The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-09-17

or 81 an actlon would have made ii plain
TO him that there was room for hope,
and for the want of it I had no doub.
lost him forever
# Will Hanley and Mary remained but q
few days, and though avoided them
both as far as it was possible, was
thrown into contact with them to some
extent. Mary made no effort to con-
ceal her dislike of me. but on every oc-
casion made it as manifest as she could.
She treated me with the utmost
rudeness, and by every possible means
attempted to impress me with the
knowledge that she believed every
word that had ever been spoken against
me. On one occasion she remarked:
whatever you do, Agnes, don't ever
claim relationship with me. We are
related, and it can't be helped, but we
can let the fact remain secret. | de-
sire that our relationship should be
kept among ourselves"
81 am sure such arrangement meets
my approval replied, ''for have no
desire to make our relationship known.
1 have nothing to gain by it, and per-
haps you have nothing either
II certainly have nothing to gain by
it, she rejoined, resentfully, ''but |
have much to lose, something that am
sure you have not
MARY 1 said, practically, ''let us be
reasonable. l spoke hastily and l re-
greet it. We are sisters, and there ought
to be sisterly tie between us. 1t is
folly for us to deny our relationship, or
to assert that we will never have aught
to do with one another except as
strangers. Neither Of us knows what
the future has in store nor to what con-
ditions we may be brought before Life
ends. The time may come when we
will each need the love and sympathy
OF the other am willing to forgive
and forget the past, and from this time
on dwell with you in sisterly love-
"You, 20 doubt, feel inclined that
way Mary replied, -"and do not won
der that you do. If was in your situa~
ton should evidently feel SO, too. The
time may come when you will need my
love and sympathy-it is very apt to
come, think; but it is not at all prob
able that I shall ever feel the need of
any of your love and sympathy, not
the least probable, I'm sure
''I hope you never may, Mary,'%I an
swered. t'But we can't tell what may
happen. Stranger things have come to
pass before now
'',rhat may be, but none more I'M
likely, I'm sure. If ever ask you for
any favor, however small and insignif-
cant, hope you will be SO generous as
to refuse it,
81 shall do nothing of the kind, but,
on the contrary, I shall grant it it it is
in my power to do So
s'Tha11ks. It is not likely you will
ever have that pleasure. 1t is far more
likely to come the other way, and will
be as generous as. you propose to be. l
will grant your requests, but 1 will do
it as to stranger. repeat again, that
if we ever meet after this it is my
wish that our relationship be kept a
secret. I cannot consent to bear the
shame and disgrace of being known as
your sister,"
She tossed her head disdainfully and
swept out of the room. No other word
was exchanged between us during the
rest of her stay, and when she left size
did not bid me good-by.
Hanley made several efforts to gain
a. secret audience with me, but I man
aged to thwart his design on every oc-
casion. save one. That was one even
ing when he came up from the village
and shocked us all by the discovery of
the fact that he was partially intoxi-
Gated. l had never known him to in
t1ulge in strong drink before, and was
surprised as well as panied by his ap-
pearance in his present state. was so
troubled that I could not sleep, eve.
long after had gone to my room, so
far in the night dressed, and, throwing
a wrap about me, stole out Of the house
to promenade up and down the lawn
walk where the moon slone bright and
fair. "@ 49,.
saw Hanley lying on a couch in Mrs.
Lawton's s'itting-room as passed out,
and l supposed him asleep; but in that
I was mistaken, for shortly after I
reached the lawn he came out to me,
and though attempted to escape to the
house he detained me.
ssAgnes,' he said, in tones that were
almost pitiful, ''you despise me now,
don't you?"
.'No, MIR. Hanley," replied, 81 do not
despise you, but pity you. How could
you so far forget yourself as to take
that step?"
ST got drunk, Agnes, because could
not forget myself ! attempted to drown
the recollection of myself in liquor. 1
am miserable, to tell you the truth, and
I almost wish had never seen YOU"
eff seeing me has anything to do
with your condition this evening, I,
too, wish you never had seen me-
''If it has anything to do with it?' he
repeated. cit does have to do with it.
It's the whole cause of it,
ssThen I'm sorry we ever met"
eyes, I believe you are, and SO am I.
You are to be the curse of my life,
Agnes. You are the rock on which my
manhood, my happiness and my soul