The Irish standard., 1897-03-27

IOrOCly AlGre01ull WAS: lAe- O413@ LUZ
othy. to be. found in, 20. pages Of the
visitors book Ut the. Colorado build
ing. ! had plenty. Of time to look
while I was waiting for yousto, coma.
His face had flushed deeply. and there
was a curious light, in his eyes as he
smiled up at her. :. ~..,.
It flashed upon the girl that to "a
woman who loved him he would be sim
ply, adorable with that: smile. III upon his
face; and then; her cheeks, too red
dened for the froward thought, and she
hastily moved away us she murmureu
Comprehensive ..Oh!" =
II felt most certain of the name" he
went on, "but you made your address
cruelty vague. don't you know? 1t was
simply Colorado. There was not even
hint as to where you might be found
In Chicago"
ooh, it was simply tribute OF loyal
ty to Colorado, signing the name Mt all"
she hurriedly rejoined, embarrassment
growing upon her for the frank admis~
sion of how much he had cared to see
her again. "And then am rather like
the man who was born down Cape Cod
and all along shore. Il could hardly lay
claim to any fixed place Of abode"
mop" he returned, interestedly, the
tone courteously interrogative.
!! II was born in Colorado: she -ex-
planned, with an air of friendly conf
dence; 'but the altitude never agreed
with my mother, and when was twelve
years old she took me east, partly that
/ might be educated there. and partly
for the sake of her own health. Since
then have only been back for OCCASION
al visits; but have always called Col
orado home. And now suppose / shall
be here more" Her face clouded over.
as after u brief hesitation she added:
"My mother died last spring."
Indeed" he murmured. Seeing that
he seemed casting about in hismind for
further comment, the girl hastened to
udd, with kindly garrulity: 1--WE were
to have gone abroad this summer, papa
and l, but just at the last minute we
were stopped by q wretchcd lawsuit
here at Windy Gulch. Perhaps, by the
way, you know my father, Col. Mere
dith?"
Eyes; I know him." the young man
admitted, rather dryly as it seemed.
dragging his box little farther from
the fire, which brought his face moro
into shadow; srrelevantly adding, In
tone which somehow struck the girl as
odd: "And SO it was this lawsuit which
brought you to Windy Gulch, and gave
me the pleasure of meeting you again p
Eyes. It is strange how things turn
: out, is it note" She looked at him with
rather baf1ed feeling, conscious OF a
vague sense Of irritation. For her'own
; part, She had been so cordially frank;
there was even u ranking suspicion in
her mind that she had been more friend
; ly than the conditions might warrant.
| Only by reciprocal confidence could he
relieve the situation from awkwardness
now. "And do you live here-at Windy
| Gulch?" she went on, curiosity in her
glance. .''-~ 80
"That is my post Office address," he
said. devoting himself to putting moro
wood on the fire, with rather an inscru-
table smile. II live-so far az 1t can be
called living-up at my milne. Which
reminds me-" starting up abruptly,
contrition in his air, II promised you
I would ride over to the Grubstake and
let your father know that you are all
right. I had almost forgotten it; but
| would you like me to go now p
"What! and leave ME alone here?'
Dorothy cried, In tone Of sharp pro-
test. =,
"Not unless you like. OF COURSE"
''The fact is, have been thinking
papa might not be there himself" she
went on. "'He rode over to Tomtown
I this afternoon to see a"s,1rveyor there,
Mr.. Brigham. 1t is bad road, you
know. and, with a storm and oil, 1t
seems as though he might have been de-
tanned, does it not?". -;
ri should think it quite probable"
the young man returned. looking Mt her
with an expression Of keen interest.
''He rode over to see Brigham, did you
say?" And then, the odd, shumefaced
look upon his face, he added, prefaclng
the hurried explanation with a note OF
laughter that seemed strangely forced,
brigham is rather friend of mine,
you see" 80
els hep" Miss Meredith returned,
looking at him in vague surprise. II
fancy papa does not know himvery we'll.
In fact be- s
|. "Don't,. Miss Meredithl You must
.Eot!" he brusque1y interrupted. "Iwas
q cad to let you say word about him;
but" He rose hurriedly, :lenving the
sentence unfinished, while he went to
the door and looked ont with an air of
seeing nothing. Il beg a Thousand
pardons," he said, gently, presently
turning back, seeming very big and
broad as he stood looking
down at her, but the fact is, your IA
ther he's u lawsuit on-you spoke of it
q moment ago; and In such cases even
trivial things-admissions that might
seem almost nothing-might really
make grave mischief. Especially un-
der the circnmstances-well should
be very sorry. to take an unfair advan-
tege by letting you say anything you
might afterward be sorry for, you
know"
"But have not said anything!" the
girl protested, looking wholly bewil-
dered.
''No; you have not said anything"
he sadd, soothingly, his eyes seeming to
her entreat forgiveness. "Only-pardon
tue for offering advice-if. were you,
Miss Meredith, would never speak to
. stranger of your fathers movements.