The Irish standard., 1896-09-12

lence between them. Wentworth was
absorbed in watching ier clear-cut pro-
file and her white throat. his breath
oujckening as he toasted his eyes on
her beauty.
Il have always got angry" she said.
at last, in low voice, with the culver
Of a suppressed sigh in It, when other
people have said that to mel wonder
why. it is I. merely feel hurt and sad
when you say it? It is SO easy to say,
.ch--any thing'-so easy--so easy. You
are q man, with the strength and de-
termination of mar, yet you have
met with disappeintsnents and obsta-
cles that have required all your cour-
age to overcome. Every man has, and
with most men it is d fight until the
head Is gray and the brain weary with
the ceaseless struggle. The world is
utterly merciless, it will trample you
down reientessly If it can, and If your
vigilance relaxes for moment>it will
steal your crust and leave you to starre.
When think OF this incessant, sullen
contest, with no quarter given or taken,
shudder and pray thst ] may die be-
fore am at the mercy Of the pitiless
world. When came TO London j sew
for tho first time in my life that hope
less melancholy promenade Of the.
sandwich men, human wreckage drift
ing along the edge OF the street, as
il they had been cast up there by the
rushing tide sweeping past them.
They-they seemed to me like a tot
stering procession Of the dead-and on
their backs was the announcement of
a play that was making all London
roar with laughter-1he awful comedy
and tragedy. OF it! Wen, simply
couldn't stand it! had to run up q
side street and cry like the little feol
I was, right in broad daylight" !;
Jennie paused and tried to laugh, but
the effort ended in a soilnd suspiciously
like sob, and she dashed her hand,
with quick impatience, across her
eyes, from which Wentworth had never
taken his own, watching them dim as
the light from the window proved too
strong for them, and finally fill as she
ceased to speak. Searching Intellectual
ly about her dress for handkerchief,
which lay on the table beside her para
sol, rnnoticed by either, Jennie went
on, with, soma difficulty;
''Well, these poor, forlorn creatures
were once n1en-men who had gone
down, and IL the world is 50 hard on
a man, with all his strength and re-
sourcefulness, think--think what it is
for. a woman to be thrown into this
inhuman human turmoil--a woman
without friends 49, without money
flung among these relentless wolves
to live if she can---or--to def she
can" - =
The girls voice broke and she buried
her face in her arms, which rested on
the table. s. J..
Wentworth sprang to his feet and
came round to where she sat.
Jennie" he said, putting his hand
on her shoulder. 49,. 1850, .,
The girl, without looking up, shook
of. the hand that touched her. 49,.
go back to your place!" she cried,
in: smothered voice. ''I,eava me
a]one!H -. -. ., .,.e.
Jennie" persisted Wentworth.
The young woman rose from her
chair and faced him, stepping back
pace. : ::
..pon't you hear what I say?.s Go
back and sit down. / came here to
talk business; not to make fool of
myself. tie. all your fault, and I hate
you for it-you and yorr silly ques-
TONS" Sd. 80 =. ( :-:...e. =. =
But the young man stood where he
was, in spite Of the dangerous sparkle
that lit up his VISITORS wet eyes,: A
f1own gathered on his brow. =.
Jennie" he said, slowly, are you
playing with me again?" ',e|
The swift anger that blazed up Ia her
face, reddening her checks, dried the
tears. a ..,-.4 ~ s~l;.,-.
How dare you say such . thing to
me?" she cried, hotly. "po you hatter
yourself that because ! came here to
talk business, I have also some personal
interest in you? Surely even your self
conceit doesn't run 80 far as that!
Wentworth stood silent, and Misc
Brewster picked up her parasol, scat
.tering. ia her haste, the other articles
]. on the floor. II abe expected Went
worth to put them on the ,tabla again
she was disappointed. for, although
:. his eyes were upon her, his thoughts
were far away upon the Atlantic ocean.
Il shall not stay here to be insulted."
she cried, resentfully, bringing Went
worth's thoughts back with = rush TO
London again. "It is intolerable that
you should use such an expression to
me. Playing with you, indeedl
IT had no intention Of insulting you,
Miss Brewster" ~.
Z ."What is it but an insult to use such
q phrase? It implies that ! either
care for you or"
''And do you?" i
+ sDo I what?''
n DO you care for ME 2" = s. ~
y Jennie shook out the lace frmges Of
her parasol and smoothed them with
some precision. ,Herseyes were bent
on what she was doing, and consequent
3 ly they did not meet those Of her ques-
4 TONER. : - ~ .,'5.. - IT.
81 care,foryou as friend, Of ceurse,' .
she said, at last. still giving much at
tention to the parasoi. IF had not
looked on you as a friend I would not
have come here to consult with $ ou,
would ]? st -, s, ,s., 81. & s
mo. ! suppose not. Well, I an, sorry
en- was unfayorable and tslad rained dur.