The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-03-28

nuendoes and significant glances of
friends which he put aside-as he had
this woman's message! .s. Nue.:
wife, but the truth OF himself. And the
revelation came from people whom he
was conscious were the interiors of
himself and his wife. 70 an independ-
ent, proud and self-made man it was the
eliminating stroke. r.
In the same distracted voice he told
the coachman to drive home.
j, The return seemed inteTminable,
though he never shifted his position.
Yet when he drewaup at his. own door
and looked at his watch-he found he
had been absent only half All hour.
Only half All hour! . AS lie entered the
house he turned with the Same abstrac-
ton toward mirror in the hall as if he
had expected to see. some outward and
visible change in himself st that time.
Dismissing hiseseryantss to: bed, he
went into hisdressing-room, completely
changed his attire, put Oh q pair OF
long riding boots, and throwing ser
ape over his shoulders, paused mo-
ment, took pair of small derringer
pistols from box, put them il his pock-
cts. and then slipped cautiously down
the staircase. ;ef.r e. l'stno. So -
A lack of confidence IN his own do
mestics had invaded him for the first
time. The lights were out. He silent
ly opened the door and was in the
street.
He walked hastily few squares to a
livery stable, whose proprietor he
knew. His first inquiry was for one
Redskin-a particular horse; the sec
ond for it's proprietor. Happily both
were in. The proprietor asked no ques-
ton of customer of Clarence's condi-
ton.
The horse. half Spanish, powerful
and irascible, was quickly saddled. AS
Clarence mounted, the man, in an inl-
pulse of sociability, said: ~, .,,.,,
"saw you at the theater tonight,
sir" - = @: -. u, i -.
"Ah!" returned Clarence; quietly
catering up the reins.@57 > 'I5.ss..
Rather a smart trick Of that. woman
with the flag" he, said, ;, tennt tentatively.
Then, with % possible doubt of his Gus
TONER'S politics, he ddeds-with forced
smile: 81 reckon it's all party, fuss,
though-thar ain t any real danger
But fast as Clarence might ride the
words fingered in his ears. He saw
through the mans hesitation--he, too,
had probably heard that Clarence
Brant weakly sympathized with his
49, Il IL
fully. And he understood the coward}y
suggestion that there was mo real dan
GER
1t had been Clarence's one fa]lacy. He
had believed the public excitement was
only temporary outbreak of partisan
feeling-soon to subside. Even now he
was conscious that he was less doubtful
of the integrity OF the union than of his
own household. 1t was not the devo-
ton of the patriot, but the Indignation
Of an outraged husband that was spur
ring him on.
He knew that if he rea ched Woodville
by five o'clock he would get ferried
across the bay to the erabarcado and
catch the down coach to Fair Plains.
whence he could ride ITO lt1e ntuncho;..
AS the coach did nov cobb ssccy7 dirrect}y
with San Francisco, the chance Of his
surprising them was greater.
Once clear of the city outskirts he
bnl]ied Retlskin into irascible speed,
and plunged into the rainy darkness
of the high road The way was fami1-
lar.
For awhile he was content to feel
the butfeting, caused by his rapid pace,
Of wind and rain against his depressed
head and shoulders, in sheer brutal
sense Of opposition and power; or to
relieve his pent-up excitement by dash
ing through overfowed gullies in the
road, or across the quaggy, sodden
edges of meadow land, until he had con-
trolled Redskins rebellious extrava~
gance into a long, steady stride.
, Then he raised his head and straight
ened himself on the saddle--to think.
But to no purpose. He had no plan;
everything would depend upon. the, sit
uation; the thought of forestalling any
action of the conspirators, By warning
or calling in the aid Of the ,an thorities,
for an instant crossed his mind, but
was as instantly dismissed. - g: s.
He had but an instinct, to see with
his own eyes whatshis reason told him
was true. 0fs11A ~ q, 8. i,
Day was breaking through drifting
scud and pewter-colored clouds as he
reached Woodville ferry, checkered
with splashes of the soil and the spume
of his horse, from whose neck and
tanks the sweat rolled like lather.
Yet he was not conscious how intent
had been his purpose until he felt
sudden instructive shock on seeing that
the ferryboat was gone! Fer an instant
his wonderful self-possession aban~
doned him; he could only gaze vacantly
at the leaden-colcred bay without a
thought or expedient, but in another
moment he saw that the boat was re-
turning from the distance. Had he lost
his only chance? a,e. ..o,. e.,E {.
He glanced hurried1y at his watch;
he had come quicker than he imagined;
there would still be time. He beckoned
i1npatiently to the ferryma1f. sFhe boat,
ships pinnacc, with two men in it,
crept in with exaspefatings slowness.
At last the two rowers snl1enly 1eaped
ashore. .,+.sfss ..,...
"1e might have come before with the
other passenger. We, don't reckon to
run lightnin' trips on this ferry
But Clarence was himself again.
"Twenty dollars for two more oars in