The Irish standard., 1903-09-26

greet his hostess. Miss lIllery-
you?" he cried "Ah, how fortune
has blessed me with her smile this
morning in directing me hither and
permitting me to renew an acquaint-
ancc so drlightfu.' He raised her
hand to his lips as he spoke with Il
gallantry of which few were grcater
masters.
Jane swept him a deep courtesy,
while an ironica smile played about
her lips. II feel honored that Col.
BcsSemer should remember me-" she
remarked.
"Remember you? AS though I
could forget you,' he exclaimed in a
low tone. "Iour image is engraved
too deep upon my heart for that. 1t
is true, had forgot-nay, 1 could
never have known, for it would be
impossible to forget aught which
concerned you-that your home was
in this vicinity. and TO come thus
unexpectedly upon you is the hap
pest moment nf my life"
The cynical smile did not leave
James lips. She had listened to Col.
Bcssemcr'S towery speeches before:
vet she wAS Il woman. and she could
not help n battered thrill even while
she was saving to herself. II wonder
how many women he has spoken to
thus since | met him last in Phila-
delphia?!'
but permit me, dear lady, to have
to YOU" He turned towards those
who had accompanied him as lie
spoke. They had remained in Il lit
| Tie knot around the door while he
| was greeting Jane. and about their
mouths Il reflection of the smile her
lips had worn. They also had seen
their commander kiss the hands of
beautiful women before. and while
| they could not hear the speeches he
| poured into her ears, they could inn
aGinr somewhat the pnrport of them.
The breakfast was II good one. for
the plantation was large and well
| looked after. and there WAS always
enough in lis s1orehouscs TO feed n
regiment. There were great plat
tiers OF broilru bacon and chicken
fried in that delicious style which has
descended as Il heritage to the south
from those colonial days; there were
vcnison steaks and sugar-curch ham;
there were plates piled high with
go,lrn-brown biscuits and hoecakes;
there were the syrup of sugar-cunc
and berries fresh from the garden
beds; there was an abundance OF
milk and cream and butter: there
were coffee and tca-all set of with
. the brightest of silver ana china that
had been brought from over the seas
and Was wcll-nigh priceless, so prcc-
ious that none but the hands of the
niStrcSSeS OF the house were allowed
J to wash it.
, \ bountiful, attractive repast, and
one the British officers were in a
mood to hoy to the full; nor were
: they minded to bc interrupted at it,
yet such was destined to be the case
, for, as they sat at table, II volley OF
l shots was heard and Il great commo'
l ton ensued.
e Bessemer and his companions
sprang to their feet and rushed tic
" the door with slc;, impetuosity that
it was we'll the table was the stout
piece it was. else it must have beer
overturned in the excited jostling
Outside, the soldiers. who had beer
$ lolling at ease upon the ground eat
l. ing the rations they carried. hat
a started up and stood at attention.
Bessemer, red with excitement ant
s full of energy, as was his wont. or
g dered his horse and, jumping into
y the saddle, Glove the air with quicl
commands. into this confusion
y there dashed single horseman clat
Q in the blue-and-yellow continental
Q uniform. Jane, standing within the
- broad side-porch, watching the scene