The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-09-10

mt Won remeIn Der the old aylng aDOut
where there is so much smoke there
mnst be some fire. There was evident
lv some basis for those rumors.
.sThsre was, Mary" I answered.
ssThere was a basis of malicious false
hood"
II should be glad to think so, Agnes. J"
sThen you do not think sop
ST am afraid do not. You see your
mothers cousin, Mrs. Bernard, wrote
to papa about it, and she was quite pos
tive in her statements relative TO an
undue intimacy existing between you
and her husband. It worried papa I'M
til he was sick, and he said for his sake
you ought to lead respectable life, ii
you cared nothing for yourself"
For his salze?" repeated. S'Why
for his sake, wonder? What has he
ever done to make his sake a consider.
alton with me? What has he ever
done," continued, growing more We
hement as memories crowded up, TO
make me respectable? Has he trained
me up in kindness and love? Has he
sheltered me from the cold world and
protected me, as father shoulo,
from the wicked deceit Of such men as
Bernard? No He denied me his love
and drove me out into the world among
strangers, ignorant and penniless. 1t
is not to him l owe any thanks for be-
ing what I am, and he can take nc
credit to himself for the fact that am
pure and stainless. He gave me every
chance to go to wreck. and if had he
would have no cause to feel surprised
Il do not care to hear papa abused,'
she said, with an injured air.
''Nor I do not care to abuse him.
replied ';Sometimes. though, it is hare
to suffer in silence, and then the truth
will out. But enough Of that. Let the
past sleep. You believe those rumors
that were reported against my char
acter?''
81 dislike to, but do not see how
am to help it,
':Then, Mary, we cannot be friends
can forgive deep wrongs, but that is
one cannot forgive
Without another word I turned anc
walked away. Hanley had not spoken
once during our short interview, and ]
had no idea what his thoughts were
for never gave him a glance while we
stood there. He followed me soon, how
ever, and coming to where had stopped
in the lane, he said:
''Agnes, 1o not feel grieved at what
Mary has said. She does not know and
is not SO much to blame as her mother,
/ believe in you and mean that she
shall"
sNo, Mr.. Hanley," replied, ''she
will never believe in me. But it doesn't
matter. l know my heart, and Goo
knows it, and while it is cruel to be
mis- judged, there is a consolation in the
thought of my own rectitude. Though
all the world forsakes me, God is with
me-"
Il will not forsake you,' he cried. 81
believe in you, and I am friend, OF
I viii be if you will let me-
*'No, our ways lie apart, answered.
''You misjudged me once, and [ tolo
you could never forget"
."Agnes," he said, you are cruel anG
inexorable. l Offer: you all have tc
give and you spurn it from You. I woulc
to Heaven I had more to Offer
s'No, do not spurn your friendship
I said, shut I simply say it cannot be
mine. l must go now. Good-by."
'May not accompany you, Agnes?
ne said.
emo, wish to be alone,' I replied
he looked after me for some time.
evidently half inclined to give me his
company whether wished it Or not. ]
glanced back when I reached a rise be-
yond the bridge, and I saw that he hac
sat down, with the intention, no doubt.
of awaiting my return. wished tc
avoid another meeting with him, SO
went across field and returned home
by another route.
Three or four days passed during
which I managed to avoid Hanley al
most entirely by remaining closely in
my room. Mary and never held any
conversation after that mentioned. and
nothing more than a formal conversa'
ton passed between us. Mrs, Lawton,
/ suspect, found her position a very
trying one, for she understood perfect
" how matters were, and was placed,
so to speak, between two fires.
was leaving the dining-room after
breakfast, the morning of the fourth
day after the arrival of our guests
when Will Hauley, who was lettering
in the hall, approached me and said:
"Agnes, friend of yours is coming
here to-day"
"a friend of mine?' I exclaimed.
Eyes, said friend of yours" he 10
peated.
'Who?" asked.
'tThe one, believe, whom you would
most prefer to see,' he replied. 'Now,
tell me who that is, and see if am not
right"
mot" I hesitated and blushed,
then changing my intention slightly.
went on: ''Not Mrs. Cornell?"
mo, not QUITE he replied. II be-
lieve you would have guessed it if you
had gone on as you began. It is not
Mrs. Cornell, but her son.
''Is Charles Cornell coming here?" I
cried.
eyes, have letter from him say
ing he will be here to-day. He comes