The Irish standard., 1897-02-20
XVI,
LOVE VERSUS IDEALS.

XVI.
+ LOVE VERSUS IDEALS.
Duncan slept through the forenoon
of the day following the journey to
Glenco, being no longer young man.
and having spent rather more than half
the night On the mountain with Kill
grow. He was eating q late dinner
when Elsie. from her place at the win
dow, announced the arrival of u visitor.
"Who is it, thcn?" asked Duncan.
whose mind was burdened with pre-
monitions of legal processes and writs
of surrender all pointing toward tho
precious document left in his custody.
81 think he's coming here; it's no one
we know. Yes, he's hitching his horse.
He's big man with smooth face"
Duncan guessed Sharp'ess, and pro-
ceeded to fortify his caution by greater
deliberation with his dinner. Elsie
answered the visitors knock, and pres
emily came in with a. square of card
board. IT'S Mr.. Sharpless," she said.
"Aye?" said Duncan. do We gang
In an sit wi him the whiles I'm fin
isbin' the bit dinner"
Elsie obeyed dutifully, but she stood
in such awe of Kilgrow's arch-enemy
that the suavc lawyer had extracted
no more than u haif-dozen monosyl-
tables from her when her father came
to relieve her.
"Mr. james Duncan, presume said
the visitor. atTabiy, rising to greet the
farmer.
1.-THE same" replied Duncan. "Sit
ye doom, Master Sharpless." And in the
exchange Of civilities Elsie gladly mado
her escape TO the kitchen.
II drove over to see you on little
matter Of business" said the lawyer.
rightly Judging that he would lose
ground in any attempt to measure
circumlocutory swords with the Scotch
man. II come from Mr.. Thorndyke.
and he refers me to you for some in
formation in regard to John Kilgrow."
"Aye?" quericd Duncan, who thought
hardest when he said the least, and
who was prepared in advance to dis
credit the statements Of the town COM
pany's attorney even if they should APP
pear TO be self-evident truths.
ayes. MIR. Thorndyke was obliged to
leave for New York this morning, and
before he went we had a conference
about the matter in which he has been
representing John Kilgrow. l hardly
need tell you that, rs professional men.
we soon came to ~ satisfactory UNDER
standing, and Mr. Thorndyke was quite
willing that I should settle the claim
with his client direct. He referred me
to you for the particulars, saying that
it would DC necessary to approach Kill
grow through you on account of fool
''ish fear ON the part Of the old man
touching some ancient difficulty with
the revenue people,"
'Did Master Thorndyke gle ye {: bit
of letter to me?" asked Duncan.
warily.
81 spoke of it, but he said it wouldn't
be necessary. He was very much iur-
ried, and there was little time To erare.
He was called home by teleg. pn, l
understood"
Duncan Illuminated thoughtful y for
some minutes. considering t so
much what he should say as how he
could say the least and learn the most.
IAN what is it yell be wantin' O. me.
Master Sharplcss2' he finally inquired.
Nothing more than that you viii
see Kilgrow and arrange meeting.
j should be glad TO entertain him in
Allacoochce, but If he does not wish
to come to town can go to- him, if he
will appoint time and place"
, "But I'm ma sure I'll see auld John
Dia in the next twal month," objected
Duncan.
! "Why, understood from Mr.. Thorn
dyke that he lived here near you some
where"
Duncan shook his head. "He has ma
house in these parts that KEN
Shurp1ess tilted his chair and Slipped
his hands into his pockets. Il under