The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-09-09


the veracity and sincerity of the
speaker; and the story she told was
certainly puzzling. Brinkley made up
his mind without much reflection that
if Mr. Monk wanted to go through the
marriage ceremony with that child he
had some special and mysterious rea-
son for so doing, unless-which was
scarcely possible-he was Of senti-
! mental disposition, and, in the manner
of MANY men advanced towards middle
age, was enamored of Matt youth and
inexperience
"Tell me, Matt" said Brinkley, after
bordering the matter for some min
utes; tell me how long you have
known this Mr.. Monk?"
ever since / came ashore" was tho
! reply.
''Humph!-is he we'll to do?-rich?"
Matt nodded emphatically.
Cali Aberglyn belongs to him." she
said, "and the woods up there, and the
farms, and the horses up at the big
house, and-everything."
"And though he is such a great per-
son, he is very friendly with William
| Jones?'
"Oh, yes,'' answered Matt; land
think William Jones is afraid of him
sometimes; but he gives William Jones
money for keeping me-
ooh, indeed! He gives him money,
does, he? That's rather kind of him,
you know
At this Matt shook her head with
| great decision, but said nothing. Great
ly puzzled, the young man looked at
her, and unused. 1t was clear that
there was a mystery somewhere, and
he was getting interested. Presently
he invited Matt to sit down on the
steps of the caravan, and he placed
himself at her side. He was too alb
sorbed in speculation to notice how
the girl colored and frightened as they
sat there together.
! "You have often told me that you
came ashore he said, after long
pause. 81 should like to know some
thing of how it happened. I don't ex-
actly know what this coming ashore
means. Can you explain?"
| 81 don't remember" she replied;
| ''but know there was a ship, and it
! went to pieces, and come to shore in
| a boat, or summat."
81 see-and William Jones found
you?'
'Mr. Monk, he found me, and gave
me to William Jones to keep"
Il begin to understand. OF course,
you were very itt1e-a baby, in fact. -
'William Jones says I could just
talk some words, and that when he
took me home called him Papa
"What was the name of the ship?
! Have you ever heard?"
"No," said Matt.
"Did you come ashore all alone? 1t is
scarcely possible!'
81 come ashore myself. All the rest
was drowned"
''Was there no clew to who you
were? Did nothing come ashore be-
sides to show them who you were or
where you came from?"
Matt shook her head again. Once
more the young man was lost in medi-
tation. Doubtless it was owing to his
abstraction of mind that he quietly
placed his arm around MATHS waist,
and kept it there. At first Matt went
very red; then she glanced up at his
face, and saw that his eyes were fixed
thoughtfully on the distant sand hills.
Seeing he still kept silence, she moved
a little closer to him, and said very
quietly:
81 didn't tell William Jones that you
kissed me-"
Brinkley started from his abstrac-
ton, and looked at the girls 'blushing
face.
"Eh? What did you say?''
81 didn't tell William Jones that you
kissed me!''
These words seemed to remind the
young man of the position of his arm,
for he hastily withdrew it. Then the
absurdity of the whole situation ap-
peared to return upon him, and he
broke into burst of boyish laughter
at which his companions face fell
once more. It was clear that she took
life seriously and dreaded sarcasm.
''Matt," he said, "This won't dol
This won't do at all!''
| ''What won't do?''
"Well, this" he answered, rather
ambiguously. 'You are rather young,
you know--quite girl, although, as
you suggested just now, and, as you
probably believe, you may be 'growed
up You must-ha-you must look
upon me as sort of father, and all
that sort of thing"
you're too young to be my father, 8
answered Matt, ingenuously.
"Wen, say your big brother. I'm in
terested in you, Matt, very much inter
ested, and I should really like to get
to the bottom of the mystery about
you, but we must not forget that we're
well, almost strangers. you know.
Besides" he added, laughing again
cheerily, ''you are engaged to be mar.
ried, some day, to a gentleman of for
| tune"
Matt sprang up, with heaving bosom
and flashing eyes.
s'No, I anti" she said. II hate
him!''
sHate the beautiful Monk, of Monks
hurst! Monk, the beneficent! Monk
the sweet-spoken! 1mpossible!'
eyes, I hate him." cried Matt; land