The Irish standard., 1901-08-17
KgIE$HS e. 'I!' zs
>~< us ARRYSnllHzE EE5u4sDs
Copyright. 1899, by J. B. Lippincott Com.
pany. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER II.-CoNT1NuED.

here you have found an untrodden way
TO the heart of Richard Somers. know
now that no woman was ever there
before you; none will ever follow you.
may not be here to give you my hand
Il do not know the circumstances that
surround you, or even if in winning
your sympathy am playing false-but
wherever you are, remember that my
soul follows. and would keep guard
over you if might" He spoke with
IN earnestness and passion that dis
turbed and alarmed himself. Some
thing like a groan burst from his lips
when he realized how far he had Nm-
mitted himself. and he sank back in his
chair. There presently she found him,
and resting her hand timidly upon his
arm, she said, gently:
"What would you have me answer
you?" She was calm and confident
now. At first she had shrunk a little
from him. Her simple, confding action
restored to him his calmness.
II would have you say at what hour
1t is you are accustomed to close the
eyes which look down upon without
seeing mine.'
cat nine. But what is this upon your
lapel-a flower?"
"a white rose for our wedding"
With pretty show of authority she
drew it from it's resting place and
fixed it in her hair.
"Do not flowers belong to the bride?"
Swear it in memory of me-" he said,
Rpf T
sist that you take steps to preserve
those other roses which l am sure
have bloomed for you. Have you
dressing-room?"
"Yes, but l am not sleepy and I
shall not desert you. Wait. Speaking
of the rose, shall sing you song l
love very much-that is, if l can find
my guitar. All, here it is! Now I'll
sit here-and you right there-but 1
wonder if l can ever play in the dark?
May l not have just little light?
won't mind"
"How easily you forget! 1t is i'm
possible. Sing as you are; l shall not
hear any discord." He was astonished
At her swift change of mood and
new, glad note in her voice. She sang
low and sweetly, with perfect control
of her tones, the Last Rose of Sum
mer." And then he understood bet
ter. For in her voice he read that
the soul and spirit of an imprisoned
woman dwelt in the slender frame
yelled by the shadows of the room.
He was silent. Every heartache that
had been crushed out of his manhood
seemed to have revived under the
magic of a subtle tone, an indescriba-
BILE, indefinable echo. 1t was a resur-
rection of something that had died
hard within him.
"You do not like my singing" she
said. disappointed. when. waiting for
his praise, she found him silent and
thoughtful.
"lour singing? Yes. But a MEM
DRY! TO to sleep now. Make yourself
comfortable and leave me to keep
watch. Yet stay; will you not sing
over those lines again? To me they
ore incxpressjbly beautiful"
Standing in the doorway of her
dressing-room, she sang the verse
through again softly without ACCOM-
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, and
then pissed tlou9htfuIly within.
When she came forth. arrnycd in her
wrapper. she paused beside him, puz.
zled over his change of mood.
81 am afraid you are going to be
lonely" She said.
"Sleep, my child, sleep; / shall not
be onely-knowing you are there"
Perhaps am keeping you awaken"
"les. That is it; yon are keeping
me awakc!'
"Well, am holding out my hands
and saying good nj @ht,'" she said.
lie found and pressed his lips upon
them. lie held them so tightly and
trcmbled so violently she bent down
over him confused. One of her curls,
looscncd, dropped upon his neck, and
another across his cheek. The mingled
odor of her hair and the rose filled
him with strange INVESTIGATION.
81 am sorry if | have distressed you
IN any way" she said; "you have been
kind, oh, so kind to me. Good night"
lie still held her hands. his face
bowed upon them. his form shaking
with Il strange emo; ION. Good night :"
she said again. IF do fall asleep
and you are lontly-ch. sir, YOU hurt
my hands"
Good night" he whispered, hoarse-
ly, recovering himself and releasing
them. She crossed the room, and he
saw her. dimly, standing by the bed,
as though in doubt. And then she
sank softly to her knees and laid her
head upon her arms. childwisc, in
prayer. lie arose and stood until he
saw her head lifted.
wait" he said. earnestly; will you
not pray also for me?"
81 have prayed for you already" she
answered.
will you tell me the prayer?"
"Some time, perhaps, when it ha.
been answered"
lie thought then that she had fallen
asleep, but after awhile she spoke
again.
''Wiil you let me ask you question
of yourself again?"
eyes, if You wish"
CDR. Brodnar said that you hai
never had but one ambition in life
and that you had been disappointed
What did he mean?"
81 once had ambition to be Q erea
soldier. That is ALL"
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