The Irish standard., 1891-02-07

ciety's meetings. After mature deIiber-
alton he decided to let Alice into the
secret, partly because he did not like
the idea Of deceiving her, and partly be,
cause he doubted his ability to do SO. Il
required some persuasion to bring her to
consent, but at last she entered fully
into the plot, and helped Russell to con.
| coct the soulful mess for Cupid to read.
His first appearance and the poem were
an immense success. He read a twenty
| line wall called 'sDust and Ashes a
title suggested to Russell by the fellows
occupation. The girls were in rapture
and it was Immediately decided that the
poet must read before larger audience
during the following week. The socie-
ty would issue about fifty invitations,
! and begin at once its work OF introdnc'
ing the poet.
Russell was somewhat alarmed at the
success OF his joke, but he determined
to carry it as far Rs it would 60. The
preparation Of the poem, however, was a
work of consid erable magnitude, and,
with Alice, he spent great many hours
digging out the verses. Alice proved to
be remarkably clever at this SORT of work,
and together they evolved sad narra-
tive of disappointed affection, with a
climax which cast general blight over
the face Of nature. 1t wasn't so bad after
all, and when the society and it's guests
swallowed the production for work Of
genius, and overwhelmed Cupid with
congratulations, the real authors were
not only amused but hattered. They
had been ''taken in" by their own pro-
duction no less than the others. Cupid,
in reply to a hundred questions, told the
lie which had been prepared for him by
Russell, with face as somber as the
opening of a hard winter, and the two
conspirators got no end of fun out Of his
stolid bearing in the midst Of his hon
ors. All sorts of ridiculous plans for
getting him into favor were proposed;
and Russell foresaw that eventually
Cupid would have to disappear Or be dis
covered. When the exposure should
finally come, Russell feared that his own
disappearance, too, would be a necessary
condition of safety.
But Cupid had to be provided with one
more poem, and Alice and Russell were
hard at work upon it one evening in
early November in the library OF the
Rays. Alice had not been quite we'll,
and she sat in big chair before an open
fire playing the pretty invalid. There
was all air Of languor about her which
was happily all that remained Of her
illness. It was immensely becoming,
Russell thought, and the freight flash
ing upon her pale cheeks gave her &
fascination which well nigh overeame
his resolution. BY hard struggle Of
the will he kept lis mind fixed upon the
poem, and he made a note now and then
upon writing pad in his hand, leaning
iowa I'd the fire for light.
The pencil fell from his hand and
rolled along the hearth rug. He stopped
for it but could not find it in the dim
freight. 1t must be hidden near her
foot-stool. He got down upon one knee
to look for it, steadying himself by the
arm Of her chair. She spoke to tell him
where she thought the pencil had gone,
and he looked up into her face. The
attitude was suggastive-kneeling sb
her feet. He was sure he loved her; she
looked kindly down at him; he had it on
his lips to tell her.
At this moment Gilbert Ray entered
by door from the hall, and Mrs. Ray
appeared simultaneously through Jap
anese portiere on the right Both
courht sirht Of tha 1irt1e Ur0u17 on tho
hearth rug at the same instant. Ray
said "Jingo' and slammed the door be-
hind him. There was a snothered ''oh
my!' from Mrs. Ray as her ample form
parted the portiere with rattle.
"What's the matter with them?
asked Alice, laughing. "4Are they
crazy?;'
mo" said Russell, rising slowly.
''but they think that am. Perhaps they
are right, but my madness shall be
harmless, even if it can not now be
cured"