The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-06-08
They turned ana Went silently up the
stars to door which he reverently un.
Ia <bo1r toro.3


colors used in it's adornment; the walls were
tinted pink, with cornice of ivory white
the windows were curtained in delicate
flmy lace, Topped back with pink satin rib
bons; small bookcase filed with her favor.
lite books; cabinet organ stood in corner,
with an open book on the rack; dainty, rest
full chairs, ornamented with laces aud pink
ribbons, stood about in unstudied positions,
as if the owner had but just placed them
there.
A little round table stood by window; q
wicker sewing-chair, with it's lace draper
les, stood close beside it, and on the table
was fragile work-basket, a e-trimmed
'kerchief lay beside it, just as the owner
had laid it down, and in the basket a little
chemise-for the infant visitor expected
by the young wife, the lace half sewn on
the needle still where she set it last, and a
tiny gold thimble close by the basket.
From the wall above looked down the pict-
ured face of the young wife in it's gilded
frame: fair, sweet face, the index of a
loving and pure spirit. It was pathetic
scene, and Isabel's eyes filed with tears as
she looked upon it; she held out her hands
to him in earnest sympathy, saying in low,
tremulous tones: Il can never, never fill
her place in your heart, am sure"
CHAPTER ".
emo" he answered, gravely taking her
hand in his, 'sno one could do that; she, my
first love, holds a sacred shrine in my heart
that none else can occupy; but, my wife, You
can fill your own place, and that is fast be-
coming dear one" He drew her to him,
and, placing his arm about her waist,
pressed his first kiss upon her lips in the
presence of the smiling face looking down
benignly upon them.
Love; it was the first time the subject
had been approached since their first meet
ing, and Isabel wondered what love would
be like when it came. She had dreamed Of
love- What girl has rot, a2d thought of it
as turbulent, Overmasterlng passion, un.
bounded by reason Or common sense. AT
least that was the version Of it given by the
story-writers, and she YVES positive there
was no such emotion in her heart for Mr..
Falconer.
He was simply friend---a kind, true gen
tleman-who had rescued her from her try
ing life of poverty, and brought her to all
these delightful things, and she respected
him above all me- whom she had ever seen.
Friends may exchange q kiss, and she
raised her lips to his without a tremor, and
hoped for the day when kisses might be q
symbol of a sweeter, deeper feeling than
friendship.
stMrs. MOntfOrdn Isabel was seated in
an easy roclzerin the housekeeper's room.
''91r Falconer has given me permission to
fit up one OF the rooms to suit my own taste,
and have come to you for assistance, as of
course wish to consult his tastes also, and
you have lived with hun so many years
that YOU must know him well. 1t is to be
an evening room, where we can meet for
quiet rest after the day is over, and wish
it to be thoroughly restful and cozy."
eyes, 1na'am, J. think see what you
wish,' said Mrs. MontforG, with her little
courtesy. She liked this new Mrs. h'al
coner, with her quiet ways. 80 far removed
from haughtiness or patronage. though
with che rest Of the family below stairs,
she had elittlc natural curiosity in regard to
the sudden marriage; she checked 1t per
emptorily i'll the servants under her, and
she was by far too we'll bred to express it,
by word or look in herself. yet she could
not help seeing that their relations We're
quite different from those of the first Mrs
Falconcr, whom she had tenderly loved,
with her husband
In certain sense this pleased her, for it
would have hurt her to see another taken
at once into the tender companionship en-
ioycd by the first wife.
sMr Faconer likes bright, rich colors,
,,a'am," she said, thoughtfully, sbut he
despises fashionable fancy work. and she
smiled at the popularity. 1.-The FIRST Mrs
Falconer never dld any of it. Have you
seen-?' and she stopped, fearing that she
had touched on forbidden ground.
eyes" replied Isabel, gently, reading
her thought; 81 have seen it, and it is very
lovely and touching"
@Then, ma am, you have some guide as to
Fir. Falconer's tastes,'' replied Mrs. Mont
ford; ssonly, OF course, you would not follow
that as g model too closely. Mrs Falconer
always had blooming plants in her room,
but they would not bloom for me after she
was gone, and gave up trying to care for
them there" Tears came in her honest
blue eyes as she spoke, and she wiped them
away with the corner of her ample white
apron.
tsMrs. Falconer must have been a rarely
sweet and loveaole lady," said isabel, sin
cerely and feelingly. II do not wonder that
she was 80 we'll beloved"
stThank you for saying it.'' The words
formed a new link in the chain of Mrs
Montford's kindly feelings toward the new
F1LC. IL uOIa SotA hoASAt AAAes eHAAA1 W ~
willing to give the first wife her place in
our hearts. So many ladies that I have
known that seemed to think the first wife
should be forgotten out of respect to the
second.H
ooh! no, no, Mrs. Montford:" cried Isa-
bel, with earnestness IT should desplse
myself could I cherish such a feeling, and !
honor Mr.. Falconer and yourself far more
than could had you suffered your love for
so sweet lady to give way to the claims OF
stranger True, hope to be loved and
respected by you, also, but not at the ex-
pense of your loyalty to her;" and, rising
she offered her hand impu!sively to the
housekeeper, who took it in a friendly CLASP
which came from the heart, now completely
won over to her by the few simple, woman
ly words.
"Iwished to speak to you also in regard
to Gracie," she continued II should not
blame you at all if you felt some natural
Jealousy upon being called upon so unex-
pectedly to give the child over to the care OF
step-mother; and being totally unaccus-
toned to the care Of children, do not feel
competent to undertake the charge without
your assistance"
She could not have chosen her words bet.
ter, and Mrs. Montford's face lighted up
gratefully. II will confess, ma'am, that ]
did feel it, she said, frankly; ''any one