The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-01-19
s y i + j. + + +

hardly fallen from her lips when her
father returned.
The dinner that followed was n OF
the most cheerless meals at which I
had ever assisted at. The momentous
question that he had to ask me had
taken possession Of Mr.. Courtney's
faculties to such an extent that he was
painfully absent-minded and distract;
and the knowledge that I had promised
to refuse his request did not tend to
c~heerfullness on my part-for, no a
ter how gently I might do it, I knew
that T. should be putting the old man
into a most awkward position. AS I
pondered over the matter-and I had
ample leisure to do so, for our CONVEX
sation was almost entirely limited to
that required by the etiquette OF the
tablet determined that I would hint
that, although I could not at present
advance any money, I might be ! IN
some other way to help on any cause
that was working for the good Of Ire
land, and this hint, I knew, would be
reported to D'Orville.
Little did I dream Of the fruit it was
to bear. When Nora left us I opened
the door for her, and as she passed out
she just touched my hand and whis-
pered, '~Remember!!"
I went back to the table, and I could
not but pity the nan who sat there,
%nervously pushing his glass hither and
thither, and wondering how he should
begin what he had to say.
It was to the glass that he looked for
inspiration, and wher he had swal-
lowed whisky enough to reduce me to
the condition of promising any and ev-
erything, he found courage to begin.
"Mr. Tremayne," he said, moistoning
his lips, 1--WE known you some little
time now, and we've been pleasant
n~eighbors-I may say friends, I hope"
"Most certainly, MI. Courtney"
"And," he went on, we've had long
talks about the country that's 80 dear
to me, and I've never met an English
han that had such sound views on the
matter as you have. You are at one
with us, I know, and If you should
think me presumptuous in what I am
going to ask you to do you must put
my presumtion down to the love I have
for ireland. Will you help us. sir? we
are in sore need Of imoney-aye, It's
that, no less, I'm begging for-and II
you could advance us n thousand
pounds. you'd be putting us on such 3
footing that we could demand terms.
IT'S only a loan I'm asking, and we can
offer the very soundest security for Its
repayment"
I looked at his twitching features,
and knowing him for the puppet that
he was, and knowing, too. who was
pulling the string that made the pup.
pet dance, I almost wished that I had
not promised q downright refusal. But
Morals spirit was near me. and, after a
short pause, during which he sat peer
ing at me. I began:
ST am sorry you have asked me, MI.
courtney, for, believe me. 1t gives me
the greatest pain to say that I am un-
able to comply with your request.
eBar with me one moment, and I will
tel you why. I have an ample allow
ance, it is true, but I have nothing be-
yond it, and I don't yer know the day
or the hour on which that allowance
may cease. I have some money, too,
at the bankers, but 1t Is not a large
sum-certainly not large enough to
justify me in drawing uron them to the
extent you suggest. You are perfectly
right when you say that I feel a great
sympathy for ireland and the Irish,
and IL I could help in any other way for
the present I should only be too glad II
you would tell me how. I am young
and active, and I may In time have
more ample means. There must be
some society or other that I could join,
and
There are plenty" he interrupted,
"but they all want money-though, to
be sure, they want men Of action. as
well. I am sorry'-and here his voice
quivered and the tears. that I looked
upon as begotten for the most part Of
whisky, began to fill his eyes-"I am
sorry that-that you couldn't help us
as we would have It. But II you can't
you can't. I'll report what you've said
about the other way Of helping to one
that will know how to make use Of
your services. and IL you are still OF
the same mind, I'll arrange q meeting
between you. The Fates r against
us. for those who would give can't, by
d that they've nothing left to give!
You'll not mention this matter. I know,
Mr.. Tremayne, and there's one thing
more I want to say about 1t, and then
I'll have done. / wish you to under
stand that my daughter knows moth
ing 81. our movement. and I've brought
her up in a way that she's never like
" to know anything about 1t. She die
Tor shameSi II she thought It was money
I was asking you for, though h knew
sit wasn't for myself I was asking It. I
have. tried to keep her out Of all these
saffairs,s and God knows she's the only
sn1rarnrf <ho 80 SlaffI 10 mes, He rat with