The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-09-20

Stll / DECIDED 20 race INC uanSeIs -
danger there was, and moved to the
door Of the box to wait until the danger
had passed.
Slowly she moved forward until she
! was within three Or four steps of me,
then stopped again; her face was in the
shadow and could not distinguish her
features. While was trying to dis
| Germ them she moved suddenly forward
and gave me searching look; in an
other second, before had recovered
from my surprise, she had passed on
| and moved rapidly along the street
| without stopping any more.
| The watch passed without further in
cidents, but I remembe that l had no
trouble in keeping awake and was very
thankful to be relieved. l told you that
| was a new recruit at the time, and
! dreaded to make myself ridiculous in
| the eyes Of the company; besides that,
l had lurking idea that the whole
| scene might have been plotted for my
benefit, I resolved, therefore, to say
nothing about it and see whether any
OF my comrades had an encounter with
| the mysterious woman. l devoutly
! hoped that they would, and was not
disappointed.
Night after night the midnight
sentry saw the figure. always coming
from the same spot always silent. al
| ways passing on after the same incom-
prehensihle movements. Not one OF US
| had had the presence of mind to stop
the woman and question her.
We had in our company man such
! as one finds everywhere, full OF life, al
| ways laughing, joking, sure to be at the
bottom Of all mischief, always punished
when there were any punishments to be
administered, skeptical, as all such men
are, believing in nothing save his own
wit and bravery. The stories that were
told about tho midnight visitor had al
ways drawn sarcastic smile TO his lips,
and he was eternally laughing at the
victims OF the woman in black. Catch
him shaking in his boots with fear Of
| some faoetious grisette who was having
great sport frightening the soldiers out
of their wits!
Finally we grew exasperated, and one
of us broke out:
s'Talk is cheap, Richard; you have
not been there yet; you may not stand
t any better than the others"
''Bet I would!''
''Bet you five francs you would not"
t"Taken!"
"When will you try?''
'sTo-night, Who is on duty?"
Leroy"
Leroy was found, and was more than
| willing to exchange guard with Richard.
Both repaired to the sergeant, who, after
listening to their story, told them to do
as thoy pleased about it.
So the matter was settled, and just
before twelve Richard drew himself to-
gether, shouldered his gun, and marched
out to his post. What occurred we
learned later, and his tone was very diff
ferent from his usual one. I will tell
you the story just as he told US:
'1started on my beat, ne said, "5hink-
ing of what was going to happen. I ad-
nit now that did not feel as easy
about the matter as had felt before.
The loneliness of the spot was telling
! ON my mind, and made me rather anx~
ious. Still resolved to stop She won~
| an, If she appeared, and question her;
+ could not do otherwise. But the COR
ner she always came from hooked very
dark and ominous, and altogether. my
feelings were far from pleasant.
''Twelve o'clock struck in the steeple
! of neighboring church, and ! watched
attentively for the apparition. After
watching ten or fifteen minutes / saw
! something move in the dark, and a
dread presentiment seemed to clutch my
heart. The woman appeared, gliding
along as you all saw her; but knew
that my Boosting had been vain, that
the sight affected me more, perhaps,
than any OF you. l was absolutely
panic-stricken, fascinated by the ap-
preaching figure as some poor bird by
the snake that bewilders it with its
glance before devouring it. felt that
l ought to run, but l could not move.
On she came, nearer and nearer, stop
ping at intervals, till she looked me in
the face; then, uttering wild cry, she
sprung forward, and fell, with dag
ger planted up to the hilt in my side. :"
Such was the story Richard told us a
few weeks later as he was recovering
from his wound. AS to the woman, she
was discovered by the police and pro-
nounced mad. I have heard rumors to
the effect that she had been Abandoned;
that her crime was but desperate
vengeance. Whether the story was
true or not Richard would never say
Waverly.
Sawduat.
Little Daisy Parks Con her first visit
to her country uncle)-Oh, mamma,
what lovely place! Look at that
splendid wide field full of beautiful
flowers.
'No, child. that is common white
weed"
But just see the piles Of great, big,
yellow oranges lying in the grass"
"No, dear, those are pumpkins"
swell, then, look at the trees full of
lovely ripe cherries"
''Those are nothing but red leaves,
my pet"
Daisy with tears il her eyes,
Mamma, you look at the mean side OF
every thing. Next thing, you'll be
saying Uncle George is not Uncle
~