The Irish standard., 1891-02-14


| ''You are mistaken. am in need OF
q friend Such a one as you might be- il
you would"
Steven Welmore's face grew luminous.
He bent toward her, looking into her
eyes eagerly, as only one who loved her
as he did was capable Of looking.
] 81 will be your friend forever, if you
will accept me. Love you as no mortal
ever loved before p he said.
ssOh, T do not mean that! Not that
How could you have misunderstood me
so %
He was upright in his saddle in a Sec
ond, his eyes dilating and flashing and
his whole face hard as a rock.
s'All women are devils, and all men
are fools, !" he said, in clear, ringing
tone and putting the spurs into his
horse, he dashed down the road like d
mailman, leaving Miriam alone.
Miriam was sorry, to say the least. IT
she could only have bound him to her as
true, loyal friend, what comfort it
would have been to her. But here he
had thought her fishing for husband !
Bah Her face flushed angrily, "Would
no one understand her, then?'' She
needed friends, not lovers. She turned
her horses head and touching him with
her riding whip rode swiftly away in the
opposite direction from which Saeven
| Welmore had gone.
| Her anger was spent in the long,
fierce ride she took, and she came homo
quite herself again, That evening,
| while Miriam sat in the moonlight, run"
ming her fingers dreanily over the piano
keys, Steven Welmore came in and
stood beside her.
Miriam, I acted like 81 fool this morn
! ing, and l1avo come to ask your pardon"
he SAID.
"Granted," she answered, quickly,
with a pleased face, giving him her
hand.
"And T. wish TO be your friend,'' he
continued, land to have this mornings
folly forgotten, If possible"
''GranJed also. And TO prove 1t, come
out into the grounds with ms. + have
something to tell you"
They went out under the full moon.
''You ought to know why can not be
yours, for such all unexpected honor as
your love deserves some reward" She
said. II will tell you. Long before [
knew you / loved and was engaged.'
Her companion started slightly at her
words.
To-day that man Is All abandoned M
ebriate. wholly lost and ruined; but"
she turned her face toward him, her
eyes swimming in tears--''l love him
yet and can marry no other.''
For several seconds nothing broke the
silence between them. Then Steven
said: IT will be your friend. Your con-
fidence has not been misplaced. Your
dreams were of this. I see."
eyes. On, such horrible things as
have dreamed! They make me shudder
now. Let us go in. This beauty op~
presses me tonight"
Doctor Walter was just entering the
door as they came up the steps. He held
q paper in his hand.
''Miriam here is telegram boy at
the gate handed me, as came past, for
you"
A quick look passed between Miriam
and Steven Wellnore, ard a spasn1 as of
mortal agony went over her face. She
caught the note, and, hurrying before
them into the lighted hall, opened and
read it's contents. Before either of the
gentlemen lad crossed the bhreshold
she had dropped upon the floor in a
deadly swoon. Both sprang in at once,
and the housekeeper, attracted by the
unusual noise, came hurrying in also.
They all saw the words: II am dying,
Miriam~-come," upon the paper lying
beside her; but only Steven Welmore
knew their real significance to the pros
trate figure before them. They bore
her to her own room, where she moaned
back to life; and long before midnight,
she, with one Of her maid-servants and
Steven Weln1 ore, were on their way to
London Miriam would not allow either
of them to accompany her furoher than
to the hotel where they stopped.
She stood alone over her disgraced
lovers dying bed, and alone she saw his
poor, miserable life go out.
"I5 Is over!' was all she said, when
she returned, but her white lips and
darkened eyes were token enough Of
her suffering.
For two years afterwards The Cedars
was shut, and Miriam was away--where
none knew save Steven Welnore. Then
she returned as suddenly as she had
left, opened her house and received her
friends as before.
Steven 1Yelnore held his ground and
kept others at a distance, on the plea OF
friendship, hoping that by and by when
her grief wore away she would perhaps
reward him for his devotion. He Was
not mistaken.
He may have half her heart-at least
he has her hand, and with two-thirds
of the world the heart Is of Little Or no
consequence.-Chicago Journal.
Jessie Fremont's Donation.
Jessie Benton Fremont was among