The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-04-13
CHAPTER l.

New York. The big trees on the ter
raced lawn and in the dense wood be-
hind the house were shedding their
sere and yellow foliage, and in the ex.
tensive garden on the left of the en-
trance not even a belated flower could
be seen in the well-arranged parterres.
Here stood a marble statue, there a
playing fountain; the entire aspect was
cold and cherries.
Within the mansion quite different
scene presented itself: A footman in
livery stood in the vast hall; white
capped, white-aproned maid-servants
moved about with soft tread and So
licitous mien. Five o'clock tea was be-
ing served in the quaint Elizabethan
drawing room. a man less than 40
years of age, tall handsome and with
military bearing, reclned in u quaint
ly carved easy chair before the glowing
wood fire with it's old-fashioned brass
fender and drason-shaped andirons.
The mans face was full dark and
round; his high, broad brow suggested
considerable power of intellect; he
wore no beard. and his short thick hair
was touched with gray. He had but
one questionable feature; an expert
physiognomist might have said that it
was Il pity such a strong face should
be married by a mouth slightly in
clined towards weakness. His wife,
who sat near him, was a handsome
woman; she was perhaps as old as he.
Her complexion was clear and good;
her teeth were fine and even; between
her parted lips they caught the red
freight and threw it back broken into
tiny CLEANS. Her hands and feet were
small and we'll shaped. her body pos
sessed an undnIatng ease of movemolt
that gratiticd the visual sense of the
beho!dcr. Her hair was dark brown,
her eyes black and sharp, and these
things, with the general contour of
her shrewd face, limited at French ex-
traction.
When the tea was brought in young
lady who had been playing Il beethoven
sonata OH the grand piano in The large
bow-window turned TO another girl of
about her own age who stood by her
ready to depart.
"Yon really must stop for cup of
tea, Lottir." she said, laying her jew
eled hand on the arm of The visitor.
81 am sorry. but | shall miss my
train if stay even IL moment longer;
as it is shalt have to urge your coach
man to drive rapidly"
"Oh. surely you are not going, Miss
Dean" protested Maj. Goddard, rising
and coming towards them. I'VE really
see so iii tie nf you, you know. and when
'ou do honor MS ii is generally only to
the extent of II pop call. am really
going to inciir my ward to downright
rebellion against you aud all the rest of
her old school triendS.''
THAT is right. Guardian" The plan
list smiled as she rose; you must stand
by me. Lotte has such Il nice time in
the city hat she is getting above such
a quiet retreat as this"
"Oh, il isn't that" laughed the ac-
cused. 81 do enjoy it SO much here and
am coming to pay you "a good visit
before Long. Really. | am looking for
ward to it with II great deal OF pleas
urc."
"Well, until then we shall have q
truce" cried he ma or, and he escorted
the guest to he door where his car
riage was waiting. AS he recntered the
drawing room the expression of his
wife's face riveted his attention. Mrs.
Goddard was watching Miss Briscoe,
who had left the piano aud was pouring
the tea at the low brass table in the
center of the room. The look she was
giving his ward was so full of malig-
nant dislike that the genial face of the
major grew grave. lie seated himself in
the chair he had just left and eyed his
wife attentively. Just then Miss Bris-
coe brought Il cup Of tea to him.
you'll find il exactly right. Guard
ian," she said Will n smile. 81 not only
know the number but ! now under
stand the size of the Jumps of sugar
you want
sit is always right, Blanche, when
you pour it for me-" He would have
added further p,casantrics to this
had he not felt the rigid stare of his
wife upon him.
''Nou have nice manners, must say"
Mrs. Goddard suddenly .icrked out
'but | presume you were taught in that
Fifth Avenue school to serve gentle.
men before ladies'"
The beautiful girl flushed to her
wavy golden hair.
"Oh. do pardon me, Mrs. Goddard,
am so forgctful; Guardian looked sc
tired afterhis journey to town that T.
ooh, it doesn't matter in the least,
and this retort was emphasized by
Mrs. Goddard's rising, pushing past
the girl and pouring her own tea. Hell
face was dark with suppressed rage Us
she took her cup to a window-seat be-
hind the piano and hastily drank it aft
er the manner of angry individuals.
''Never Nina" said Maj. Goddard to
Blanche, who. with a look of deepening
embarrassment on her face, had taken
seat near him; never mind, it can't
be helped
II wouldn't have displeased her fol
the world. on--on your account, if TO,
nothing else. do try my best to get or
with her, but somehow l never make
the slightest progress in the right dt
rectiOn. l am so awkward"
Their voices were so low that they
did not reach the tea-drinker in tn,
bow window. but she seemed to know
that she was he subject of the guard
ed colloquy, for she glared over her cul
at them like sullen. Infatuated ami
NAL.
81 assure you it is not your fault
DEAR went on Goddard. "You see