The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-05-01
. THE IRISH STANDARDS SATURDAY; MAY I, 1897.

LAY 1897.
was, with the dense cloud Of smoke
stu rising and the confused sound Of
crashing timbers and hoarse cries con-
tinuaaly growing louder, coherent
thought was out Of the question. Halt
Of the time for which Neil had stipu-
lated had not passed by before she could
endure the suspense no longer and was
hurrying down the hill herself, now
filled with alarmed vexation that she
had been induced to delay her coming at
all, since it needed but glance in the
direction of the fire to tell her that
it was the Grubstake buildings which
were going. She knew enough of the
costly machinery there housed to be
appalled, at her fathers loss; but it
did not occur to her to think of the
graver menace until she met Harvey
Neil coming back to her and somehow
comprehended the awful tragedy in his
face. She stopped as though turned
TO stone, staring at him with wild eyes,
her lips parted but incapable Of utter
ing any sound.
''You sect Is the Grubstake," he
painted, his eyes full of pity and yearn-
ing tenderness as he took both her
nerveless hands in his. ''They say the
fire, caught in the boiler-house and
spread to the shafthouse in an instant.
There were powder and giant caps
stored there in the back room-that was
what we heard. It was criminal of Nc
Cready, having such stuff there" He
fingered over the broken sentences,
warding off the question he knew must
come. 49,. -.
':And papa" she gasped, withdraw
ing her hands and making as though
she would rush on down the hill to see
without waiting for his answer.
Tt is hoped that they are all right"
he reluctantly returned, his eyes en-
treating her to have hope. "There are
ten men down the shaft; but if the
air holds good-it must be all right.
There is sure to be time enough to save
them"
'"'rhey cannot get out?'' Her white
lips formed the words, but he guessed
rather than heard them.
everything, went to pieces in the ex-
plosion," he slowly explained, his voice
eloquent Of compassion. 1T was inn
possible for anybody to escape after
the alarm was given. But as soon as
we can get the fire out Oh, darling,
darling, don't look at me Like that!
Don't think of giving up until we know.
The men were working in the levels
quite away from the shaft, and the
Inference is that your father and Nc
Cready were with them. There is no
reason to believe that they will not be
gotten out all right"
"But you do not believe it'll can see
in your face that you do not!" she pas
:sionately exclaimed. drawing back
from him with look of horror. 'He is
dead, and you know it! And to think
that at the very moment he died was
Oh, go away from me! never want to
see you again!-never, never! To think
that should have turned against him
fol-. you! And be the dearest and best
Of fathers-always 80 good to me, SO
good! It makes me hate you!"
He looked at her with plying ten
.deness as at one distraught. "You
do not know what you are saying, DEAR"
he: murmured, soothingly. "'And you
must not give up. I would not tell you
so if it were not true. Your. father is
probably: alive and unframed. And in
q little while he may be- with you to
laugh at all your fright. Don't give up
yet, sweetheart"
Glow dare you call me that-you?"
she bitterly retorted, her eyes flashing
blue fire upon him, her face like stone.
''Do you not see that it is a Judgment
upon me for caring for you, for being
untrue to him2 Caring for you, did
I say? Oh. how could ever dream of
such a thing! To care for you, you who
brought him here, who were the cause
Of all this trouble!-you who, If he is
dead, have been the cause of his deathI
tell you that I hate you-l shall al
ways hate you'll"
As she went on in this growing frenzy
she had been blindly hurrying down
the hill, Neil keeping beside her with
watchful eye upon her needless steps,
but now he stopped, his peremptory look
bidding her also pause. His face was
white and set, his eyes were full Of
sadness beyond words, but still his tone
was very gentle as he said: ''You must
not come any farther, Dorothy. It is
not, At for you" They were now so
near the fire that burning bits of wood
Uttered the grass all about them, while {.
the smoke and heat from the well -nigh
burnt.out shafthouse made the air
stiaingly oppressive. Crowds! OF men
were hurrying up the hill, many turning
curiously to stare at the colonel's daugh'
ter. .You must not come farther" Neil
said again, gently authoritative. You
can do no good here. Iwish you would
let me take you down to my cabin"
ITO your cabin! no." she implacably
glancing away from him as
though hereyes loathed the sight OF his
face. "But I will wait here-if you will
go away" 81 -
He hesitated, reluctantly regarding
her for an instant, but then, with face
as sad as her own, he walked away, to
send to her woman he had discovered
among the crowd. TWAS Mrs. Morri-
son, who kept the Mascot boarding.
house, a motherly soul, though her APP
pearance always promised ill for the
Of her cookery. Painting
With good-humored hurry, she came up
the hill to where the girl was standing,
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