The Irish standard., 1897-09-11

ilude that Cruel, or watches, dream
lily, through feverish eyes, Mary NOV
ing about his room, or even feels her
touch upon his forohead-why, he cam
not help get well. At least that was
what Dick Wheeler said, first to him
self, and afterwards, shyly and awk-
wardly, when he was better and was
sitting up, to Mary. But, poor fellow!
Mary's blank look almost landed him
back in his bed again. He began to
realize, in n slow, pathetic way. that il
she had been less kind he might have
had more hope. "And Don dead seven
years." he told himself, as he sat
proppcd up with pillows in a big, black
wooden rocking chair that had roses
painted on the head rest, and gay cal
leo sleeves tied over its stiff arms.
1t was soft spring afternoon; he
was much better; Mrs. Hayes and
Mary had gone home, and only cn'ne in
for an hour or two each day to see that
he was comfortable. 1t was Mrs.
Hayes who had packed him snugly into
the big chair In the south window, and
put footstool under his feet, and
drawn Il little table with his medicine
ind Il glass of water close to his side.
"Jucobll help you back ITO bed, DiclSy.
Us soon as you feel tired; now, mind,
don't sit up minute longer than you
feel like it! And I'll come in tomorrow
morning and bring some beef tea.
Mary's great on making beef tea"
When she went away Dick sat there
In the sunshine, looking out of the Win
dow. He made up his mind that no
must get over thinking about Mary;
there was no use; IL only worried her,
land it kills me-" no thought simply.
He wondered If he could always feel so
duly Indifferent to everything, just be-
cause he couldn't have Mary? The sun
was warm on the grassy slope In front
of the house; big vessel, coming slowly
mp the river with tho tide, leaned, and
her white topsnils swelled and CLEANED
and tapped loose again; the trees at
the foot Of tho garden showed faint
mist of green; pigeon wheeled and
iluttered dowp to tho doorstep and sat
preening itself and putting out It's white
breast. The feeling of spring, and joy,
and promise was in the air.
''And l don't care darnl" Dick
groaned to himself well, I've got to
get over this. III go away; I'll get out
of it; Mary shan't know why; I'll lot
hcr think I've never thought Of her
since the last time l spoke. Good Lord
1T was two or three years ago! and
I've not gained an inch with her." And
then he opened his eyes, and saw Mary
coming up the path; she was on her
way home from school, and stopped to
lxnnxy how ha n1nnr
"Lool1 at you, you careless fellow"
she scolded you've dropped that
shawl off your knees; what would
Mother Hayes snyp"
ooh, Mary" he said, and somehow
the tears stood in his eyes, he was so
weak, Olive got to go away"
Mary's instant look of concern, and
light touch upon his wrist, showed
what she thought of such crazy words,
aid poor Dick gulpcd and tried to get
back to his resolution not to tell her.
81 don't know why said that didn't
mean to" he told her.
"You are tired" she suid, soothing.
ly, you've been sitting up to" long"
'Nothing of the sort" Dick an
swered, GROSSLY. 81 am only tired of
WIS bll!>lllHS5. ''ptnl NluIN-tlcEc.
l can't help ii; 'cW yon tahH nc? didn't
mean to ask again; ! was just saying
wouldn't. when You came up tho path.
Mary, will you tule me? If you won't,
I'm going off. I've stood this just us
long rs I'm going to-"
Poor Mary turned red and white
with pity. "Oh, Dicls!" she said.
''You know he's dead and gone;
you're only mailing another man mis-
cradle; and = and you'd be happier
yourself"
''Of course he's dead" she said,
TREMENDOUSLY, that isn't it; it's because
II shall always love Don't" sho burst
out, and then fell to crying; und Dick
sworc at himself and was ready to tell
her that he didn't care the least in tho
world for hcr--if ii would comfort her
any.
But nothing comforted her. She
went home along tho river road in tho
pleasant spring dusk, her eyes blurring
and smarting. She did not want Don's