The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-08-04

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the Inequalities of the hay rack. Two
persons at the table were much relieved
when the talk turned to the tent. 1t
was young Hiram who brought about
this boon. He was interested in the
tent, and he wanted to know. Two
things seemed to bother the boy. First,
he was anxious to learn what diabolical
cause had been at work to induce two
apparently sane men to give up the
comforts of home and live in this ex-
posed manner, if they were not COM
PEELED to do SO. Second, he desired to
find out why people who had the privi-
lege of living in large cities came Of
their own accord into the uninteresting
country anyhow. Even after explana-
still beyond him.
] After the meal they all adjourned to
the veranda, where the air was cool
and the view extensive. Mrs. Bartlett
would not hear of the young men pitch
ing the tent that night.
Goodness knows. you will have
enough of it, with the rain and the
mosquitoes. We have plenty of room
here, and you will have one comforta-
bic night on the Ridge. at any rate.
Then in the morning you can find
place in the woods to suit you, and MY
boy will take an ak and cut stakes
for syou and help to put up your
precious tent. Only remember that
when it rains you are to come to the,
house, or you will catch your deaths
with cold and rheumatism. 1t will be
then you are quite welcome to the
front rooms upstairs, and Hiram can
take the tent back to Erie the first time
he goes to town."
Mrs. Bartlett had a way of taking
things for granted. It never seemed
to occur to her that any of her rulings
might be questioned. Hiram sat gaz-
ing silently at the road as if all this
was no affair of his.
Yates had refused chair and sat
on the edge of the vefanda with his
back against one of the pillars in such
position that he might, without turn
ing his head, look through the open
doorway into the room where Miss
Bartlett was busily but silently clear
ing away the tea things. The young
man caught heeting glimpses of her as
she moved airily about her work. He
drew cigar from his case, cut Off the
end with his knife and lit a match on
the sole of his boot, doing this with an
easy automatic familiarity that re-
quired no attention On his part, all OF
which aroused the respectful envy OF
young Hiram, who sat on a wooden
chair, leaning forward, eagerly watch
ing the man from New York.
'sHave cigar?" said Yates, offering
the case to young Hiram.
''No, no; thank you," gasped the
bow, aghast at the reckless audacity Of
the proposal.
whats that?" cried Mrs. Bartlett.
Although she was talking volubly to
the professor, her maternal vigilance
never even nodded, much less slept.
"a cigar? Not likely! I'll say this for
my husband and my boy, that, what
ever else they may have done, they
have never smoked nor touched a drop
please God--they never will"
"Oh, I guess it wouldn't hurt then"
said Yates, with lack of tact that was
not habitual. He fell several degrees
in the estimation of his hostess.
'sHurt 'em?'' cried Mrs. Bartlett, in
dignantly. 81 guess it won't get
chance to-" She turned to the profess
sor, who was good listener-respect-
! full and deferential, with little to say
for himself. She rocked gently to and
i fro as she talked.
! Her husband sat unbendingly silent,
In sphinx-like attitude that gave no
outward indication of his mental un-
easiness He was thinking gloomily
that it would be just his luck to meet
Mrs. Bartlett, unexpectedly, on the
streets of Fort Erie, on one oof those
rare occasions when he was enjoying
J the pleasures of sin for q season. He
had the most pessimistic forebodings
of what the future might have in store
: for him. Sometimes when neighbors
(. or customers treated often in the viii
! lage, and he felt he had taken all the
4 whisky that cloves would conceal, he
took fve-cent cigar instead of a
drink. He did not particularly like
| the smoking Of it, but there was GER
tain devil-may care reck1essness in go
Ing down the street with lighted
cigar in his teeth, which had all the
more fascination for him, because of its
manifest danger. He felt at these
times that he was going the pace, and
that it is well our women do not know
Of all the wickedness there is in this
world. He did not fear that any neigh
! Dor might tell his wife, for there were.
depths to which no person could com
vince Mrs. Bartlett he would descend
but he thought with horror Of some
combination Of circumstances that
might bring his wife to town, unknown
to him, on 9 day when he INDUCED.
He pictured, with . shudder, meeting
| her Unexpectedly on the uncertain
plank sidewalk Of Fort Erie, he smok-
ing 81 cigar. When this nightmare
presented itseh 70 him, he resolved
/ never t0 touch cigar again; but he
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