The Irish standard., 1900-06-02
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
The guests and family at Carnleigh
usually came down to breakfast irregu-
larly, but this morning by eight o'clock
they were all at the table, including
Evelyn. The colonel, who had been out
his oversecrs, was the last to sit down.
And as he took his place at the head
OF the table he had the air of q man
anxious to be questioned. He had
picked up piece of news.
"Well," he began, with twinkling
eyes, cit seems that Ronald Fanshaw
was not spending his breath and>rid-
ing his horse to death for nothing"
so he reached the Jail all right, did
hep inquired Mr.. Hardy, as he put a
spoonful of whipped cream into his cof-
fec.
"oh, yes, he made that trip all right,
but the news has just come from Willkin
Station, on the other side of the noun
tain, that a negro has been arrested
who has already confessed to the crime
Of killing the old woman"
$50 the boy was innocent, after all!"
cried Hardy.
Eyes; the sheriff nabbed the wrong
bird at the start, and if it had not been
for Fanshaw his body would have been
swinging at the sport of the wind this
morning."
"And a widowed mother would have
been without her SON." put in Mrs. Ian
caster, with telling effect.
"Fanshaw did only what any man
would have done who believed in the
prisoners innocence" said Capt Win
llle, with an icy smile at no one in par
ticular.
But Mrs. Lancaster was more than a
match for him. "It's only what one
man did do" she retorted. Thereupon
Wrinkle stirred his coffee in moody ST.
lence.
II am sorry it was Ronald Fanshaw
who is to get all the credit" remarked
Caroline Iasbrooke, coldly. "Since he
has taken up the study of law it looks az
if he has pretty good idea of his i'm
portancc. Things are coming to pret-
ty pass when such people as the Fan
shaws get into the professions usually
held by gentlemen"
'Don't kick against the pricks" lit
was q favorite expression of her IA
ther's), "the common people have been
rising into prominence since the birth
Of creation"
"And the better class has been degen-
erating," remarked Mr.. Hardy, with q
slow smile. "As far as am concerned,
I'd rather employ man like. Fanshaw
to defend me, if 1 were on trial for my
life, than some manwith more ancestry
and less individual force"
"Bravo! bien dit,'' applauded Mrs
Lancaster, and she rose to accompany
Evelyn out on the lawn.
The dew lay as heavy as raindrops on
the grass and hung like scintillating
gems from the gorgeous hollyhoclSs, the
Indian chieftains, and the roses fared
like pillows of red on the silvery green
sward of the sloping terraces. Mrs
Lancaster was first to break the silence
II need not tell you I'm glad that boy
was innocent" she began. II am espe
cially glad because it emphasizes the
nobility of Mr.. Fanshaw's act. ! am go
ing to drive over to his house in the pony
cart this morning. have something tt
say to him."
Evelyn raised her great eyes in aston
ishment, but she uttered no comment
Mrs. Lancaster's voice shook per
ceptibly as she went on:
Nothing has ever affected me 81
powerfully as all this has. Las
night the impassioned fervor of hi
voice while he was speaking dowl
there brought back some of the ten
derest and saddest recollections of m,
young married life. It reminded m,
of speech in favor of secession tha
my husband made, just before th'
war broke out. There seemed to b.
a ring In Mr.. Fanshaw's tones like m,
husbands. 1t may have been onl,
my imagination, and the great dis
tance, but it drove me nearly will
with the old pain. And last nigh
in thinking of Mr.. Tanshaw's danger
it seemed to be my husband who wa
in peril. Really, did not sleep
wink. I went to the window hun
dred' times. saw Mr.. Fanshaw re
turning this morning, and then I drey
my first easy breath. Oh, Evelyn!
(Mrs. Lancaster was gazing into tn
girls cyes) what is the matter wit
both of us?"
!. Evelyn shook her head; her rich
] abundant hair glistening like thread
. of FURNISHED gold in the sun.
II know what's the matter with me,
she said, with a little laugh. 81 hop
something else is wrong With you"
Mrs. Lancaster sighed. when I &c
back from his house / may tell yo
what I am going for. but shall no
| now-no, I shall NOT now"
ITO BE Continued]