The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-02-02
A. GIRLS FOLLY.
It Nearly Wrecks thu Happiness
OF Two Lives.

It Nearly Wrecks thu Happiness
OF Two Lives.
Poor JOHN HarJiDg how his big, honest
teart throbbed anG beat as he watched
pretty Alice Williams with bis great brown
eyes strained and longing
. She was seemingly unconscious OF his
gaze rs sh. laughed and talked with the
tall, handsome fellow at her side, whose
blonde head bent so low to catch her
every tone; but she knew, nevertheless.
Just how eagerly, with what jealous long
ing John was watching the picture, and the
Knowledge only gave an added zest to her
pleasure Of an hour.
John and she had been plaVmates ever
since she could remember She we'll knew
the dearest ambition of his life was 10 buy
The little farm, with it's Well-stocked acres,
which lay next the old homestead; that he
was only waiting to say the word which
should make her his promised wife until he
held the deeds in his possession, and could
offer her {. borne as CHEEKY and bright as
that she left behind.
Many an hour in her own sunny bedroom
lad she spent III sweet dreams OF this fut-
nre which she knew was to be hers; many
= night listened for the well.known step
which ever paused at the old kitchen
threshold, when his CHEEKY greeting seemed
to bring life and warmth into the old brick
Louse, where she was the only nesting who
had come to cheer the life of Farmer Will
lame and his good wife. Ne wonder that
Ehey spoiled the child, who in he1' young,
,freeh g1rlhocd was to them EEe q breath
from the mountain tops. She was very
,riilfu., but even nor willfulnoss Tad q
Charm and the old people bent before 1t,
and would say, with smile: "Let the
child have her way" SO now when
Esquire Arden's son, just returned fso1
e2llsge and charmed with this sweet wild
homer springing in his path, stepped to
breathe its perfume, she knew no reason
way she shonld not accept tho subtle in-
cense OF his fiatte11Rg words, CT show the
pleasure that they gave her, even though
John chose to look frowningly upo1 heE
We're not her smiles her owns
But as they walked home alene through
tbs meadows after the chestnut gathering,
spd Young Arden had left them at the road
which led to his house, sho slipped her litsae
band through Johns arm, and looking up
Aato bis txce with her old merry SMILE
ssM:
"Yos remind me, John, OF that great bear
tn the museum you onco took NE to see
VIXEN was q little child. DO you remem-
hec} Yau did not come near me once this
afternoon, aud am quito indignant, espe.
cislly as my chestnut bag is hopelessly
empty
"Aln,oat az empty az the head Of the snob
VINO was 30 engrossing you, I should anoag-
me-" ives the angry retort
A quick dush mounted to the girls cheek;
her hand dropped from his arm.
II think YOU forget yourself, MIR. Hard
ing, when you dare speak thus OF my
1-iends. An empty-headed snot, indeed (!
1t is only those who lack all culture who
Can not appreciate gentleman when they
meet him. One must make all due allow
ence, however, for Ignorance"
sExcusc me, Alice 1 cid not know you
had admitted him into SO close q bond Of
friendship; but you know well enough why
did not come near you. You knew you
had only to beckon once, to give me one
look Of encouragement, snd ! would have
been by your side. But Your eyes had other
work to do than look toward me-"
"And it they had, what thena HAY not
DO with them as lllze1 Your presumption
Is remarkable, and as you choose to air it
for my especial benefit, wish you would
allow me the privilege Of continuing my
way alone, Ny thoughts are pleasanter
company"
Your thoughts. Yes. thoughts Of him
who has learned so well to talk by rote; to
teach bis lips to say the things at which bis
heart snoers Alicel Darling! What
would care if ] did not love yous had
meant to have told you little later what
you already know SO well; but it needed nc
selling Forgive my quick words, my
Jealous anger, knowing that it all sprang
out Of my great love for you. Soon the
farm will be my own; soon shall have q
home for you. Will you come, Alice to be
its sunshinc?'
4 few hours before and these worda
would have met with joyous assent-would
have filled the listeners heart with fulfill
1uent of its dearest wish. But quick anger
SOW hold sway, and so the scathing words
in reply came almost without her conscious
vt1erance:
"You ask me to be the sunshine Of q
home where base jealousy aud suspicion
forua the cornerstone, to enter into the life
Of man whose excuse for injustice and
wrong is lcvei No, neverl Thank God
Iifo is not yet so barren that need to en-:
ter such purgstory, and call it home!''
As she finished, he stood still. For one
xaoment she looked into his face, then
walked on alone, but never, never to forget
it's white, awful look, as she uttered the
words which were to separate them for.
ever.
Wasks ripencd into months, and the old
people weitaa in anxious wonderment fol
tho.step which came no more. Sometimes
they thought the child's face shade paler
hor voice had lost its merry ring, her laugh.
ter ended in sigh; but she would brook No
questioning, and, as ever, they yielded to
her vish and wondered silently. But the
old kitchen was rarely empty, and none
ever crossed its threshold so often as young
Arden. AS they grew to know him better,
his bright, boyish face became very pleas
ant TO tse;r eyes, bat they, none the less.
missed that Of him whom they had learned
TO look upon almost as q son. None could
quite m his place in tsstr hearts. @