The Irish standard., 1893-05-27
CHAPTER XII.

Lorimer Lorimer, the gentlest of men,
whose very gentleness had rendered his
ssubjugation to a woman of narrow
vision and unbending will fatally easy,
aad positively dashed himself up to the
point of ''having a row with John If
need be- and instead they had fallen
70 discussing the dreariness of things
generally with mutual good-natured
sympathy. .....-
''Did YOU hear what mother said this
morning, John?"
eyes. Five helpless boys and an old
woman dying. Which was putting it
harshly. She is not dying"
Ibid you hear what she added?''
''No l went out of the room just
then. It took all the man out of me, to
nee mother, always so strong and clear
headed, lying there with that pinched
white face, babbling nonsense"
''Her head is as clear as yours or
nine. She said, remorsefully, I wish
I had not Rugged that silly old griev:
ance to my heart so long. My Dennis,
at least, might have been happy, in
stead of a homeless wanderer the Lord
knows where. So many people need
not have suffered. 1t looks SO small
and empty nowthe feud.'"
''Have you told her that Dick and
RATE had gone to fetch Dennis home
at least to look for him?'
''No did not care to excite her. I
told her was obliged to send them to
che city in my stead, but that was
cooking for them back tomorrow. That
Is all she knows"
'But we've got away from the sub
ject started out to exhaust, John. I
want you to hunt your wife up.
want you to pull yourself together and
get out of this WORKOUT old rut We
want no more tabby-eats in the fam
sly."
'Wait, Lorrie! Not now!"
81 did not mean just now"
A somber silence fell between them.
Then Lorre said, in his gentle voice:
81 think l VIII go in to mother,
now
He left John sitting there alone,
staring listlessly out over the snnlit
world. The dogs lay asleep in various
spots out there under the big trees.
The guns were all stacked in the corner
Of the green-tinted hall. A solemn still
aess pervaded White Cliffs, indoors
and out. The harsh creaking of the
big front gate on its new wooden
hinges made John turn his gloomy
face in that direction. The next mo-
ment he was on his feet with mutt
tered exclamation of amazenent.
Ida Fairbanks, accompanied by
Stepniak, her Danish hound, who
walked on one side of her with dignified
self-possession, and by Ninette. whose
methods Of progression suffered severe
~ by comparison with Stepniak's. was
coming towards him.
Amusement swallowed up every
other sensation in John Lorimers
breast, but he was conscious of an un-
comfortable physical repulsion as
Ninette, running swiftly in advance Of
her companions, seized his hands and
put up her small red mouth with an
imperious demand:
kiss me. Uncle John. I amt come
back here to live. My aunt Ida says my
papa is But Ida drew her back.
ward.
'.Ninette, you and Stepniak are to sit
inst here She halted at the lowest
step and waited for Ninette to arrange
herself and her short draperies to her
own entire satisfaction.
II could not leave her behind she
said, apologizing to the .shuddc dis
like in Johns eyes, because have
sent the woman Celeste away, and no
one else can control the child. I had
90 come. I heard that Mrs. Lorimer
was i'll, and I thought-ah! hope she
will not say may not come in. Life l:s IS s
50 short, and so full Of the angulshsWe
neither make nor can unmake tor our mr.
selves, that everything else seems '.'! ~ g
,itifully small It is monstrons!"
81 will tell my mother that you are
aere," said John, looking ct her, g e
ne only half comprehended the mean !! e
ing of her presence or Of what she said e y
he turned mechanically towards the
:ront door. Ida put out a2d e OBTAINING
land: II. s%s Il 3
Not just yet, please. have q ne
hing want to say TO Jyou- g g. may
amount to nothing, but still Is think hin :.
you ought to hear il I have sent ' Celeste
away.
..So heard vn,,. ~ = y, Il ohm SnsNered,