Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-12-21

AZ, lA- - i-AJ .tis~t.ts-.~As l-s...
anomalous in my walking beside well
dressed gentleman. | appeared to be his
equal
Taras himself seemed pleased to have
companion to talk to-not that l said much,
for was unused to taking any part in con
versation: my powers of forming ideas and
expressing them were wholly undeveloped
and my chief anxiety was to hold my shout
ders back like Miss Hopkins and to find Il
gait which was neither shutting nor ierky.
He knew my inability to talk, and SO kept
up an easy running chat which called for
nothing beyond yes or mo" ON my part
/ remember he told me the history of Mere
Lucas life-how years ago she had starved
with her husband in besieged Paris, when
even the rich could not get food; how she
had fought beside him on the barricades
where he was killed; how she herself mar
rowly escaped being shot with other com
munists only to be transported 10 an island
thousands Of miles from her country and
friends, and how, on her return to Paris,
she found her children dead and not a friend
to help her.
sShe don't look like as if she'd gone
through all that" said |.
mo: time brings forgetfulness, thank
Godl' he replied. But it struck me even
then that the old woman owed more to his
humanity than to time.
A gentleman stood with his hand on the
knocker as we reached our door.
Come in. | am glad to see you" said
Taras, opening the door with his key, and
then, as we entered the living room, he in
troduced us in the simplest manner
Barry Kavanagh-Aura."
He was a handsome man-handsomer
than Taras in some respects. but of a differ
ent type. He was slighter, more delieately
nodded, with long, perfectly regular fea-
lures, a dark skin, black hair and mus
tache and the loveliest soft, sleepy eyes OF
deep brown He was 10 years older than
Taras, but he looked still more, lacking
that expansive simplicity which gave youth
to my friends face. Their dress alone dis
tinguished the different character Of the
two. Taras in his loose, light tweed suit,
flannel shirt and soft. careessly tied neck
erchief, looked like a worker. Kayanagh's
tight fitting dark coat, rigid collar and
scarf and perfect gloves gave him the air
of a well to do idler-a man of the world
and society.
He inclined his head TO me with serious
courtesy and certain homage in his re-
gard which every friend Of Taras com
manded from those who knew him. did
not even nod in reply, but setting my hands
behind me leaned against the wall and
looked at him with, fear, very i'll con
cealed dislike the warmth with which
Taras greeted him having aroused the first
hostile sense of jealousy IN my breast
The two men spoke lightly on general
TOPICS. while Taras brought out cigars and
n spirit case kavanagh, with studious po-
likeness. framing his phrases to include me
and Inviting me by an occasional glance to
join in the conversation. but lolled against
the wall in moody silence and stared at
him under my bent brows for response.
At length Taras, perceiving that his visitor
remained standing said 10 me with
laugh:
Barry Kavanagh will never sit down
while you stand, Aura.
"Garn aw' yr' said in a husky, cultural
tone Of disgust What olds 'im' He
amt 'bliged for to stand cause chooses TO.
is her
That pretty little speech coming from the
lips of an elegantly dressed young lady and
the friend of Taras must have given Kava-
nagh quite shock, and indeed, despite the
self command Of good breeding, flash of
establishment did pass over his face
Without waiting to hear out his rejoin-
der, jerked myself into an upright pos
tire, slowly walked out Of the room and
slammed the door to behind me.