The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-03-12
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Adeline. whose eyes twlnkled with
amusement, set down her empty cup,
and made d sign to her cousin. He
rose, and the two repaired to the studio.
'sSeaward,' she began when the door
was shut g! have thousand things to
say to you. Why are you not my broth
er, old boy? Granny would not dare to
restrain our intercourse if you were.
But surely she has given up her old sus-
picion about our p1,ilandering?'
II don't think she suspects us OF phi
landering,' he replied. "But she doesn't
like me, and she disapproves Of your
taking me into your confidence. Never
mind her, Adeline. What is it that yos
want to say?''
| 'Claud will come home tomorrow.
she Wen. on, land grIn2y has SGT her
, mind upon marrying ns out OF hand
She says we have ;:a,~dlei Oh as an en-
gagged couple long enough. Fer my
own part I have found the dawdling
! quite pleasant. We have caconed about,
aud looked at houses and furniture, and
talked vaguely Of a faro future when
we might possibly want such things.
| There is nothing like seeing ones prom
| ised land in the distance: It is the near
| view that destroys the encAantment.
sBut I don't quite Understand you,
Adeline," he was beginning, when She
stopped him with g. pretty, impatient
| gesture.
! ''stupid old boy! How can you ex-
| pect to understand woman who
| doesn't understand herself? And it is
not of myself that am thinking, it is
! of Claud.'
Seaward looked at her thoughtfully
She had bright gray eyes shaded with
! black lashes and delicate, but rather
irregular features. To-day her face had
the brilliancy that often comes Of anx-
! iety; the clear pallor Of the checks was
tinted with vivid rose. She was pref
tier, perhaps, than usual, but curiously
unlike the cool charming woman OF the
world ne had always known.
ct am not romantic, she said, speak
ing in Il calmer tone, II do not expect
toe much from a man. But l can't
/ help thinking that Claud has nothing to
give. At first l admired that gentle
langour Of his, and fancied that it was
a mask, worn gracefully to hide deep
feeling I believe now that it only
hides an empty heart
Seawart still regarded her attentive.
! ly, and was silent.
II have never been really in love
! with Claud," she continued, ''but if he
had tried he could have made me love
him He is the kind Of man who at
tracts women, with his pale aristocratic
face and gentle ways. But he never
has tried. Time goes ON, and we do not
draw an incl, nearer to each other. II
| granny tells him that he has got &c
marry me before Christmas, he will
placidly consent. But, seaward, ]
don't like the prospect Of a lifetime
spent with an utterly Indifferent hus'
band am not vain, yet cannot help
feeling that am worthy OF a stronger
feeling"
"You are worthy Of the strongest
feeling that a man can give. Adellne,
| he said with true heartiness. las tc
Claud, there is a great deal about him
that one naturally likes and admires.
I have been hoping that you would kim
! die a fire within him. Is he really as
cold as you imagine?''
"Don't be deceitful, old boy. You
and are always perfectly frank with
each other. When you have talked
with Claud, have you ever discovered
| any sign of warmth toward me? You
know you have not
! But, Adeline, was always hoping
that the warmth would come. And he
really does admire you very much.
! 'Ah, Seaward!'' the bright gray eyes
grew soft and sad, 4 ann foolish
| enough to dream of something sweete1
! and deeper than admiration. l don't
| believe much in raptures: all ask is
! the sweet, old-world gift of sponta'
| neous affection. If Claud had chosen
! me lust as Jack chooses jill, I might
! have been a contented woman. But he
! did not choose me; he simply accepted
me from granny's hands
| Granny is too fond Of playing provi'
! dence," said Seaward, in an uneasy tone.
SIT is possible that Claud has seen his
! Jill elsewhere an unattainable Jill. >
There was a note of Interrogation at
the end of this sentence; but Aylstone
was silent. She rose and went to look
| at the bowl of flowers which her hands
had arranged the day before. Then,
with one of her quick movements, She
came to his side, touching him gently
on the shoulder: "You do not advise
me, old boy" Her clear voice tremble6
| little. Zone man knows another's Sc.
crets and never tells them. don't ask
you to betray confidence. l only say
help me to come to decision"
ST will help you, Adeline, as far as
can," he said, flushing, and looking al
her with gaze full of affection. 81
will say: don't marry Claud until YOU
are quite satisfied with him. I do not
see why granny is to have her own way
always. AS for you, my dear, | like
you all the better for saying the things
that you have said to-day
'sDear Seward, what delightful
things have said?"
Something about Jack and Jill. YOU
think that Jack would be benightee