The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-02-01

tache, and, taking Mrs Carson s hand IN
Il his, began to smooth my hair down With
IL till 4 heard her whisper: . 81 /
Leave my hand so, cousin. Thomas
BE looking like--like the thunder
/ storm Y ST. 81 ss@ 81 III.
Thomas was the name Of Mr.. Carson,
her b us band. 5s z. !.
8S After that 4 hid myself as we'll as i.
could behind a chair, for was shy, and
watched little Stella Carson, who was
the sqslire's only child, giving the chill
|dren presents off the tree She was
dressed as Father Christmas, with some
soft bite stuff round her lovely little
face, and rad large dark eyes, which /
| thought more beautiful than any thing
/ had ever seen. At last it came my
turn to have present oddly enough,
considered in the light of future events,
it was a large monkey. She reached it
! down from one of the lower boughs Of
! the tree and handed it to me, saying:
':Dat is my Christmas present to you,
little Allan Quatermain
| As she did so her sleeve, which was
covered with cotton wool, spangled over
with something that shone, touched one
of the tapers-how do not know-and
caught fire, and the flame ran up her
arm towards her throat. She stood
quite still. suppose that she was
paralyzed with fear; and the ladies who
were near screamed very loud, but did
nothing. Then some impulse seized
me-perhaps instinct would be q better
! word to use, considering my age--I
threw myself upon the child, and, beat
ing at the fire with my hands, 1nercifully
succeeded in e1tingnishing it before it
really got hold. My wrists were so badly
burned that they had to be wrapped up
in wool for long time afterwards, but
with the exception OF a single burn upon
hor throat, little Stella Carson was not
much hurt.
This is all that remember about the
! Christmas treo at the Hall. What hap,
pened afterwards is lost to me, but to
| this day in my sleep often see little
Stella's sweet face and the start OF ter
ror in her dark eyes as the fire ran up
her arm. This, however, is not wonder
J full, for I had, humanity speaking, saved
| the life of her who, was destined to be
my wife.
Tho next event which can recall
| clearly is that my mother and three
brothers all fell ill of fever, owing, as
| I afterwards learned, to the poisoning OF
our well by some evil-minded person,
who threw dead sheep into it.
1t must have been while they were i'll
that Squire Carson came one day to the
! yicarage. The weather was still cold,
for there was fire in the study, and [
sat before the fire writing letters on
piece of paper with q pencil, while my
! father walked up and down the room
talking to himself. Afterwards I knew
that he was praying for the lives Of his
wife and children. Presently a servant
came to the door and said that some one
| wanted to see him.
SIT is the Squire, sir, said the maid,
sand he says he particularly wishes to
see you"
s.Very WE'LL" answered my father,
YEARLY, and presently Squire Carson
came in. His face was white and bag
gard, and his eyes shone so tiercely that
| 1 was afraid Of him.
s:Forgive me for intruding On you at
such time, Quaternain," he said in
! a hoarse voice, shut tomorrow l leave
this place forever, and wish to speak to
! YOU before go-indeed, must speak 70
| YOU"
ssShall send Allan away" said my
father, pointing to me.
ssNo, let him bide. He will not under
stand Nor, indeed, did / at the time,
4 but remembered every word. and in
after years their meaning grew on me.
s.First tell me-" he went On, chow are
they?" and he pointed upwards with his
thumb.
ssMy wife and two of the boys are be-
| yond hope" my father answered, with
4 rroan. III do not know how it will go
! with the third. The Lords will be
donev'
| ssThe Lords will be DONE" the Squire
echoed, solemnly. Sand now, Quater-
main, listenmy wifes gone"
ssGoney' my father answered. "Who
/ swith?"
| "With that foreign cousin Of hers. 1t
| seems from letter she left that she al
| WAYS cared for him, not for me. She
| married me because the thought me
! rich English MILFORD. Now she has run
through my property, OF most OF It, and
gone. I don't know where. Luckily,
1 she did not care to cucumber her new
career with child; Stella is lett to me-
! ssThat is what comes Of marrying a
Papist, Carson" said my father. That
was his fault; he was as good and char
liable man as ever lived, but he was
bigoted. ssWhat are you going to do
follow her?"
He laughed bitterly in answer
ssFollow herr' he said; 'swhy Should
follow her? If l met her might kill
4 her OF him, or both Of them, because Of
I the shame they have brought upon my
child,s name. No, never want to look
upon her face again. trusted her, =
tell you, and she has betrayed me- Let
!. her 90 and find her fate. But ! am go
ing, too. Lam weary Of my life"
aSurely, Carson, surely" said my
! father, .syou do not mean"
ssNo, no; not that. Death comes soon
enough. Butt will leave this civilized
world that is living lie. We will &c
4 right away into the wilds, my child and !,
II ~ ~ = n,,r q, anne. Where? 1don' tknOW