The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-05-08

for her to wear till she got to OrodelphY
r. git some made, n goin' off when she
went in old Injy silk--it jest looked
scandlous to Inc, don't care if twas
black. M then the way she wouldn't
even say thank you for them flowers
you sent her when you rode to Orc.
delphy by night to get 'em Tor her, n
when you was plum wore out workin'
in the Grubstalse all day to save her pa
M she ordered them flowers carried
right out of her sight. Everybody was
talkin' about it."
"Oh!" groaned poor Neil. "My head
is too high. There-that is better"
settling himself back fcctfully, when
the mountain of feathers had been cut
down by half. II wish Mrs, Morrison
had come upstairs" he went on, more
peevishly, after moment.
"Well, she wanted to, S was sayin',
but her man wouldn't hear to it. She'd
brought Mis- Meredith's letter in her
picket to show you, too, thinkin' you
might be interested; said she'd let mo
bring it up to you, bein' she couldn't
come; but we got a-talkin', m she plum
forgot it,"
Neil threw himself over violently in
the bed, with muttered exclamation,
at which Mrs. Bowen looked startled.
'Why, what on earth" she began,
but Neil fretfully interrupted.
ooh, nothing. I am restless; that's
all. Do go down and have your sup
per, Mrs. Bowen. Isn't it time for sup
per? Well, don't let me keep you wait
ing. There is nothing you can do for
me just now"
"Well, if you say so" the woman
doubtfully returned, taking up the
cmptied bowl and edging toward the
door. Though can jest as well wait
till the doctor comes to set with you.
He'll be over pretty soon with your
mail, I presume; the stage was jest a
drivin' up s come upstairs. It's early
to-night-a good half-hour."
'No, no; don't wait. I shall be all
right alone" protested Neil, Impatient
~. II prefer to be alone. Do 60"
"Well, what on earth!" muttered Mrs.
Bowen to herself, as she took herself
away, too much accustomed to sick
room eccentricities, however, to Won
der long at Neil's sudden captiousness.
Left alone, the sick man, his face
white and rigid in lines Of pain, turned
over impetuously, smothering groan
in the sheet he huddled about his head.
What was it he had been saying mo-
ment ago?-he had got over it? he had
ceased to care? Great heavens, what a
lie it had been! He would never cease
to carc-never!
Half an hour later, when the doctor
came in, it was with start scarcely dis
guised under professional nonchalance
that he met the strange glitter in the
patients eyes. you've been sitting up
too long, old man; or have you been
visited to death? Who's been here?
he demanded. sitting down beside the
bed, with finger on the wrist that lay
outside the clothes.
mo; was only bolstered up little
while; and nobody has been here ex.
cept Mrs. Bowen, though she's a hostin
herself" Neil protested, with a wan
smile. "Don't try to persuade me that
am having a relapse, doctor. I'm bet
ter-so much better that am thinking
ofgoing home next week. What do you
say to that?
II say, wait till next week" laughed
the doctor, his eyes intently studying
the face upon the pillow. Meanwhile,
I've brought you over something new"
producing bottle from his pocket and
critically eying the contents as he held
it up before him. "A teaspoonful of this
every hour will help you along on the
way toward home amazingly, think"
but is that all you BROUGHT" re-
turned Neil, disappointedly. "Did 1
have no mail?"
Mail! One would think you were
expecting to hear from your sweet
heart, the way you cry for MALL"
laughed the doctor, in good-humored
raillery, feeling in the side-pocket of
his coat for couple of letters, which he
laid upon the bed. 'You see she hasn't
written to you this time, at all events.
Those are obviously nothing but bust
ness. But, by the same token, had a
letter from a pretty girl myself to-
night; you would never guess from
whom"
But Neil had torn open the first en-
velope. his breath coming quicker, his
eyes riveted' to the page which he was
holding with hand obviously trem-
bling. II cannot read it-such viii
famous hand the man writes!" he pet
tishly exclaimed, after an instant.
"Here, doctor, see what you can make
out of it"
"Why, it is from her lawyers-Miss
Meredith's," the other remarked, with
surprise, as his glance fell upon the
first line; "and he doesn't write Spen-
cerian fist. by long shot. But this
seems to be what he has to say:
"Mr. Harvey Neil. Windy Gulch, Col
Dear Sir: am instructed by my client
Miss Dorothy Meredith, to confer with
YOU as to such terms of compromise as
would seem to you just and fair in tho
suits now pending between the Mascot and
the Grubstake mines. Miss Meredith's idea
ia that you should take the Grubstake
lode at fair valuation as part satisfac-
ton of your claim, the balance to be settled
i'm cash as may be arranged. The books
Of the mine having been destroyed IN the
burning Of the shafthouse. at Miss Mere
dith's desire have been at pains to pro-
cure from the smelters statement Of
all shipments Of ore and moneys paid
therefor, the full amount OF which for
the year ending August %. 1894. Is $751;
36416 smelter charges and freights de-.
Quoted. The expenae Of mining is next
to be considered, in which the wetness Of
the mine and demand for much ma
chi1ery which has been put in during the
year should be counted. As practical
mining man you are in position to.