The Irish standard., 1896-04-11
soPTsleHT. =. y ssrf HaRrr.

vas stiH dripping from her wet cloak,
as she swung it from her shoulders.
Il know it all all that's happened"
she burst out, with half girlish exuber-
ance, and half the actress defamation.
"We met them all I'LL the road, posse ard
prisoners. Chief Thompson knew me
and told ire all. And SO you've
done it-and you're master in your old
house again. Clarence. old boyl Jim
said YOU wouldn't do it. Said you'd
weaken on accountof heri But N said
No. I knew you better, old Clarence,
and ! saw it IN your face, for al your
stiffness! He! But for all that was
mighty nervous and uneasy, and just
made Jim send all excuse I'd the theater.
ind WI rushed III down here. Lordy.
but IL looks natural To see the old house
again! And she-you packed her Off
with the others. didn't You? Tell me,
Clarence" in her old appealing voice,
lyon shook her. too?''
DazeG and astounded and vet ex-
pressing y vague sense Of relief with an
0ddreturnof his old tenderness towards
the willful woman before him, he had
silently regarded her until her allusion
10 bis Aife recalled him To himself.
'Hush!' he said, quickly, with
glance towards the corridor.
'Ah!" said Susy, with malicious
smile, then that's why Capt Pinck-
Hey was lingering IN the rear with the
deputy"
'tSilcncel" said Clarence, ,sternly. go
ID there" pointing to the garden room
below the balcony, ''and wait until
your husband comes"
He half led, haIfpnshed her into the
room which had been bis business Office
end returned to the patio. a hesitating
voice from the balcony said: ''Clar-
ence.''
Ii was his wife's voice, but modified
md gentler-more like her voice as he
lad tirst heard it--or as i'll III were
chastened by some "Reminiscences of
those days. It was his, wife's face, too,
that looked down on his, paler than he
had seen it since he had entered she
housc. She was shawled and hooded,
carrying travelling bag in her hand
"a am going, Clarence z she said, with
gentle gravity, ''but not IN anger! I
even ask you to forgive me for the fool
ish words that still think your still
more foolish accusation she smiled
family, dragged from me- / am going
because i know that 1 have brought,
sS2nd that while am here ] shall always
\ be bringing upon you the imputation
and even the responsibility of my own
faith! While | am proud To own ii,
and, IL needs be, suffer for it, have no
slgDt to ruin your prospects, or even
make you the victim of the slurs that
others may cast upon me. Let US part
as friends, separated only BY our diff
ferent political faiths, but keeping all
other faiths together, until God shall
settle the right of this struggle, Per-
haps it may be soon--I sometimes think
it may be years Of agony for all--put
until then good-by."
She had slowly descended the steps to
the patio, looking handsomer than he
had ever seen her, and as if sustained
and upheld by the enthusiasm of her
cause. Her hand was outstretched
toward his, his heart beating violently,
il another moment he might have for
gotten all and clasped her to his breast.
Suddenly she stopped, her out
stretched arm stitfened, her finger
pointed to the chair on which Susy's
cloak WAS hanging
Whats that?' she said, in sharp.
high, metallic voice. 'NTho is here9
Speak,"
'Susy," said Clarence.
She cast scathing glance around the
patio and then settled her piercing eyes
on Clarence with bitter smile.
Already"
Clarence felt .s5e blood rush to his
face as he stafa&eyed: "She knew
what was happenfng here and came to
give yon warningf'
"Liarl"
"Stop!" said Clarence, with a white
face. ''She came to tell me that Capt.
! Pinckney was still lingering for you in
the road
He threw open the gate to let her
pass. AS she swept out she lifted her
hand. Asshe closed the gate there were
the white marks OF her four fingers on
his cheek.