The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-03-19

= In1nS CnaL ought 10 nave Deen tOlC
you long ago Do not be hard ON Sea,
ward, he wanted you to know every
thing. but Claud refused to speak; Mrs.
Vlliers insisted on his silence. Lucy
Cromer, once your grandmother's COM
parion, was Claud's promised wife,
And he threw her over" said AIDE
line, coolly, because he WAS afraid Of
grandmother. He preferred to break
his heart {sucll as it ISL rather than
lose an old woman's money. Mr. Sgd
ney, | thank you sincerely for bringing
Miss Winfield here to-day"
IT did not know that her coming
would lead to this disclosure" he re-
piled But am glad that you know
the truth Only wish that il had not
been revealed in such sudden way
~ am sorry" said Olive, softly. ''It
YVES so startling to find her face here!
And never knew Lucy's story; she did
not blame anyone. She forgave all"
1.-THE dying saint might forgive, but
the living sinner cannot" Adeline spoke
In her old-spirited fashion Don't he
sorry, Miss Winfield; you have done me
avery great kindness. You shall hear
now chat have been tricked into an en-
gagement with my cousin 'Cla,ld--the
mar who has just gone out Of the room.
When he was absent, and sad, and lan.
guid--~as he often wasl set it down TO
weak health, and not TO a. guilty con.
science My grandmother always had
store Of excellent excuses ready; and
even Seaward--"
''Seaward Graves your mercy, Ad.
aline," Alystone said, hu1nbly. I.
''T was bltuded,"' she went on. 81
thought, as people generally do think
that it would all come right by and by,
for him and for the. As if anything
could go well with a man who had been
utterly and i1opelessly false!"
Again there was 81 pause; and then
the chaplain turned to Olive, and said,
quietly. tnat they would go.
''Good- by, Miss Winfela," Ade1ine
said, kindly ''We will meet here again
some time I am very glad to have seen
you. Don't be sorry, please, for what
has happened to-day"
Poor Olive, with old memories and
new feelings whirling in her brain;
was glad TO End herself outside tl1c
house. Mr. Sidney wisely forchore to
talk to her Just then; but lie did not
part with her without speaking re as
suring words. She went through the
shop. and up TO her little room like Que
in dream Hcr recent grief seemed to
be put far away in the background;
Lucy's story was more real to-day than
her own Yet through all her confus.
r.l,$, E.,
kind OF Gender compassion for sseaward
Ayls1nne and q distinct remembrance
Of his distressed look. it WAS always
hard, she unused, for q true person to
BE- uixet. up with faisaness and deceit:
and he was surely true.
When the Nv cousins were left alone
in the studio, Ade|ine's flce underwent
a change She softened a little, and
sat down quietly in a low chair by the
fire.
'sSeaward" she said, looking up at
him as he stood leaning dejectedly
against the chimney piece, III you
were to win that girl and cast her off I
should nate you. nope yon will mar
ny her: hope you will prove that base,
ness does not run IN our b'aod.
'-She must have carried away de
liehtfu, impression Of ClauG and me, ?"
he nuttere;1 gloomly II daresay she
will be afraid ever to took at me
again"
'%Eou can remove the impression ii
you take pains Ade'ine replied. And
of course Mr. Sidney win help you.
like that man. he has made d study OF
humanity and knows exactly how to
deal with IT, If it had not been FOR
him should not easily have got di-
rect explanation .o~tsay.'
Seward shifted his position and
sighed.
s'Clauc must remember the morning
when he brought Lncy Croner here for
me 20 make study Of her" he said,
.tirandnother had sent her, out shop
ping, and they contrived to meet He
set the iessaEainc spray in her hair; it
was his favorite flower, and he liked
her to wear it. You see, Ade!ine, he
counted on granny's real affection for
the girl. he thought they might per-
suade her TO forgive them if they were
once married"
'*Sha might have forgiven them; it
was quite possible. have never once
heard Lucy Cromer's name till to-day.
Granny has kept the secret with won
cerful craft Go on, Seaward, and tell
me all that you know"
Seaward did tell her all that be
knew. And when he had finished, she
drew long breath and rose from her
seat.
81 don't want to see Claud any more, :"
she said, quietly IF | remain with
granny, it must be understood that he
is not to come to the house. AS TO
granny herself, feel quite equal to
the task of reducing her to submission
IF you are not too much used up, Sea-
ward. you may come and hear me an
nounce my intentions to her"
But Seaward weakly owned that he
would rather not be present at the
scene He wanted to smoke pipe in
!. mace. and calm his mind. So Adeline
went off alone,
Mrs Villiers was indeed reduced to
1,o< oror,inr IN Gn