The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-04-29

had come home on furlough during tho
civil war, summoned to his wife's death
bed, and had found his home occupied
by the enemy, who had confined his
family to the upper story. Running
unwittingly into this trap, he was him
self relegated to the floor which he had
since converted into hermitage, and
was there made paroled prisoner.
There, in his wrath, he registered
vow; he would never descend the steps
that led to the polluted first floor of his
home, until carried out of it in his
coffin.
Cynical people said that Ames Fair
banks, pleasure-loving, sybaritish, sell
fish and indolent, found it easier to
keep this VOW than to wrestle with the
new order of things. Hence his rigid
observance OF 1t.
The close of the war found him with
a diminished amily-Sibley, his Oldest
son, then a boy of eighteen; Ida, his
Youngest girl, then girl of ten. Sibley
had struggled freely with the wretched
and disorganized estate. He was too
much like his father to succeed in any
thing that required stable resolve and
drudging insistance. Both men were
fitted exclusively to adorn the luxurious
circles of society. Both men were su-
perb physically, but defective morally.
They clashed perpetually. There was no
one but girl child to adjust matters be-
tween them. The result was disastrous,
but natural. Sibley, sore, tired, angry.
tainted his father years ago, as Ida
had tainted him that day, and had
thrown the whole miserable business
up, and had gone away with a cruel in
difference to Ida's fate. They had
never heard word from him since.
The burden he had selfshly cast off
Ida had patiently lifted and carried, 80
far, with co1nmendable fortitude. 1t
she sometimes staggered under it small
wonder On this particular occasion
she left her fathers presence more than
ever convicted of the folly of having
made any appeal to him.
81 might as we'll turn for help to that
pretty child who held out her hands and
begged flower of me. He makes mo
think OF a great gorgeous butterfly, Sit
tingwith lazily-folded wings, not caring
how the world goes.
Dido was sitting on the front steps
knitting in the sunshine and grooming q
song which Ida remembered often hear
ing her Groom in the nursery days be-
fore mother and the baby died. She
went over and sat down by the old
woman, clasping her hands about her
knees in her favorite attitude. Dido
smiled her pleasure at having her SO
close.
"Ma'm Dido, how long have you been
at Glenburnie?' she asked, suddenly.
"Been at Glenburnie? AS long az
there's been any Glenburnie to be at.
Your Grandpa Fairbanks brought ne
here with the swamp folks when he
clear this place up"
''Then of course you know all the
Fairbanks secrets?"
Gus listen to Miss Ida!"
Dido looked very wise, as she closed
her withered lips tightly after that
scornful utterance.
'tAnd you know why my father and
the Lorimers hate each other?''
Dido's knitting-needles fairly few.
She was looking straight before her.
and out towards the distant front gate.
A trailing dust~cloud was visible be"
You'd it, in the road.
81 reckon that mus be Cato kickin'
up that dus,'' she remarked, inconse~
quently.
''Of course you know, Dido, and /
mean to know too, It is my right. ]
am no child, to be kept in the dark any
longer. Does Glenburnie hate White
Cliffs, or does White Cliffs hate Glen
burnie? Which place began it, Mann
Dido?'
''I'm piece of Glenburnie, said tho
old retainer, proudly, land don't hata
nothing under the shining canopy. Our
Heavenly Father made Glenburnie folks
and White Cliffs folks out er the same
sort of dirt take it, honey. What for
are you troubling your pretty head
about it, my child?"
Ida laughed shortly, She was quite
sure Dido would never satisfy her curi-
osity. To whom else could she turn?
81 want to know about that old quar-
rel. Sibley knows
Ibid Dennis Lorimer know, when he
asked me to marry him?"
Dido moved restlessly. She was be-
ing cornered. Suddenly she lifted one
withered hand and shielded her eyes
with it.
81 said that must be Cato! That sure
ly is Cato's mule, but what's that on old
Rube's back?'
Ida looked too. There, coming towards
the house, was Cato, walking cQntented-
ly by old Rube's head, the empty flower
basket swung over one arm, while hia
horny right hand was planted firmly
among Ninette's white ruf1es and em-
broideries, by way of steadying her in
the capacious saddle. Cato sent an ex-
PLANTATION few steps in advance of him:
s'They was sauntering long the road
side, as l came long back, and she
asked me to ride her some. told her l
was hurrying back to Glenburnie, and
then her ma told me to let her come.
| and she would send the nuss after her
| So here we is
He planted the child squarely on her
H~>. NJ