The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-06-15

She was not prepared then fur the scene, /
when Isabel, in blooming health aud sle-
uantlv attired in rich travelling suit, came
| n at the humble door, and taking the poor,
sried and prematurely aged little woman N
her arms petting and kissing her as she
cried. tearfully: "Dear auutie; my poor,
sad hearted auntie."
! CHAPTER VII
John Harmon was laid in drunKaros
grave, and the tears which were sheo were
more for the ssmight have been " and Tor
the wasted life so suddenly brougnt 10 d
close than for sorrow that he had gone
indeed. brighter atmosphere was even
now pervading the house, as the 1act DE-
came more tangible that no more blows or
curses were to be dealt out there, and the
children began to look brighter, and lose
their cowed, scared look, and all planned
and looked forward to the future, as II
great black cloud had rolled of their hor1-
con, as indeed there had. Alas! chat any
man should so conduct himself that the
best and kindest thing he can do for his
family is to die and free them from his
presence.
The children had gone to bed, and Isabel
and her aunt were alone in the shabby little
room which was dignified by the name OF
parlor. s'Now, auntie, tell me all your
plans,' she said, taking the wrinkled, hard
working hand of her aunt i'll hers.
81 don't know as l can, child" replied
Mrs. Harmon .'This has come 80 sudden
like it seems as if I'd had no time Tor any
definite plans. shall go along in the same
old way probably, working hard and having
little" She had been unusually Respondent
this evening, and life had hard, far-away
look to her.
care there any debts to pay" and lsa-
bells voice had a reassuring business ring.
eyes, q few that know OF. have strug-
gled hard to keep from debt, but could not
succeed" and she sighed heavily.
"Didn't Uncle John have any business
papers Perhaps there are recelpted bills OF
unsettled accounts in the old secretary.
Hadn't we better look"
! "Pcrhaps So I'll leave it all with you.
child; some way have neither heart or
courage to do any thing to night" said the
widow, YEARLY.
| Isabel rose and, going to the old desk,
drew out from a drawer bundle OF pa
pers, unpaid bills, contracts for labor and
other unlmportant papers, and lastly long
oficial envelope, which she eagerly opened.
"Oh, auntie, come and see," she cried, JOY
fully: :sUncle John had a life in surance."
| s.Are you sure, child!" Mrs. Harmon's
voice tre1nbled with eager hope. "Can it be
possiblel"
1t was possible; glib insurance man had
attacked john Harmon one day when he
was unusually pliable, and had worked upon
him until, partly from sense OF justice
and partly from a very natural desire to
be rid Of the mans persistence. he had
taken out policy of thousad dollars
"a little fortune in this time of need.
He had felt ashamed Of the unpremed-
itated provision as soon as he had made y,
and deposited the policy in the old desA
without a word.
ooh, Isabel, what wonderful prov
idence," cried Mrs. Harmon, as she read
the paper and took in the welcome GER
tainty. Her apathy was all gone now, and
her eyes began to sparkle with the rays Of
81 new hope ssy'his will pay every debt and
leave quite large sum besides. can plan,
now that there seems to be something to
plan with"
"Oh, my dear auntie, you have plenty to
plan witb,'' said Isabel, joyfully. II have
the very best husband in the world, and
have come prepared to repay you for little
OF the lovo and care you have given me
from infancy All there is for you to do IL
to make up your mind what COURSE you
wish to pursue, and the means shall not DO
wanting"
s'Havc you then, married man who is
able to elbow you to do this2' said Mrs
Harmon, looking into lsabeps glad eyes
! with surprise.
stNot only able, but willing, auntie," and
she repeated her conversation with Mr..
Falconer before starting, and named the
large sum he had given her.
| stTrol,>l ,,.;1I 7 nuoht mt RI folyc In.
deed + ought not" cried the widow with
emotion; "your generosity forces me to tell
! you secret, which l Lave never thought
| best to divulge until now"
! "a secret!" said Isabel, surprised in her
| turn.
eyes, "a secret. ought not to take your
money, dear Child, for really you are not re-
lated to NC, and have no claim on you for
such liberality.''
mot related TO you!" echoed Isabel.
"Auntic Harmon, what do YOU means"
"Just what say, Isabel" replied Mrs.
Harmon. II have never told you the story
Of your percentage, fearing it would make
you uneasy and dissatisfied with your hum
BILE home, and the hard, humiliating work
which saw no way to prevent your doing;
but now that you have husband and q po-
sition to sustain in society it is fitting that
you should know who you are, and that not
dropof my humble blood runs in your
veins"
"You are good and kind, and have been g
true mother to me; you shall not under
rate YOURSELF" said Isabel, warmly; tsbut,
OIL do tell Inc Of this strange thing"
"We were just married, John and l.
Isabel, child, pardon me if continue to
name you rs a.relative.n
"Auntte!" interrupted Isabel, deprecat-
! ingly.
"You Can not realize, perhaps, that John
was a kind husband, and that was one Of
the happiest of wives. We lived in large,
handsome cottage then, and were quite we'll
to do at the time you were born The first
! shot had been fired at Fort Sumter the
previous January, and a young Southern
gentleman came here with his young wife,
| who was an invalid, and he had brought her
North not only to escape the fierce heat Of
aSouthern summer, but to avoid the ex-
element Of the troubled times which she
in her weak state, was poorly able to bear
He was of a rich and influential family, or
he could not have passed the lines, even III
| that early stage of the National troubles,
| md hut he