The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-05-31

81 am too much your debtor, madam,
70 decline any service OF yours"
| t'Come, thenl where are your eyes?
All, you have found her! Yes, Mile.
Destain sits there enciroled By admirers,
whose idle words she heeds not. She is
thinking of something else. Perhaps
,he is piqued because Lemourier is not
more attentive. Did you not hear him
| Is you passed, boasting of his achieve
71ents to those young officers? Hal he
| .hinks that she is secure-that he need
not trouble himself to play the lover.
We shall sect"
Her flashing eyes and heightened
:olor, not less then her words, evinced
| her resentment.
| s'But you shall lead her to the dance,
| non Cher; you shall tell her tales of ad-
| venture that will make her forget this
braggard and his rudeness!'' Her anger
was at white heat now.
De Barzac smiled; his spirits rose; he
! would try, and that meant much to a
man whom no danger or difficulty could
aismay.
| 1t seemed as if Mile. Destain lost
something Of her apathy when her aunt
| presented the young officer.
She accepted his invitation to dance;
| she listened to his sketches of army
life, its tolls. it's triumphs; the romance
Of war colored by an ardent enthusiasm
which forgot the narrator in the soul
inspiring theme.
The pride of birth, which was after all
but flimsy vail, melted before the elo-
quence of the young soldier, whose Grip
pied arm was the only Indication that
he had shared the dangers which he de-
scribed.
The announcement of supper, how
ever, interrupted the tale; but Nine.
Chevreul, who had not lost sight of her
| proteges and in whose face anger had
given way to triumph, placed them to-
| gether at the table.
Perhaps it occurred to Lemourier
that it would be as we'll to pay Mile.
Destain the attention of taking her in
to supper, Butshe was not to be found.
Chow now, Lemourier, what have you
lost?" asked one Of his friends, observ-
ing his perplexed look.
''Where is MY mean where is Mile.
Destain?" he responded.
'She went in to supper with De Bar
zac," said young officer, adding ma
liciously: 'sHe has monopolized her for
the last two hours"
'Look to your laurels, Lemourier; De
Barzac is no mean rival" said another,
willing to add to his annoyance.
''Gentlemen, supper awaits you" 1t
"a
was regarding Demourier with malic-
lous satisfaction. The cloud on that
yentleman's brow spread itself over his
face He could scarcely command his
voice. .."
'tMlle. Destain?"
''She is at supper"
':She-she has an escort"
"Iprovided her with an escort, STRIP
''I believe that privilege is mine, mad
anne"
Pardon NC; I am her guardian;
am also the mistress of this house and
permit no dictation."
Lemourier was accustomed to dominate
men, but this laay's high-bred dignity
over-awed him and he retired to the
supper-room with much greater appe-
ute for revenge than for the edibles
spread before him.
A distant view Of his fancee at the
opposite side Of the table added fuel to
his wrath. Her face wore an expression
which he had never seen there before
it was one of serene pleasure. He OBJ
served the vivacity with which she re-
sponded to her comparisons words-the
smiles which wreathed the face which
he had never seen without its vail OF
naughty composure. The eye of jealous
hatred also perceived in De Barzac the
exultant rival and chief cause Of his
discontinue, and he resolved to remove
him from his path either by intimida-
ton or force. But if the yiands or his
plate remained untouched, the wine
CUP was not neglected, and when the
party began to break ~, he was in q
mood for any desperate act.
De Barzao was the last to depart, and
as he babe his hostess farewell she whis-
pered: ssBeware of Lemourier; he is
drunk and jealous
The young man smiled at the sugges-
ton; his heart was too full OF happiness
to find room for aught else, and he
turned away with light laugh. The
street was dark and narrow; the light
from the open door Of a tavern threw
CLEAN across it's obscurity, and he heard
voices in eager discussion within. Know
ing that the place was the resort Of Lee
nourier and his intimates, he was not
surprised at the uproar, but when within
a,few PAGES of the light gigantic figure
emerged from the obscurity and con-
fronted him he knew that he was in a
situation where nothing but courage and
GOODNESS would avail him.
I'M. de Barzac, desire the honor OF
few moments conversation" said Le-
INQUIRER, with drunken effort at COM
posture which was belied by the ferocious
expression Of eyes glazing out Of a dis
torted face.
s'Call on me tomorrow" replied De
Barzac. sternly: II will listen to you
when you are sober"
"You will listen now. I ara about to
extort a promise from you. Mile. Des-
tain"
ssPeaco, rufian! your lips shall not
profane that name."
sHo! within there!' shouted the giant;