The Irish standard., 1900-05-26

/ wiped his brow as if he were fatigued.
Evelyn felt a soft hand steal round
her waist and, knowing to whom it be-
longed, she simply pointed towards the
horseman.
"Do you see him. Mrs. Lancaster?''
she questioned, almost under her
breath.
"Who is it, dear?" asked her COM
panion.
"Mr. Ronald Fanshaw." Evelyn
looked searchingly in the fair old
visage. Her voice had almost tri.
umphant ring. "He is trying to per-
suade them to do right"
"How do you know, dear?"
Evelyn repeated what lobe had said
and added:
II want you to give your consent to
something"
"What is that, darling?''
"Come into the writing-room with
me. I am afraid you will object, and
yet SO much may depend on i'll"
Mrs. Lancaster's face. wore frown
of perplexity as she followed Evelyn
through the book-lined library into a
little room adjoining. The girl sank
into a chair at the table and took up
& pen. She bit the end of it nervously
as she glanced up at her friend.
81 want to send him a line, only a
word, saying that I approve of what
he is doing, and that do not want
him to lose heart"
Mrs. Lancaster looked dubious as
she sat down at the table and leaned
her white head on her thin, blue-veined
hand.
81 don't think you ought to do it
without your fathers CONSENT" she
said, still looking down.
Evelyn sighed deeply.
"He'd never consent-never; he'd not
understand my motive as you do; he'd
be perfectly unreasonable, but do not
want you to oppose me-that is, I don't
want to do anything without your con-
sent"
The woman addressed now gave Eve
lyn a steady look.
''Remember,l am your fathers guest.
| know how you feel, and if I thought
it would be quite right would
You have no idea how little encour-
agement he gets" interrupted Evelyn,
impulsively. HE is the only one among
all those people who is trying to do
right
Mrs. Lancaster put her arm round
Evelyn's shoulders and gently took the
pen from her myers.
II love you as if you were my own
child, Evelyn. You are too young and
inexperienced to see where all this is
leading. Oh, you must be careful! If
there were no barriers between you it
would not be so bad, but under the ex-
listing circumstances I should be very
culpable toto allow this. He is a
noble young man; and 1 like hint
can't explain why like him so much,
but do.'
With an impatient toss of her head
Evelyn waived all arguments.
eff an innocent man should be killed
to-day" she said, firmly, you will be
sorry we did not do something towards
averting his fate"
Mrs. Lancaster shrank back a little,
and then she became very thoughtful.
Presently she suggested compromise.
Suppose write to him over my own
name; will that do?"
A light lsindled in Evelyn's eyes.
"Yes, that will do; oh, I'm so glad ;
hurry up!"
Mrs. Lancaster dipped her pen, drew
sheet of paper towards her and wrote
as follows:
"God bless you and help you succeed
in your noble effort. Our prayers are
with you.-Mrs. Lancaster"
Evelyn was reading over her shoulder,
and when the writing was done she
Kissed Mrs. Lancaster on the cheek.
"For that one word," She chuckled.
''What word do you mean?" asked her
companion.
Taking the pen, Evelyn UNDERSIGNED
the word tour" and laughingly folded
the paper.
Perhaps it ought not to go that
way" protested Mrs. Lancaster, but
Evelyn only continued to laugh slyly,
as she thrust the note into an envelope
and held it under the old lady's eyes.
Ronald Fanshaw, Esquire" she die.
tated, firmly, and with a sigh Mrs. Ian
caster reluctantly complied.
A moment later Evelyn had slipped
out into the negro quarter and called
lobe from his cabin.
''Take it to Mr.. Ronald Fanshaw," she
said, "and do not say word about il
to anyone. Mind, to no one-not q
SOUL"
CHAPTER VIII.