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

The next morning | arose feeling
badly. I had slept none during the
night, but I had wept' for hours. ALI
night long my mind dwelt on the scene
lust described and the burden of my
thoughts ever was of what might have
been. I was sure that VIII Hanley
loved me-that the sight of me had
aroused all the tender passion he had
known five years before. and that but
for the vile rumors set afloat by Ralph
Bernard he would have searched me
out even at the cost of years and made
me his wife. It was wrong, perhaps, to
dwell on such thoughts, but there was
melancholy pleasure IN it that l could
not resist. There was d sad enjoyment
in recalling his words and actions, and
in knowing that he loved me even
though he had DO right to do so.
For an instant / reveled in the
knowledge of his love, then, putting
that feeling away, contrasted what
was with what might have been, and
in my heart l very nearly cursed
Bernard, who had robbed my life Of its
sweetness. But for him 7 would have
been Will Hanley's bride, a happy, con-
tented wife, instead of q disappointed
woman. loving a man whom | had no
right to love.
When descended to the dining-room
/ found that Mrs. Lawton and the Wis
itors had already breAkfasted, sol sat
down alone and ate avery little. Leav-
ing the table / went out for walk,
hoping that the fresh morning air
would revive me. I took the same
course l had taken the night before,
but just as emerged into the lane 1
found myself face to face with Hanley
and my sister. For moment we were
all embarrassed and silent, but l soon
recovered myself little, and, extend
ing my hand to my sister. said:
"Mary, am glad to see you.''
NV words did not seem to express
much, and the tone in which I uttered
them was quite devoid of sentiment,
but only spoke as I felt. l regretted
that l had not been more demonstra-
tive, after the words were spoken, but
did not regret long. Mary's deport-
ment was such as to freeze up in my
heart any tender affection might have
cherished. She took no notice of my
extended hand, but with stiff bow re-
piled:
Il am glad to see you, Agnes, in this
home, and hope for your own sake, as
well as ours, you will remain here and
by good conduct try to atone for the
past"
what do you mean?'' l demanded,
with rising anger, sure that under
stood the purport of her language.
II only mean,'' she replied, that l
hope you will not bring further disgrace
to our family by repeating your be-
havior of two years ago with that man
Bernard. You know what refer to, OF
course
A flash of hot resentment swept over
me, and came near giving vent to
some wrathful expressions; but l
curbed my temper in time, and when !
spoke it was more in sorrow than
anger. SO.
eyes," said, 81 know to what you
refer. have suffered enough from
that mans prosecutions not to forget
them soon / have experienced enough
misery as airesrlt of his slauders to i'm
press them elbly % my mind. But.
Mary, ], have. done nothing to disgrace
myself or anyone else,5so you can 4. rest
easy on that point. ~, - T., s. 81,
|, She made no reply, but od1ooking
Hxedly at tie ground. I waited g mo
n1ez1t,> then pe1at eu1. . ii ,.s
II 4 i daas yops beliese
these reports against my. eharaetar9 u
''l'don,t know. 1 Co. sure shs replied