The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-16

s'So''SS's
after subsection to the influence of NOR
phine. He was conscious Of no puin, no
soreness, conscious of nothing but that
longing for the coming of Florence and
wondering as to the lime Of night or
day. He remembered half opening his
eyes and seeing Hop blinking in un easy
chair by the bedside, aud then noticed
that it was in the spare room--the guest
room-hc Was lying, and he thought il
must be near dawn. for the shutters und
shades were druwn, yet dim lightwas
shining through. He thought Florrie
must be in her room, the front room,
md he WIS just thinking of calling TO
the servant and rousing him, when he
heard the swift pit>apnt OF light foot
steps In the hall. Il swish of skirts, and,
stretching out his arm, he called aloud:
"Florence, tIarlng!" aud the next min
ute woman's form was at his bedside
and he started up, rubbing his eyes,
amazed. startled, believing perhaps that
he was still dreaming, for there, with
trembling, outs,rrtched hands. stood
Fanny McLane.
"What-wlcre is my wife?" he
gnsprd. II thousht-why. surely this
cannot he you'll"
at Is I. Randy" she qnnvcrrd. II was
in torment could not rest nor sleep.
] knew You We're alone. with no one to
care for you"
"Alonc!" he interrupted. what do
you mean? Where IS Florence, my
wife?"
"You don't mean-thcy haven't told
you?" she answered. "She HAS gone
home to her people. it is supposed.
She left two nights ugo-thnt is one
reason am here"
But Merriam burst in upon her wall
ing, hnlf incohercnt words. "In Gods
name what do you mean? You or
must be mad. Here, Hop, quick!
Where are my clothes? Fetch them at
once: then so for Capt. Grafton.
I'm not mad" she answered. Read
this--thc letter she left for YOU" and
tho wretchcd woman tossed upon the
bed the note she had taken from among
the others on the mnntel, and, shouting
for light. Merriam tore open the en-
velopc. while the Chinaman, ncrvclcss
and obetlicnt to the masters will, threw
open The shutters.
I'm tho next minute Randy had read
the page, with staring throbbing eyes,
then fairly ordered her from the room
and dnzeJ, vet terrified Mt the effect OF
her announcement. she crcpt into Flor
cnce's room and threw herself into q
chair. moaning and rocking to and fro.
Like u mailman Merriam was up and
tearing about, issuing rapid orders to
the servant. his lameness nil forgotten,
and Hop, nw~d and dis,naycd. dared dis
obey him in nothing. Quickly no
dressed his master. pulling ON light rid
ing brooches and leggings instead OF
the cavalry scouting rig. aud carefully
drawing hunting shirt over tho
crippled arm that in its sling and BAN
dagcs WINS now bound close TO the body.
1t seemed TO take no timo Mt all 10 get
him dressed, yet Merriam fnmed and
ragged, and then limped forth into tho
hall. bidding Hop go knddle Brown
Dick at once.
At sound Of his lalting footsteps in
the hall. she had once more reused her
self TO action. her own weight OF caro-
and trouble urging her on. Randy"
she cried. "for Gods sake answer mel
Arc you sure-are you snre-wns there
no other statement? no other pnper7
Did he persist TO the last thnt his moth
er was nlive?"
"Mrs. McLnnc." was the answer,
"you forced me to tell you tho truth.
I did all | could 10 keep t--and to keep
myself from you. but you would hnyo
It,"
ooh. Randy, Rnndy!" she cried.
'You nro hcartless! You nrc brutal.
vindictive! You nre Furnishing me be-
cause so cruelty wronged you. But
what did I ever do to YOU compared
with what you hnvc done TO me? Oh,
why, II you ever loved me, why could
you not have destroyed That lying pa
per that is TO rob me OF my name. my
rights. rob me of cvrrything?"
"IInsh!" he answered, leaning hcnv-
lily against the bnlustrndc. II rode