The Irish standard., 1901-08-10

this way"
81 understand. But in my estimation,
my child, you have sacrificed nothing"
you did not think so-but-but-"
He took up the thought.
but you are grieved because you
are saying: Now here is gentleman
who, have suddenly discovered,
wish to respect me for myself, and as
a refined, modest girl; and what must
he think of one who is willing to be
locked up here in room with him all
night the girl caught her breath
md half rose from her chair and for
what? l cannot even tell him.. l am
bound not to tell him. 1 must sit by
| and see him sacrifice himself to friend
ship!'"
ooh, sir, do you think" She bent
forward suddenly and, hiding her face
in her hands, rested them upon his
knees. He placed his own hand lightly
upon her head and wondered if it were
treason to have discovered that her
hair was mass of curls and clustering
ringlets.
"That is only what you were saying
to yourself, not what l am thinking.
When called you child absolved you
from all the crimes of womanhood.
There are many actions that flow nat
urally from childish hearts which carry
not the slightest flavor of immodesty;
and yet woman may not copy them.
So in this. my young friend"
"Ah, you do not say my child now!"
"No, you have passed into woman
hood with the consciousness of this
error. say error, because it is sit
uation that you should not have been
placed in-no, not TO save human life
not even to save your own; for the
unscarred whiteness of woman's soul
is the priceless pearl of eternity, and
not to be staked on earth. But the
thought behind it all was not your own.
You yielded under the pressure Of
fear and advice. Your objections were
overcome, and you obeyed an elder per-
son in whom you had implicit conf
dence. That is all, and understand"
"Then they did not tell you about
mel" she whispered, breathlessly.
"No; you have told me all that know
of you, here in the dark. You are ten
der, modest. true and pure; and were
you my wife in truth, would not be
ashamed to tell this story to the world
myself and own you as such after"
J The words fell from his lips SO tender
ly, 50 kindly, she took his hand in both
of hers. and laid her face upon it, cry
!, ing silently.
. The blame of it all is on our friend,
the DOCTOR" he continued, deeply
touched, and his voice little unsteady
. What tumultuous, headlong. hurri.
cane sort of fellow he is! There is no
blame for you; for look, if am here
how could you have resisted him? And
it is only his judgment that was al
fault, after all-only his judgment
Brodnar's."
"Would it offend you if / ask ques
tion?" She had waited for composure
and now did not lift her head.
"Why, no, of course"
"You are right sure?"
"Right sure"
"Then, how could any gentleman
consent to be placed in such position
as yours? You must have known how
embarrassing it was to be for me-" Hi!
first inclina ton was to whistle out hi
Z establishment, but he restrained him
self.
"You forget, my child see youhave
| backslided into childhood-you forge
that in the first place was appealed t.
> in behalf of a woman D nd no gentleman
may resist that. And then I had no rea
son to suspect that / was to marry /.
girl. 1t might have been an expert
: enced widow. Indeed"
? "But you are glad it wasn't, are you
D not?" she asked, anxiously.
!. "Yes, my child"
: "Does my question then indicate tina
g I am child?"
: Eyes, my child"
! II don't see why"
= because you are still-a child" Sh,
D was not satisfied.
q Mr.. Somers, l want you to thinl
we'll of me always, and the thought tina
U | may meet you sometime doesn't EN-
k barrass me now. It would not embar
= rass me if I did meet you-even if
e should meet you tomorrow. But wisl
you to know all about me, and am go
+ ing to tell you every thing from the be
!. ginning"
"No, indeed, you shall not" he said
n quickly. She lifted her head, startled
"Why Motif I choose? i am no
s afraid to trust you.''
mo! no! Miss Frances"
"Ah, am woman again!" q
"ies, woman of charm so swee
a and heart SO true that Richard Som
t ers must arm himself. Not your honor
hut mine, the honor of your husband
t is at stake, and you promised to regart
n that always"
And | shall, sir; only tell me how
: "Why, have promised my friend no
e 10 seek to find out, or permit anyon.
= to tell me anything about you. ma,
II not let even you inform me. You mus
t not"
She was silent, disturbed, and won
dering at his intense earnestness.
Il Then she said, in awe at the myster,
!, of it all: when we part tonight WI
are to meet as friends mo more? Yol
& may never take my hand in yours ant
speak kindly to me again? Oh, sir, 70,
do not know, you do not know wha
II your tenderness has done for the girl
no, the woman you call child. 70,
3. do not know what it is to have MISE,
n fathers care, Mothers"
n 'fHush!" he cried. ''not one wor,