Percival, smiles out Of
the semi-darkness, and fancy hear {
sweet, soft voice, long since hushed il
death, say: Blessings on your devoted
head, my friend, for taking such good care
of my dear daughter; for proving to bt
such a tireless watch and ward over he1
best interests .
Miriam looks up as enter the room Will
bright smile, and ] can not help utterins
the words which come involuntarily to mi
- 4 80