Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-10-25
CHAPTER XXI.

He shut the street door softly when he
went out, and fell into reverie, sitting on
the stool by the side of Taras Cncon-
sciously my eyes closed, and sleep overcame
me. When Mere Lucas step on the stairs
woke me- found my face resting against
the pillow on which Taras lay, and my brow
was moist and warm with his breath. Ihad
but just time to collect my dazed senses, to
start to my feet and whip off my crushed
hat and ulster as the old woman entered
Howl she exclaimed softly, stopping
in amazement. is monsieur ill?'
He came home very late" faltered in
explanation, having failed to prepare my
self for the occasion, "and Mr.. Kavanagh
thought it better that he should lie here
until-until he wakes"
Dear me, that's very strange" she muir
INJURED, approaching the couch in anxiety.
Then, after regarding him for a moment in
silence, her stout sides began to shake, and
she added in n tone of cheerful satisfaction:
Thank heaven it's no worse than thatl
One has to see such thing with ones own
eyes to believe it, for l never saw him like
this before; but it's odd all the same, " and
again she chuckled until, catching sight of
my scared and anxious face, her merriment
was suddenly changed to earnest solicitude.
why, my poor ma 'mselle, it is you who
are ill, not the master, and was stupid
enough not to see it at the first glance.
You have been sitting up all night and tor
menting yourself about nothing. For, look
you, there is really nothing the matter
with monsieur. He sleeps like a child. and
see, his skin is as fresh and pink as a young
girls, and when he wakes up he won't
even have a headache Go. He has drunk
half bottle too much, that is all, but that
is not terrible, and if the wine was good it
is quite eXcusable. It's Il good sign when
a man enjoys life ana the good things in
this world and forgets himself now and
then in moderation, for it IS proof that he's
healthy and happy. It's early enough to
be saints when we can no longer be merry,
look you. Come, each one her turn. You
go now to your bed and leave the master to
me He shall lie there till he wakes, and
do you sleep till call you"
l slept all the morning. Mere Lucas was
laughing heartily as l went down stairs,
but Taras was veXed with himself I saw
when we met, and looked only at the seri-
GUS side of the affair.
Il cannot excuse myself, he said. Il can
only feel very sorry for the alarm and anN-
iety have given YOU"
That is passed; have slept it all away"
said as cheerfully as l could, land if you
are quite we'll now there is nothing to feel
sorry about"
II am ashamed to say l never felt better
in my life. Mere Lucas tells me that Kav-
anagh brought me home.
Yes"
Il have not the slightest recollection of
anything from the time rose to come home
and found that could not walk steadily
till the moment ! woke on the couch there
with Mere Lucas laughing over me as if it
were the pleasantest thing in the world to
see man level himself with the beasts-or
little lower. Isuppose l shall learn more
when Kavanagh comes"
kavanagh came while we were still at
lunch. The first glance shot at Taras and
me assured him that l had not broken my
promise of secrecy, and the tone of relief in
which he congratulated Taras on looking
| so well was not altogether due to that fact
THE most unaccountable thing I ever
knew" he said. You seemed to me to be
drinking even less than you usually drink. "
Thanks" said Taras, with laugh. II
was ashamed to offer that excuse myself.
| never yet knew an inebriated man who
could not trace his misfortune to having
drunk rather less than usual"
Kavanagh laughed with him.
Zone thing, though" he protested, 1.-THE
whisky at that place is UNANIMOUSLY bad"
1T seemed to me to have a remarkably
queer TASTE" Taras acquiesced, but that
again, 1 believe, is the habitual experience
of the fallen. 1 hope 1 did not make my
self particularly obnoxious"
Not bit You were simply incapable.
By the way, this must have fallen from
your pocket" He laid Taras' latchkey on
the table My man found it in the brough-
am. If 1 had thought to look for it there,
might have saved mademoiselle a great
deal of alarm. It's not pleasant thing to
be rung up at 2 O'Clock in the morning" he
added, turning to me. You feel none the
worse for it today hope"
Thinking of Taras l assured him that
felt very we'll indeed.
''One object in dropping in," he said,
was to know if you would like to see the
chrysanthemums at the temple. There is
an exhibition for the press this afternoon,
which have to notice for a daily paper.
To judge flowers is really lady's function,
and to say nothing of the pleasure you give
me it will materially add to the value of
my article if have your opinions on the
| subject"
His back was toward Taras, and a COM
preston of his brows indicated clearly that
| he had another and more important rear
son for wishing me to accept the invitation.
turned to Taras.
"Oh, go, by all MEANS" said he warmly.