The Topeka state journal., 1898-12-27
AILEEN KENNAGH.

brief authority.
''Get along, you'll We don't allow no.
"Markr'
The man stared. His face grew blank.
''Why, it's AileenP'
Mark Lehman had told Aileen Ksnnagh
long, long ago under the shadow Of the
beech oopses Of the old home that he loved
her.
Eyes, it's me, Mark" painted the poor,
weary little girl, "and I've walked so far,
and I'm SO tiredi Aren't you glad to see
me? Won't you give me q drink Of wa
ter9"
And she sank down, weary and exhaust
ed, on one of the rustic seats close to the
colonnaded porch.
You mustn't sit there" said Mark
hurriedly. "You must go round to the
servants door. I-I-of course I'm glad
to see you, Aileen-as an old neighbor of
course on the other side of the water. Lu
cillal" to a gayly dressed lady's maid,
''this is Aileen Ksnnagh, from my county
at home. Will you get her glass of wa
terP''
Something in the tone in which he
spoke to the pretty Luoilla made Aileen
look quickly up.
"Of course any friend of yours, Mark,
wen do our best to make comfortable.
Come along, Miss Kennagh."
"All whArt is a glass Of cold water"
said AiIeen, visibly shrinking, land just
to speak one word to Mark
"I-Tm busy just at present, " began
Lehman hesitatingly, "but'-
Aileen turned away with q chill at her
warm Irish heart.
tits not myself will be troubling you,
then " she said 81 can get q drink at
any wayside spring"
And she went away hoping yet fearing
to be called back by Mark Lehman before
she had passed the great iron gates of the
gardens at Eyre Hall. But Mark never
spoke. 1t would be more awkward than
he liked to contemplate being called to
account by the old love while the new in
the spruce person of Miss Luoilla Jones
stood by. And besides what could he do
to help AileenP What though they want
ed a nursemaid at Eyre Hall? He would
not like to recommend a green girl like
Aileen.
Meanwhile poor Aileen, weary, dusty
and heartsick, had paused at a spring in
tho woods just beyond the gates of Eyre
Hall to slake her parching thirst.
AS she was about to rise-she had
drunk, scooping up the crystal drops with
the palm of her brown, shapely hand-a
voice from the wooded cliff overhead ar
rested her movements
''Stop just a minute, please. You are
the very figure I want to light up the
gloom of my landscape-just one minuteP'
Aileen smiled and stood still, and she
saw that the gentleman artist above had a
little child in a black velvet blouse play
ing around him.
But even as she looked the little sprite
leaned one degree TOO far over the almost
perpendicular rock and lost its balance.
She sprang forward with a cry, but too
late.
Little Herbert Eyre lay in ssnseless
heap on the soft grass close to the brook
edge, one plump white arm doubled un-
der him and broken
''Is he deadP''
Mr.. Eyre stood pale and terror stricken
beside the little creature as Aileen lifted
him tenderly to her lap and sprinkled cold
drops on his marble forehead.
"No, sir, please God, but he's badly
hurt, I'm afraid. Let me carry him. TIN
only torture him to be changed from one
to another and I'm strong. Is it far away
from where you live?"
'tNo; you can see the chimney tops from
here. It is Eyre Hair I am Mr.. Eyre
And so, carrying the little heir of all
those broad lands in her arms, Atleen
Kennagh once more entered the domains
whose dust she had shaken off her feet but
a brief while ago, without deigning a
glance at Mark Lehman, who ohanoed to
be the one to let them ini
Little BERTHE clung to Aileen' g neck and
would not leave her, and he lay in her lap
during the whole tedious process of set
ting the arm.
Il like you," said he, his baby brow
contracted with pain. "Who is ou s nameP"
"Aileen."
And so at Mr.. Eyrs's earnest entreaty
Aileen staid.
And SO even after the little broken arm
was we'll again.
Mark Lenham met her one afternoon
walking up from the woods when she had
been about three months at Eyre Hall.
How pretty she looked with her dark eyes
and rose red cheeksl Luoilla Jones had
~ A.
cOaohman. He thought remorsefully of
the old attachment in Ireland and decided
he couldn't do better than to give Aileen
q crumb of hope once more.
"Aileen," =" he said conciliatingly, step
ping into her pathway as she was hurry
"What is it, MarkP"
YOU'RE always in such hurry, Aileen.
Can't you stop and speak to a fellow?"
SIS it anything particular, MarkY"
Eyes, it is particular, Aileen. You see,
I-why can't it be between US just as it
used? Why can't you be my sweetheart
again, Aileen?''
lone reason is, answered Aileen COM
posedly, THAT I have long ceased to care
for you, Mark Lehman. The other is that
am engaged to be married.
''You, Aileen?"
"Yes 1. Why notS"
"Who is it tor" wrathfully demanded
Mark.
"To Mr.. Eyre"
And SO Aileen passed on, smiling quiet
ly to herself at Marks face Of thunder
struck dismay.
For little BERTHE s fondness for the sweet
young rose of Ireland had somehow in
feoted his father, and Aileen Kennagh was
to become his second wife and the lady of
Eyre Hall.-Exchange.
High Priced Stirrups.