The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-05-12


whom the task had fallen had prom
Used that he would drown the child, that
its death might be an easy one. This
was the only crumb of comfort the
poor lady got; think of that, gentle
men, she could only hope that her sons
Death had been quick and painless. The
dying man refused to tell who had I'M
dertaken the crime" The colonel
paused, stroking his gray Van Dyke
beard. 'Is it any wonder that her face
is sad and her hair white?"
sit is reported in Charleston that
she has had many advantageous Of
fers of marriage" put in Mr.. Hardy,
as he emptied his wine glass.
Hundreds of them" enthused the
colonel. why, Gen. Beauclare fol-
lowed her about like a slave and SO did
Senator Waugh; l couldn't count the
men who were in love with her, but
she turned 'em all down"
The promenaders had quilted the
vcranela, and there was a light touch
on the piano in the drawng-room and
Il swcc. voice singing an old song.
".rhat is hcr!' cried the colonel,
whose enthusiasm was not often gov
erned by rules of grammar.
This WAS the signal for leaving the
table and the men went into the big,
ancicnt-looking parlor where the
lights burned low and the breeze from
lie distant mountains famed the lace
curtains into the room. Evelyn sat III
4 rocking-chair, her eyes on the sing
cr's face. Caroline was noiselessly
placing q whist table and playing
cards rear the center Of the room.
she, he1 father, Mr., Hardy and Capt.
Wrinkle were the only ones who were
fond Of the game.
but we shall interrupt the sing
ing" protested the colonel, when he
noticed the preparations.
81 shall stop if you don't go on with
the game" declared the gentle old
lady, Il smile crossing her sweet, sad
face; land Furthermore, l shall not
sing unless you all talk over your
game"
10 this the jovial host agreed I'M
der protest, and the whist-players took
their places. Evelyn sat at the end
of the piano near enough to touch the
elbow of the singer There was in
as she sang:'
"Dey amt no use fer to fret an pine.
Steady on de way. believers.
It's de same ole worl' Wen de sun don't
shine,
Steady on de way believers"
The colonel was dealing the cards,
but he made mistake in the count,
and with low laugh he threw the
cards down. 81 must wait till that one
is over, anyway" he whispered. "That
blamed thing always gets the best of
me-"
IT'S de same OIL wori' in de sun an de
rain
Same on de hilltop an same on de plain.
So keep up yo' shoutin' an keep on yo'
prayin-
Steady on de way, believers.
"Dey's a great big blossom on de water
melon vine,
Steady on de way, believers;
Fur peace come long wen you done wild
So keep up yo' shoutin' an keep on yo'
prayin',
Steady on de way, believers.
There was just the faintest culver in
Mrs. Lancastcr's voice, which Evelyn
alone noticed, and hint of moisture
in her eyes as the melody died in the
still room. She turned towards the
card players, who, with the exception
of the dapper captain, seemed deep.
ly moved by her song.
81 knew would stop your game,'
she laughed, you are too polite to
enjoy life. Come, Evelyn, let's take
another STROLL
The view from the veranda was
beautiful, and as the two walked back
and forth across the wide floor arm in
arm they enjoyed it silently. The moon
had risen and hung like great globe
of yellow light just beneath float
ing canopy of filmy clouds. Two
rows Of wind-moved elms stretched
out past the great iron-wrought gate:
and between CLEANED the white ebert
drive. On sloping lawn to the left
lay luxuriant parterres of flowers di
versified by well-kept walks, an6
smooth plots of grass. Near the cen
ter stood a fountain, its sprays CLEAN
ing like rain in an April shower
against the dark background of mag
nolia trees. The air which famed
their faces was laden with the per
fume Of hyacinth and roses. Whe1
they had walked several minutes il
silence they paused at the window
from which they had reached the yer
anda. and looked in on the players
MIR. Hardy was dealing the cards ant
Capt. Wrinkle was relating some sor
Ct experience of his own whicl
seemed to have reused the interest O
his host.
"Of course" the captain was saying
"the fellows challenge was great sur
prise to me. 1 confess that did driv
against him out of pure devilment, TO
I had heard what an egotistical, pre-
sunlptivc ass he was, an / wanted t
pay him back for throwing my ii
in the river as if he were the prime
of Wales, but heaven knows, I didn'
think I'd get bloody duel on m
hands. AS you know, colonel, Their
was nothing for me to do but to-
to make him see the absurdity of tn
thing"
II suppose not" returned the colone
in noncommittal tone. Whateve
may have been his secret opinion G
Wrinkles valor he knew his duty q
host too well to impugn it, or to rende
bis guest uncomfortable by sharp crit
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