The Irish standard., 1899-03-18

the tears streaming down Myra's
cheeks, and he bit his lip until it almost
bled when he heard her sob as she
turned to go back to the house.
When he came TO dinner he read the
letter again, but he and Myra ate in
silence.
Hope came week from that day.
Myra went to the railroad station three
miles distant to meet her.
"1t'll be better for me to meet her
than for you, if you are bound and de-
termined to keep up this nonsense
while she's here" said Myra. "She
doesn't know thing about it; you may
be sure haven't written a word of it to
the poor child, and dread to tell her
Of it now. It's a shame, burning
shame, Simeon Sayles, for you to spoil
Hopes first visit home, just to carry
out a silly VOW that it was wicked for
you ever to make in the first place. It's
piece of wickedness right straight
through!"
A visible palor had come into Sim
cons face at the mention of Hopes lit
tie girl. No one knew how much and
how tenderly this little girl whom he
had never seen had been in his
thoughts. He was fond of children,
and no child in the world could be as
dear to him as this little girl of Hopes.
He and Myra had looked forward so
eagerly to the time when Hope should
bring her to them, and they had read so
proudly OF all her infantile charms and
accomplishments as set forth in Homes
letters!
He stole softly into the seldom
opened parlor when Myra was gone.
The door stood open now, and all the
shades were up, while the room had
been made spotless and dustless, and
bright and sweet with Hopes favorite
flowers in the old-fashioned vases on
the mantel.
Several photographs of Hopes little
girl, taken at different stages of her in
fantile career. were in the album on the
parlor table. Simeon took up this
album and gazed at these photographs,
one by one, with unhappy eyes.
lie wandered round the house and
yard until the time drew near for
Myra's return with Hope and little
Grace. Then he went down the road to
meet them. He had gone perhaps a
quarter of mile when he sat down by
the wayside to wait until they should
drive around turn in the road hun.
dred yards or more distant.
He had waited not more than five
minutes when he heard the sound of
wheels and voices round the curve in
the road. He heard the sudden, sweet
laugh of child, and was on his feet in
an instant.
AT that same instant man on BIZ
cycle dashed past him. Bicycles were
still an almost unheard-of thing in that
part OF the country. Simeon had never
seen but three or four ofithem, and the
appearance of this one whirling along
at such speed startled him.
Its rider sent it flying on down the
road, and it whirled around. the curve,
to the surprise of Miss Myra and to the
terror OF old Hector, the horse she was
driving. The reins were lying loosely
In Myra's hands, and before she could
gather them up old Hector jumped
aside, rearing and plunging, and the
next instant he was racing nadly down
the road with the reins dragging the
ground on either side of him, while
Hope chung to little Grace and
screamed.
Whoa! Whoa, Hector!" cried Myra,
in voice so awful with terror that it
frightened old Hector the more.
Whoa, Hector, whoa!"
This time old Hector pricked up his
ears, for the voice that spoke was a
firm. commanding one, and the next
moment q strong hand grasped his
bride, while the voice repeated:
whoa! Whoa!"
1t was a harsh, stern voice. but IT.
sounded like the sweetest music in N.Y.
ra's ears. 1t was Simeon's, and Simeon
was holding to the bit. He held, it until
old Hector came to a halt, and then he
turned and said, calmly:
Don't be scared, Hope, child; you're
all right now. Give me the little one."
He held out his arms, and Hope put
the little one into them, saying as she
did so:
ITS your Uncle simmy, dear! Put
your arms around his neck and give him
kiss, and let him hear how we'll you
can say Uncle Simmy.'"
A pair Of soft little arms stole around
Simeon's sunburncd neck; soft little
cheek was laid on his rough, bearded
one and when she had kissed him twice
she said:
Dee Nuncle Thimmyi"
"The blessed little creetur!" he said,
winking his eyes and hugging her close
to his heart.
And when she and her mother were
asleep in Hopes old room that night,
Simeon came into the kitchen where
Myra was setting some bread to rise
and softly humming Gospel hymn of
praise out of the JOY of her heart, and
Simeon said:
"Well, Myra-"
"Welh Simeon?"
"Well-er-well, what did Hope say.
anyhow, when you told her?'
"When told her what?" Oh, about
your-your-la Simeon, the minute
clapped eyes on that blessed child l
knew you'd just have to speak to that
baby! So I never lisped a syllable
about it to Hope, and she never shall
know a word about it if l can help it.
wish you'd fetch me in basket Of
nice, dry chips. The moon shines so
bright you can see to pick them up. |