The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-03-26

AE. UEASPEu AAhalN HAND IN 6tLENlE
by my side think should have struck
him then and there
Thank God I WAS with Won. Aaron,
Jane whispered.
Yes, thank God you are always with
me. A good woman softens man ,2na
wares. When we were walking TO
gether in the twilight, and you were
talking In your quiet voice, I began tc
feel that he hadn't done me any great
harm after ALL And them / remem.
bered Olives words about forgiveness,
and a. sort of shame stirred in me. It's
bad sign when ones heart is more
ready to curse than to bless-a terrible
bad sign, Jane"
''True, Aaron" she said, gravely.
'sAnd then. when was left alone for
the night, couldn't rest for thinking
of my badness, and from that fell to
calling back old times. I didn't go to
bed; just paced up and down my room,
till seemed to see Michaers face ex-
act]y as it used to be. What a bright,
fresh~colored lad he was! Always full
of hopes and plans, and always ready to
cheer me up when I was down
hearted. And after that old vision of
him. Jane, saw him again as he is
now-the poor, puny man who won't
live out half his days. Instead Of hat
ing him. instead of wanting to hurt
him, was broken down at once with a
great pity. It wasn't Olives life that
he had blighted, no, nor mine: it YVES
his own life that he had spoiled and
laid waste"
Jane looked up at her lover with tears
in her eyes. They were SO happy
these two simple pcrsons-and they
knew that no life can be complete if it
has missed such happiness as their own.
1.-The pity grew and grew" Aaron
continued, "till could not stay in the
house. wanted to be out under the
stars, and ask Heaven to forgive me for
nv blindness. When am upset / al
ways go into the open air. never lost
the habit even in London, though it
was little could see OF the stars there.
But here in the country, the wide sky
is always waiting overhead to help a
man, and So I slipped gently down
stairs, and then my feet seemed to be
drawn along to the courthouse.
~ got to the farmyard gate, and stood
leaning on it, and thinking, thinking.
Then smelt FIRE, and suddenly | saw a
cloud OF smoke coming from one of the
upper windows and I jumped over the
gate. and ran and hammered hard on
the front door. But some thing seemed
to warn me that no time must be lost.
I knew that there was ladder in one
of the outbuildings, and dragged it
out, aud planted it under that smoking
window. You know how it all ended.
Jane. climbed the ladder, and found
the room filled with smoke and flames
I shouted, but no answer came save
a faint groan. And | sprang in. and
found Michael stretched upon the floor :"
The girl was trembling as she chung
to his arm. She had loved him dearly al
ways, but his deed of daring had given
him new dignity in her eyes. And he
had been in danger, and she might have
lost him
There is very little harm done to
the house, y she said, after a pause. -
went in to-day and saw the room
The furniture is burnt and the walls
are blackened, but the fire was soon put
out. Michael had fallen asleep, itseems,
leaving the window open and the candle
burning on the dressing table. Mrs
Be1thorpe says that he seemed strange
and absent that night, and looked very