The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-07-27


t'This is pleasant $50 pleasant and peaceful! "
and was glad to answer: Yes."
That was last year, and since then the
fuctuating tides of peace and disquietude
have run so often into sea of counter cur
rents, ebbing and flowing over that first
great hope, that / am not certain of any
thing permanent
hesitated great deal before giving her
the missive, thinking that perhaps it might
not be conducive of any good, but after all
have done so, and regretted it Immediately
afterward. I fold up the letter now, wish
ing something had happened to it be-
fore it reached it's destination, or that had
had discretion enough to have foreseen the
consequences, and had committed it to the
CRATE, as might have done, seeing it was
addressed to me.
While / am indulging thus in self-con-
demna ton she comes down stairs, calm
enough outwardly, the glossy hair freshly
brushed, and / doubt not the tear-stains
bathed carefully off the placid face, so as
not to grieve me. She comes forward and
takes my hands in her two hot ones, looks
pleadingly into my face, and makes q
strange request, request that sends the
blood surging back to my heart, leaving my
cheeks blanched, l am aware, for she
pauses, looks troubled and doubtive, and
hesitates. But finally she has finished, and
I have promised to grant her desire, al
though in ten minutes after she has kissep
me thankfully and settled down on the
shadow-hecked steps with a great sigh Of
relief regret having done so.
She knows it is my intent to visit a rela-
tive living in the suburbs Of Hastings,
shortly, and she has asked me ''while there,
take little run over beyond Fairlight, and
visit Heatherleigh" But that isn't the
strange part of her request, though it is all
surprising. She looked me calmly IN the
eyes and asked me to "bring her portrait
away from the fated gallery with me-"
How on earth am 1 to accomplish this?
At first it seems easy enough to me, but
on reflection the undertaking grows stu
pendous, and borders on the impossible. I
sit very still, revolving the request in my
mind, and every moment its magnitude is
intensified, But I made no sign, and she
sits with clasped hands, gazing out at the
water, fully confident that will be able to
fulfill my promise, and haven't the courage
to undeceive her.
So we sit out the piece OF day talking
some but thinking more until the sun goes
down behind the hills, and the shadows
grow longer and denscr over the carna-
lions and roses, and reach out dar!zly for
the cleaning satin of the lilies which they
envelop later.
Maggie, my little maid of all work, rings
the tea-bell merrily, then peeps through the
blinds to see where we are. Having seen
US, her bright eyes disappear. and know
she has flown to her kin 5dom to keep ''the
tay proper hot'' until we put in an appear
ance. which we do shortly.
Miriam-I always say simply Miriam
looks satisfied once more. l divine the rea-
son; she has settled the letter question
positively in the negative, CT rather have
determined it for her by my rash promise.
But how am to beard ''the Douglas in
his hall'' is more than [ know, and obtain
the elegant portrait of the daughter of the
house, because am not to reveal herwhere-
abouts--iti is her request.
Miriam thinks, however, that I am the
one aI-powerful equation Of her life, and
sits over there slipping her tea in full con-
fdence, while choke down my dessert,
measure my powers with a broken reed and
transform my digits to ciphers,
The day of my departure arrives. Over
against it's fair, promising skies falls
shadow dread to leave Miriam. I would
so love to take her with me, but the laws of
the Modes and Persans are not more irrev-
ocable than Miriam's nay. She is to stay
here IN the cottage at Bayview, and see
after my affairs, while am to go and en-
Joy myself. AS if I could enjoy my visit
with that gigantic undertaking supple
mented on like thing of evil.
If Heatherleigh was still in it's halcyon
days, as when I once visited within its
doors, how differently I should feel about
this matter; but < understand evil infu-
ences Turk in its long, dark halls, and
march through it's desolate corridor since
Sir Rupert's demise.
This is one reason why my little tour
comes to me, in the prospective, like a
nightmare, and l feel a terror of it all creep
ing into my bravest moments
These reports coming to me by letter oc-
casionally have never revealed to Miriam,
which now is one thing / am thankful for,
as have not frightened her by any thing
said to me and kept her away thereby.
I am positive, too that she knows moth
ing of these things, as she gets no news
from merrie old England This, to me, is
one ray of relief.
But am ready, 80 is my luggage, and !
must bid goodbye to Bayview and Miriam.
She clings to me, pale and sorrowful. but
there is O. wild, eager questioning in her
eyes as she lays her tear-Wet cheek against
mine. Instinctively, know she is thinking
of my promise, and l say, impulsively: 81
will bring your portrait, dear" | don't
add eff CAM which, perhaps, ought to
do Int leave the declaratiye promise in