The Irish standard., 1897-07-31

lington. I've read some of his articles
and one of his books, and I'm ever SO
sorry for him."
"And why?"
because it's plain-to a woman
that he has been the under dog in the
fight. Not THAT he ever was whipped"
"You are catholic in your tastes"
observed. you like the doctor because
he is an optimist, and Burlington be-
cause he writes II lot of morbid, ma
tcrinlistic rubbish. know Il third per-
son who is cultivating Il wholesome and
cheering style. He, possibly, is out
side the pale Of your sympathy"
ale probably doesn't need it,"
'lTc wants an nllopathic dose, to be
taken Immediately"
This was true. Hopping about in
quagmire of perplcXity, realized my
dependence upon others.
GO to your goddess" she said.
! had forgotten the goddess, and
smiled.
".\h. you have had surfeit from
her"
NO, my goddess feels as you do. a
lame dog limping over stilc is sight
that never fails to fill her pretty eyes
With tears, but"
"a big, lazy mastiff blinking in the
sun makes her want to poke him up
with II sharp stick. Your goddess is u
sensible woman. 1t is not sympathy
your mastiif wants, but square meal"
THAT is very true" admitted. In
der the pressure of circumstances had
missed my dinner. My chance shaft
struck the target. Miss Nancy jumped
cnergetically from her chair and fled.
When she returned, II tray, handsomely
garnished, testified to the accuracy Of
my aim.
Here" she said. laughing, ais your
bone, poor doggie."
l attacked with vigor some cold
chicken.
"Your mother" said I, ''knows that
you are here?"
"a most violent assumption" she re-
turned, coolly. 'My mother, as you
suggested should be spared all worry.
I'm here on my own responsibility"
"Mr. Gerard will come tomorrow"
".\nd you think hefwill be angry. 1
can assure you you arc mistaken. Mark
is the apple of his fathers eye. Flo
looks upon me as II vegetable of no con-
sequence, sort of pumpkin"
Her indifference was pathetic.
eve have not seen him." she MUIR
INJURED, "for more than six months. Tic
may stay with us for six hours.'
Mark Gerard passed us her father.
Ills long absences from home were nc-
ccpted by Miss Nancy, without COM
mcnt, us commonplace facts, connected
so she snpposeda-with business
affairs. OF his standing in San Francis
coshe wascntirely ignorant. The girl had
been educated in the east and abroad.
She read no newspapers. She asked no
indiscrcet questions. Custom had afro
piled curiosity.
"Of course" 1 said, alphabetically,
che is a very busy man.
"lle must be-" she returned.
Then she leaned back and closed her
eyes. A mastitf feeding is not an
aesthetic sight; and confess that was
hungry. AS l munched AWAY, the two
faces almost within touch of my hand
challenged attention. The likeness be-
tween father and daughter grew start
l;ng-so startling, indeed, that gulpcd
down Il glass Of wine to quiet my brist-
ling scnsibilities. No wonder Mark
Gerard had sent her abroad and to tho
east. With that face confronting him,
his approximations, poor devil, must
have run riot.
"nhere is thunder in the air." said
N:cr Nnp.,y L., ~,
"Thumicr?" / repeated, incredulous-
ly.
"And lightning. Well, it will clear the
atmosphere. The barometer has been
at set fair long enough"
Her pcrspicncity COMPOUNDED me-
With men of all sorts and conditions
was familiar; with women l had como
but seldom in contact.
Eyes, we are smarter thnn you think"
she said, divining my thoughts. "By-
thc-bye, why do you dislike Dcmctc
rius?"
"Your mother says he is pagan"
so WIS Marcus Aurclus. Mr.. Liv-
ingston, why can't you talk to me
frankly? Forget that am girl"
She spoke grnvcly-with cmphnsis,
without excitement. man, I re-
Elected. might do well to pick up tho
gauntlet she had thrown down. A
friendly contest of wits was Just the
tonic needed; but Mark Gerard had
my word, and my tongue was tied.
"Demctr!ns. Miss Nancy, is Greek,
with Greeks subtlcty and cunning.
Unless | am very much mistaken, he
has served Mr.. Gerard, faithfully, I'll
admit, because it was to his interest to
do so. He belieycs in the doctrine OF
expectancy, that the end iustifics the
1s.eans. That is why call him u pagan"
EYES," she said, thoughtfully, you
ure right. IIusl!"
She moved swiftly across; the room,
opened the door, glanced kccnly to
right and left. anHrcthrnetl to her chair.
81 thought" She whispered, "that
I heard noise 'outsidc. l was mis-
"iour nerves are"
"ln excellent order, tlanl; you. Mr..
Livingston" her voice betrayed for
the first time cxtci,clcnt-"look! lIo
is coming to-"
I sprang TO my feet and together we
approached the bed aud bent in1niring-
~ over the patient. Ills cyelitls twitclcd
convulsivrly, and then opened. The
man was conscious. At the same mo-
ment my ear caught the sound of Il dis