The Irish standard., 1892-08-20

ness here was 81 relation "a The land
troubles, and as Mr.. Hanley, the repre-
| sentative Of the creditors, is going out
| to my neigh borhood thoughtit best to5
accompany him. !" "a
| '.Mr. Hanley!'' Reader, you cannot
| imagine what effect the announcement
of that name, so unexpected as it was,
had on me; nor how much greater the
effect was when looked up to find
that Will Hanley was standing within
! an arms length of me. 1t would be an
| impossibility to describe my sensations.
!; know that my breath and my strength
!, left me, and that / gasped, and came
/. near falling to the ground For
| moment my senses left me, ! think, for
, everything was blank and unreal and
| the sunshine was SO dim and uncertain.
seemed to be in a dream, and nothing
appeared real
I recognized my boy friend in an in
slant. BE was unchanged except that
he was taller and more graceful. He
| was a man grown now, but there was
the same happy, boyish expression
about his features, the same tender
light in his eyes. He had grown hand
somer and more elegant, and as looked
upon him I thought him very beautiful
! My first impulse was to extend my
hand in greeting to my old friend, but
something in his manner checked me.
He evinced no sign Of pleasure in meet
| ing me, but looked upon me as one
would upon a stranger. The thought
| came to me that he had perhaps forgot
ten the little girl he had once known,
or that, at least, he did not recognize
her in the tall woman who now stood
before him. There had been wonderful
changes in my appearance within the
last three years.
no." said to myself. she does not
know me-"
Again l was about to address him
and make myself known. But Charles
| Cornell anticipated me. I heard him
say:
s'Miss Owens, Mr.. Hanley."
looked up expectantly and hall
reached forth my hand. AS suddenly
let my eyes fall and drew my hand
back, while cold chill ran to my heart,
freezing all the light out of it and leav.
ing il blank and desolate. Will Hanley
showed no pleasure in meeting me.
He did not even so much as manifest
sign of recognition. He simply touched
his hat, bowed stiffiy, distantly, coldly
| and, turning about, walked away with
only a formal word Of greeting.
That action filed my soul with pain
that could scarcely bear. It cut my
heart deeper than any afaiction had
ever known. For three long years J
had loved Will Hanley. and found com
| fort in the thought of the joy Of my
meeting with him In my dark hours
when was all alone and friendless,
had so}aced myself with the renerp
'brance of the time coming, when my
one friend of my childhood would come
| bach: to me with his love. And now hs
! had come; but oh, how different was
his coming from what had pictured it!
| File did not love me. He did not even
choose to recognize me; but with the
| GOODNESS of q stranger turned from nae.
| How bitter and terrible was my
awakening from the fond dreams had
SO long cherished! Oh, God, how ! suf-
What torture rent my heart! 1t was as
if powerful, merciless hand had
struck ne death blow, I staggered
back and would have fallen but for the
support of fence which was near, and
which / clutched convu]sively. Ny
head swan, my face paled to an :ashy
whiteness and my eyes started from
their sockets.
Charles Cornell saw my agitation and
stepped quickly to my side.
miss OWENS" he cried, anxiously.
''What is the matter?'
81 must 60 home," 7 gasped, leaning
heavily on his arm. please take me-"
''You are SICK" he said land must
not leave you. Mr.. Hanley can bring
q carriage"
mo, no. cried, vehemently. "Just
wait moment and I will be able to
| walk. 1t is only a little way"
81 do not think you should walk.
Miss Owens he replied. ''You are very
pale and weak. See how you tren Bile.
had better call Mr.. Hanley and have
him bring a carriage"
''No, no; please DON'T I said, almost
pleadingly. Don't call-any body. I'll
be better DIRECTLY
Mr. Cornell cast q wondering glance
at me, but urged the point no further.
! md after the lapse Of a minute or so he
took my arm and conducted me home.
I grew calmer as we walked along, and
by exerting all my will-power and CALI
ing all my pride to my aid managed to
! affect cheerfulness that l was far
from feeling but which seemed to re-
! assure my companion and allay his
| tears. ..f5.,
II am sorry to have troubled you," I
remarked, as Mr.. Cornell was about to
leave me.
sit was no trouble, Miss Owens,
! assure YOU he replied sit is pleas
ure to serve you. But you must be
marc .oaraf111 of unnrsalf-' ho addict
| <A6z@ 15jE129