The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-14
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARDEN.
Copyright, 1900. by
AN. Kellogg Newspaper Company.
CHAPTER XVI.

a yell that would have done credit to
the lungs of savage. When they ar
rived at home he fastened the bride
reins TO post and sprang over the
fence into the yard. Old Fanshaw sat
nodding, half asleep, on the porch in
spot where the last rays of the slant
ing sunlight were falling; he was well
vrapped up in ragged greatcoat and
wore a cap, the flaps of which cov-
cred his ears.
"Ron's come cleer!" Dave shouted to
him, and seeing his sister at the small
paned window, he yelled the same words
to her.
! II know BETTER" grunted Fanshaw,
who, being short-sighted, had not noted
the arrival of the buggy. Come cleer
the DEVIL"
"Well, thar he is out thar with Rat
Cliff" Dave assured him. "Ax the sher-
if, if you think I'm a-lyin'."
With a hand on either side Of his
chair, the old man got to his feet. His
legs shook at the knees, and he put his
hand on the railing. Then he saw Rom
aid approaching, and he stood still, his
features working strangely.
'What's this heer?" he stammered,
his few remaining teeth showing be-
tween his tobacco-staned lips.
sit was proved that he killed himself
accidentally with his own revolver"
our hero Informed him.
"Huh, ii is Jest some lawyers trick!"
growled the man, who had not felt
enough interest in the matter to attend
the trial, and he tottered down the
steps calling in sort of human bark
to Ratclitf, who was driving away. He
was bent on getting confirmation of
the story from some one outside of his
family.
Ronald passed into the house and
went up to his room. His heart, de-
spite his recent triumph, was beginning
to feel heavy again. No sooner was he
assured of freedom than dire thoughts
of Evelyn came flocking to his weared
brain. lie was free, it was true, but
she had, no doubt, brought her fathers
wrath down upon her head. He stood
at window watching the sunlight
climb up the side Of a rugged cliff mile
toward the cast. lie heard the shrill
voice of Ann Josephine out near the
corn house.
ooh, NAL" she was calling, IRONS
come cleer-Rons come cleer!"
Our hero could see his mothers ro-
tund figure as she emerged from the
corn house and waddled towards the
hog-pen, her apron filled with apples.
"Ain't you iokin', Josie?" she asked,
and her son wondered at her express
sionless face.
"No, the sheriff has jest now fetched
i'm home"
"Well, l feel easier" sighed the old
woman. ''l'm glad than. amt goin'
to be no hangin' amongst us. The Lord
knows we've had mighty nigh ever
thing else to happen 10 us. Ever since
yore gran'pa was put in Jail, l have
looked for yore pa or one O the boys.
to-"
Ronald turned from the window; his
heart was very heavy. lie was thinking
of Evelyn again, and tho gulf between
him and her. All. how he loved her!
Ile CIosscu tlic looili anu Stoou 1T dI-
other window from which he could see
the roof Of Carneigh.
Il am to blame" he sighed, sadly to
blame; what right had | TO allow her
first 10 pity, then to love me, when
l have nothing to olfcr-nothing, abso-
]utcly nothing, and she everything to
givc?'
The colonel reached home later than
Ronald. Night was beginning to fall,
and the big lamp at he top of the car
riagedrivs threw its rays far down
he trcrGordercd avenue as he drove
through the big wromght-iron gate. The
lamps in the hall and drawingroom,
under their vari-colored shades, cast Il
beautiful glow On the vcranda. AS he
entered the hall lie fancied he saw
EVELYN fit out at the door at the end,
which opened into the conservatory
lie was assured of this when he had
gone into the library, where there was
10 other light than was made by the
huge wood fire, which famed and
cracked on the braZcn dog-irons, for
she came from the conservatory by an
other door, bringing his smoking jack
ct and slippers; he knew that she had
had them ready, for she had not had
time to so TO his room for them. His
heart sorely smote him as he kissed her
white face and noted the dark holows
under her eycs-eyes which absorbed the
red freight like diamonds. At any rate
he had good news for her, but the
thought pierced him like Il dagger to
think of it as such. Despite himself, a
frown gathered on Lis brow. She
misunderstood it, and he saw her catch
her breath as she held his coat for him
Neither of them spoke, though
when she had knelt at his feet
and her white, tapering fingers trem'
bled over their task of unlacine
his shoes he felt an almost uncon
trollable impulse to snatch bel
to his breast and sob out the awful re
bellion within him. When she hat
taken off his shoes she smoothed ou
the wrinkles in his stockings and put
on his slippers, finishing her task will
little sad pat as she rose to her feet
''Ah, you vixen," he said, tremulous
ly-"Evelyn, you are my baby!" H.
looked towards the door. II have al
ways given you more of my heart thai
have to your sister, perhaps because
you have given me more Of yours, poo
dear child"
The tears sprang into her eyes. ant
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