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

We S%SAAe1ys TeA%S sS>~esS
rather think she has come on purpose
to see you, old fellow. And If you feel
well enough-though cannot have
you talking business today - but it
you would like to zee her for q mo-
ment-"
Like to see her! Great heavens, doc
tor, don't keep me waiting. I have
waited so long!"
And moment later Dorothy was
standing by the bedside, her two hands
clasped in his, her eyes looking down
upon him with such love-ight in their
soft depths that it, seemed to his daz.:
zled vision as though it could not real
ly .be-he must still be dreaming.
cit is you, really you?" he incredu-
lousy whispered, with trembling touch
caressing the little hands as though he
would assure himself of their reality.
''You, here! Why are you here, Doro-
th w., .-....
Sick" she faltered, her fingers tighten
ing. about his with sort of shuddering
tenderness, as at remembered terror.
"And you came for that? Dorothy,
sweetheart, the last time I saw you,
you told me that you hated me. TWAS
not true?''
II tlink-I think more of you-than
1 thought did," she n1urmured, bend
ing toward him like wind-blown rose
in the shy confession, her eyes down
cast, her cheeks afiame.
"Ah, the happy thought! God bless
you for it, my sweetheart-mine!" I'm
possible to convey the gladness, the
rapture, of that impassioned whisper.
punctuated with soft kisses upon a
small pink palm. But he was laughing
too for gay amusement at her pretty
embarrassment, in such lightness Of
heart as he had thought he could never
know again; and with characteristic
impetuosity he would follow up his tri'
umph with the swift demand, merrily
hooking her shy hesitancy: "And dc
you thinlz-do you think enough of me
to marry me-soon, darling? Oh!'-
and now the laughter had left his voice,
while a CLINT of sudden tears enforced
the imprisoned earnestness of the low
cry: II have so hungered, so starved for
you, Dorothy!"
But, though he laid bare his heart in
that brief pleading, he was for the mo-
ment stunned by the swift granting of
his prayer. II will marry you when
ever you like, dear" she whispered back,
her eyes, alight with glory of bound
less tenderness, resolutely bent to meet
the dazed wonder, the rapturous ques'
tioning, of his.
It was his look more than his voice
that presently spoke in his worshipful
"My darling" And then he was silent
for awhile, covering impulsively with
her dear hands his eyes, from which
the glad tears were yelling over. III
you were my wife now," he tentatively
muttered after a moment. IF could
have you with me all day long" He
broke off with little sigh, his glance
ranging about the small, bare bed
room. 'But I could not ask it, sweet
heart; of course I could not"
"But if you do not ask it, don't know
how I can say yesto it, Dorothy MUIR
INJURED, dropping toward him in sweet
confusion until it needed but the yield
ing of an inch to answer the pleading
of his eyes and lay her. hot cheeks
against his in soft caressing. 3
"Dorothy!" 1t was all he could say,
but all his doubt, his eager questioning,
his tremulous joy, found expression in
the one word.
"You see" and the girl drew back
from him little. striving to assume