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


thing like what experienced then. To
be wrought up to the very apex Of JOY,
then like flash plunged down the
steep abyss into the darkest despair is
too terrible for pen to picture. With
one sweep my hopes were all gone.
Will Hanley was lost to me forever. He
was the husband of my sister.
When ] returned to consciousness
Mrs. Lawton was bathing my face and
,haang my hands. She appeared deep
IL anxious, evidently at a loss to &C
count for my condition. She had never
known me to faint before. perplexed
her still more, when I glanced quickly
about the room, and in a hoarse
whisper asked:
''Is he gone?''
''Who? VIII Hanley?" she replied.
Eyes, he's gone. But what of it??''
''Nothing," answered cts he COM
Ing back??''
eyes. directly"
''And--she-is she coning?''
''His wife? Certainly. He's gone to
fetch her now"
ssMrs. Lawton,'' said after q pause,
''can you help me to my room? l am
too weak to walk alone.'
''You had better remain here little
while, Agnes" she replied. 'sYou will
get stronger directly
*'No, want to go to my ROOM"
Mrs. Lawton extended her hand aud
arose. I could scarcely stand, but by
leaning on her arm I managed to get
out of the room and up the stairs, where
threw myself on the bed. Mrs. Law
ton did not leave me, but took a. seat by
nv side where she remained for near y
| minute gazing silently and thoughtful
" into my face. At last she spoke.
''Agnes,' she said, in sympathetic
| tones, "Will Hanley said something
! that hurt you. VIII you tell me what
i it is?''
| I only sobbed in reply. She waited
an instant, then went on.
: "Agnes,' she said, tell me if Will
IIanley's wife is any connection OF
yours The name is the same
sSha is my sister," answered.
Indeed" Mrs. Lawton exclaimed. 81
did not think at the time Of any rela-
tionsfip that might exist between you.
| It is a, common name.
Then there was a long pause during
which Mrs. Lawton seemed undecided
whether to drop the matter there OR
whether to pursue it further Finally
she arose and started from the room,
but when she reached the door she turned
back. She came and took my hands
between hers and caressed them, ex-
pressing in that way the sympathy she
could not speak.
agnes, / am sorry my nephew has
come here with his wife," she said,
finally, "and if had known he should
not have come would do nothing to
bring trouble to you
Il know that, Mrs. Lawton," l re-
piled. "You have always consulted my
happiness in everything:
Eyes, have tried to make your stay
with me as pleasant as / could. But
not of that now, Agnes, WANT to
speak Of your sister. Do you wish to
avoid a meeting with her? Remember
that while she was the cause of much
suffering on your part, she was small
and hardly accountable. She perhaps
regrets all that now, and if she knew
you she might love you
saw with feeling of relief that
! Mrs. Lawton had not guessed my
secret. She ascribed my emotions to
/; the prospect of meeting my sister. and
left Will Hanley entirely out of account.
Yet I did not wish to see my sister
; under existing circumstances. AS Mary
Owens l should have been glad to meet
her, and had she accepted my love |
should have freely given it to her. But
now it was different. l could not meet
her as the wife of the man / loved and
! feel toward her as sister should feel.
! I felt bitterly toward her, and for the
time hated her.
Mrs. Lawton waited some time, and,
getting no answer from me, she con-
tinued:
SIT is very ungenerous thing for
sisters she said, ''to hold ill-feelings
against each other, and I think you
would be happier, Agnes, if you met
your sister and showed a willingness to
forgive the past and be friendly"
*.Not to-day. Mrs. Lawton,' replied.
'sPerhaps will see her tomorrow.
am tired and weak and sick, now, and
| want to rest in quiet"
just then carriage drove up to the
! door.
..They have come 2 Mrs. Lawton re;
marked. and I must go down.
will come up again as soon as can"
She stopped and kissed me, then
turned away. / waited until she was
out of hearing, then let the pent W
tears flow. 4
..Why is 1T" ! moaned, that my
sister must have every thing and i moth.
ing? Wastit.snot enough that she had
all the love and attentions at, home,
without taking from me the nan-I love-
[ sAhieHeavenh, fasitt right that she should
keffrom nae al 4 have? Is it jysttqq''t. 8.
4 snept the day il my room 1 !, m /. SIN