The Irish standard., 1900-03-24

knew of hosts of people who think
themselves very good, that l have al
ways considered you a remarkably
model man. Papa says it's all because
you're an Olmstead and couldn't be
anything else. And don't you think
we're all of us little ashamed every
time we look back? l am. If I weren't
I shouldn't think I was making any
progress"
"You're comforting to say the least"
Stanton replied, and was going on to
press the opportunity, when Miss Brad
don interrupted:
"We saw by the paper that you were
soon to leave for home. What lion
they will make of you'll"
"Of meg"
"Certainly."
"Why?"
because you deserve it, of course"
Observe what?"
ITO be lionized."
"For what?"
"Now, Mr.. Stanton, if didn't know
you l should think all sorts Of things;
but instead I'll begin and tell you all
about what you know just as we'll as the
same light. Didn't you make great
hero ofyoursclf when your steamer was
captured by pirates in the Gulf of
Sam?"
Indeed I did not, Miss Braddon,"
Stanton exclaimed, and his cheeks
flushed. 81 swung Il rusty sword i'll the
face of a few Chinese towards, and they
ran without a scratch. That was hero
ism indeed"
"Of course l don't know all the par
ticulars, but Pm sure the king of Siam
thought so, or he wouldn't have dec
grated you With an order. The New
York papers thought so, or they'd not
have printed so much about it. The
British government thought so, or it
would not have remembered it till you
reached London, two months ago and
presented you with Il medal. But how
was it about your being almost killed
by tiger, in India, while saving the
life of little native girl? There was a
story printed about that, too"
II was hardly hurt at all, Stanton re-
piled, thoroughly confused. 81 simply
wanted the tigers skin as memento,
and l have it,
With merry laugh Miss Braddon
replied: GLOW fortunate for the little
girl that that was Just the tiger whose
skin you wanted, and that you wanted
it at that very moment when it was
about to kill her! But what papa
thought most of was your address be-
fore the Historical society of London,
when you gave them an old Babylonish
brick. He said he couldn't see how Il
lawyer could possibly know SO much
about antiquity"
Vainly Stanton endeavored to take
another step toward the end he had in
view. Before the evening was past Miss
Braddon had invited him to drive with
them to Vesuvius the next day, and to
sit in their box at the opera the next
evening.
The second day was failure, like the
first, so far as the message was con-
cerned; while with every atom of man.
hood in him Stanton struggled to hold
himself back from what he knew would
be u fatal plunge into that bewildering
pool.
Why should she fascinate him till his
heart and brain reeled? No woman had
so much rs attracted him before; and
now, of all times, when it must not be!
els it because she knows that I am
married and thinks herself safe?" he
asked himself. II hope she is safe. Il
not, surely am not worthy of Esther
Thorndille's love. don't know. Some.
times when she looks at me that way
as though she were ready to put hel
arms round my neck, feel as if could
throw away everything to run to her
1t would be throwing away everything
and will not do it,"
ITO Be Continued