The Irish standard., 1892-10-08
lap; her sleeve. slightly pushed

beautiful wrists and hands. and here !
!; saw my ideal How ex4uisltely the
glove fitted. and how artistlcally the
color harmonized with the rest OF her
costume! The other little hand sup
ported her chin. could Just see the
rounded outline OF her small cheek. and
the movement Of the dark eyelash pro-
iecting beyond it,
: Beneath her hat the black hair turned
in a careless coil and charming little
downy curls nestled IN the nape ct her
neck. She Was a thorough brunette
pale. and yet peryaded with warm color
Beneath the skirt of her crisp dress
peeped the pointed toe of an inetfable
little boot. which occasionally, lifted it.
self and tapped the floor softly. Sud
denly. in the midst OF my admiring in
spection. she turned around upon me
and our eyes met There was IN in
stant's constraint and then we both
| laughed. and the constraint passed away
not to return.
IL was going to ask YOU said L.
whether you wouldn't prefer sitting GA
this side? You will find the river better
worth looking at than that stone wall
Il am under your orders. sir, for the
present; you put me here; and now IT
| you tell me am to go elsewhere. | shall
obey"
| She rose as she spoke; the Jolting of
the carriage caused her to lose her bal
ance; | held out my hand to assist her,
and 50 she tottered across and seated
herself opposite the.
Nov are you satisfied? she asked
demurely. folding her hands in her lap
and sending flash into me from those
mystical eyes
YES. indeed, if you are Did you
ever travel this way before?'
elf you mean alone with Il gentleman
never met before--no.'
''Oh. what | mean was'-
Il know didn't mean to make fun.
! Yes. | believe Was in this part of the
country once when was a very little
girl: that WAS before Welt to the con-
vent you know"
Ito the convent"
She gave charming in1promptu
. laugh.
IL wasn't quite n71n--i didn't want
to make you believe that! Only | was
brought up in a convent near Paris ed
heated there, as many young ladies are.
| was there seven years--wasn' that
long?-and only got out a little while
ago"
at must have been ;swfully duh.
'Oh. liked If in a sort Of way: they
were very kind to me there. but then
.. didn't know how pleasant il WAS outside'
You would never believe how delightful
the world is if you were only told about
it, My papa used to tell me about it
sometimes. and he is Il great traveller
he haas been everywhere. But | didn't
realize it until | saw for myself.
'Haye You been to America since
leaving the convent?
''Dh. YES | went to New York, and
saw my cousins there. Papa went with
noe, but he came back 10 Paris first and
| followed later | met him again in
Paris only Is few weeks ago. He will be
surprised to see You here. Mr.. 1alnsbor-
ough What a funny way you have
chosen to 20 from Paris to Rome
through Dresden!'
Yes. but. by the way. how did you
know was going to Rome? And why
with your papa he surprised?
Again she laughed, anu regarded me
with so delightfully."- nischleyous
glance that | felt convinced must ia
! some way be making fool OF myself.
What did it All mean? bit my lip and
,, the color came into my face from provo
cation at 1Ily own evident thick headed
ness.
If you had only waited little longer
! in Paris" she continued, still smiling
enigmatically. perhaps we might have
met in more regular way. and perhaps
,, then you would have let me have u look
at your-dia1londs!'
My diamonds! That explained the
| mystery in a flash.
'sls your father Mr.. Birrhznore''
II am Miss Birchnore. II you please,
sir You never asked me for my card,
; and didn't like to force It on you. 1t
was so kind of you to take me on crust,
! without making sure that was all right
! first. thought Englishmen were more
,, cautious and reserved
could now join in the laugh against
| ulSSeiI Will lN1l StpA cCA<tCAo' W IAS On
cellence OF the jest Mr.. Birchmore.
then, had been married man after all.
OF course he WAS, Why had not be-
fore remarked the strong family like
ness between him and his daughter?
Take her on trust, forsooth! How 1
ionged to retort that WAS ready to take
her for better, for worse. then and there,
If she would have me! Ii she were
fair specimen of American girls, what a
nation OF hours they must be indeed!
But then they were not all brought up
in French converts It was that that
added to Miss i3irchnaore the last ire
sistibIe charm.
That it was that gave her that naivete,
that Innocent fral,kness, that uncon-
scious freedom And this lovely creature
, had actually know me by report before
! we met. Her father had told her Of me,
and evidently he had not given mo
bad character And this accounted for
the favorable change in her manner
c1n 1l all