The Irish standard., 1898-05-28

his words, he knew little Of her beyond
tho fact that sho was charming (Which
he had found out for himself), and that
her nnme NOS Grace (Which she had
told hlm). She had chosen to surround
herself with mild mystcryj the reason
OF her residence In Iuston was un.
known to him. In return sho asked
nothing, and he vouchsafed little save
that he had been knocked up from over
work, and been sent to Easton for COM
pletc rest.
"fou nre SO very good, you take me
on trust" he said.
"As you have to take me. l believe
you want me to ask you questions, and
won't"
you arc very mysterious person.
incline to the belief that you are
princess, and TINT some day you will
rise up and crush me for my prcsump-
ton"
"Perhaps ! serve in shop" she sug-
gested.
"Oh, we'll, ] am hairdresser. The
next time you go into that Bond street
emporium to have your hair singed or
wnved-what do you have done to it?-
I shall probably come forward and say:
This way, please, madam"
Bond street, What extravagant no.
lions you have! go to little place
in Tottenham court rond."
do give me the address. Some day,
when am out of employment, will go
there, and you will walk in, and-cut
me, ] suppose"
II don't usually discuss Browning
with my hardresser."
"Nor I with the girl who sells me
gloves" he replied, and they both
laughed.
"But how nice it is to discuss any,
thing at ALL" she said. Most of the
people know never read anything
worth mentioning"
GLOW very terriblel Poor Princessl"
"And I appreciate SO much" she
sighed.
$50 much that I wonder you do not
aspire to create"
He spoke carelessly, but there was u
flush on her cheeks as her eyes, very
wide and soft, met his.
Do JOu tldU pOSslUles SnG
asked.
"Why not? You have the Dramatic
instinct, imagination and observation.
You see, I have studied you we'll in this
week. But these alone do not mean
success in literature; they must be
bound together with something strong
err, and cclnented with form and style.
Have you tried?"
She pluckcd ncrvously ut the grass
beside her before she answered.
Eyes"
He looked at her hands, which lay
bare i'll her lap. They were white, firm
hands, and the middle finger of the
right hand was very slightly stained
with ink.
That's bad" he said, smiling at the
stain. "But still there's hope. 1t is
possible that you will one day show me
some of your endeavors. She shook her
head. "Yes," he urged. "Pcrhnps I
could help. Please listen to me. sup
pose you have heard of eiitors?"
"Oecasisnaily."
"But you have never met onc?"
"Nevcr."
"Your tone tells me that you consider
them formidable. But they are not so,
really" lie looked into her eyes, sml-
ing. "You see one now" he said.
"You!" she cried, blushing.
even ]; why not? Now, you see.
there would be some reason in showing
me your writings"
"And what is your paper?"
ut is magazine called Modcrna."
"Oh!" And after pause she added:
"Will you give me pencil and paper?"
lie tore Il leaf from his pocketbook and
gave it TO her.
She scrubbed two words and gave
1t back to him.
what Is it?" he asked, MS he read.
"NVhat does it mean? Oh!-oh!-ohl
the deucei"
lie crumpled the paper, thrcwit from
him, and jumped up and stood staring
ct her. His face was red; hers was
white, and her eyes met his defantly.
"You have seen that before" she said.
"Oncc or twice." he admitted.
"Six times" firmly, II pcstcrcd you.
Friends who didn't know anything
about it advised me to go on--not TO be
discouraged, and 1 went or-on to the
very end, till you-"
'Oh, was a brute!" he groancd.
"You advised me to stop. Why didn't
you tell Inc beforc?" she demanded,
with unreasonable anger.
you didn't"
ooh, OF course, didn't let you. Ibcg
your pardon. Ii was very stupid OF me,
but there was something fascinating in
being mysterious. l had never done
anything unconventional In my life,
and I wanted TO make the most of it,"
She looked at him and flushed crimson.
"Why-why did you reject thcm?" she
asked. lie looked embarrassed.
"Well, you see, Modernn is an impor-
tant magazine, and the editor has lot
of work. and I-ah, in short, they were
not suitable"
"You did not read thcm," stcrnly.
Indeed did, the first one-oncs."
II quite understand" She rose with
some dignity, and scrambled up the
bnnk to the road.
Don't go!" he cried, following her.
princess, Ihavc SO much to tell YOU"
They stood facing each other at the
edge OF the dusty road, and below OH
the pier the band brnyed out he "Wnsh-
ington Post"
"Well?"
Don't leave me-" he pleaded, II can't