The Irish standard., 1896-03-21
Kill.
ANSWERS VARIOUS

Ringbrand slept next day until after
noon, coming down to very late dinner
feeling rs if he had circumnavigated
the globe in the wrong direction and SO
lost day out Of the calendar. Mrs.
Ludlow, having slaked the imperative
thirst of her curiosity at the we'll of her
husbands information, spared him the
task of recounting his adventures at
length; but she managed to make him
give very fair description Of the bat
tie at 1.-THE ,Laurels" from the point Of
view of the chief actor therein, ruthless
ly ignoring his modest endeavors to
dwell lightly upon his own achieve
ments. She listened with lively appre-
citation, making a comical little grimace
of incredulous scorn as he concluded.
"And Tom tbought--shan't pour you
another cup Of tea?"
THANK you; what were you about to
say?" 49,:
II did say it. Iasked if you would have
another cup OF tea
''No, b1st about what Tom thought"
ooh! Tom thought you'd sleep right
along till tomorrow morning" she re-
piled, with unblushing effrontery. "And
that reminds me: Henry's been down
to inquire after you, and told him
you'd pay your respects at The Laurels'
this afternoon"
''How did you know I would?"
II knew you'd do anything promised
for you"
'sWell (since you've committed your
self,) suppose I'll have to 60"
ooh, please don't!" she urged, teas
ingly. "It's long, loug walk. and it's
so drcadfully hot; I'd go back to bed
again, if were YOU"
"And impugn your reputation for
truth and veracity THAT would be
very unthankful; you see you've made
it impossible for me not to 60" Then,
with diplomatic abruptness: Haven't
YOU anything to tell me before
start?'' .
"You asked me that question last
night, and I'll make you the same
THANK you SO much. Perhaps shall
go. back to New York tomorrow
perhaps you will; and perhaps the
world came to an end yesterday I
think one is about as probable as the
= other"
'Oh! then you know of some good
reason why should stay"
Eyes, the best of reasons: you're not
able to,travel, yet. ..
Ringbrand laughed and reached forhis
hat. "Just watch me climb that hill,
and then you may repent at leisure" he
said.
An hour later he was comfortably
established upon the veranda of the
coloners home, lounging invalid-wise
in the library easy-chair which Hester
had insisted upon dragging out for him.
They had been talking e bout the feud,
his imprisonment in the cave, and all
the exciting events of the past. few
DAYS; and Ringbrand had been trying
with a palpable effort at righteousness
to bring the conversation around by
easy and graduated approaches to the
subject nearest, his heart. On
( the long walk UP the moun-e
tain he had forecast the manner
of these approaches with such strict
fidelity to details that he now found
it impossible to break away from the
ENHANCEMENT of set speeches and sup,
posed answers. and every fresh endeav-
or seemed to involve him more hope
slcsslT. Even the perversIty OF inani-t
mate objects added to his .leIplessness.
( How could one talk upon serious sub
i jects from the lazy rostrum OF an easy
chair whose high back took away the,
last yestige Of ones dignity 99---and
when he si,tsu the omfortabIe hollow
of the low seat so,aRht hia. knee4 md