The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-10-17

soldier son, nf his courage. his de-
votion To duty his popularity with !
his brother officers. Jane saw her
fathers dali eyes brighten. she saw !
the expression of patient suffering
give way to one of interest, and the .
withered check tighten with faint /
tinge of color.
Her heart went out to Bessemer !
that he should have given the older /
man those few minutes of pleasure,
and when, with the excuse of not
wishin.: to ire the invalid, he drew ,
her from the summcr-holSr. she
walked with him along the garden
paths and entered the green and
purple labyrinth in the grapc-arbor
| towards which he directed their steps.
She put up her hand and plucked
some grapes for him. He took them
around assuring him that the thick
screen of vines hid them from view,
he caught her hands in his and
drew her to him.
Jane" he cried, in the smothrrcd
voice of passion, ".lane. | love you.'
! The mirl struggled to free herself
, but he held her close. While his hot
kisses fell upon her brilliant, hair
! and white brow. Presently. however,
! either she gave more force To her
efforts or he feared to offend her past
forgiveness, for he released her and
| dropped upon his knees before her.
"Swrrtheart." he said, ''for@ivc me
my i,nprtuosity. If l have been too
| forward. if | seem to have taken UNI
| due advantage of this one moment
allotted ne alone with you, then let
the alteration which feel speak in
my behalf. The affection which felt
+, for you when {; little girl in Phila-
dclphia, though you touched my heart
then az none of your sex ere had be-
fore, was but the gentle Warmth of
IL candle beside the monday heat of
my love for YOU now. Jane. may l.
not carry you back to England with
me to adurn my home. to be tended
with my most jealous care:"
"Col. Bcssemcr. l"-Jane passed her
band across her forehead, as though
to smooth away perpleNi1y-'I scarce
know what to say, SO taken by sur
prise am I. May Twill you not
grant me Il respitr-time for con-
Sidcra,ion of the great honor you
have done me? There is the break
fast bell" she added hurricdly, and
with very evident relief; I'VE must
hasten or my stepmothcr will grow
nervous.'
Bessemer rose and, holding her
hands in his, scanned her face with
his keen eys. ''lime for consider
alton? Nh, sweet one, if your heart
were !illed with love for me us mine
is for you, there would be no need
of consideration. Tell me, Jane, do
; not your pulse beat responsive to my
own: Does not some of the rapture
glow in you? Surely it must be SO.
Then what need for waiting? for
keeping me in cruel suspense? Nay,
let thy sweet compassion plead for
me- Take pity on this lonely soldier,
, and give him the boon of your re-
quitting love. Let him feel that when
he returns victorious to your side he
, will find this priceless treasure await
ing him. Tell me. Jane. that it shall
, be So" He would have drawn he1
> again within his arms, but Jane put
up her hand in determined gesture.
"No, Col. Bcssemcr, | must have
, time to think. ] am deeply sensible
, of til" honor you do me, but l an
! not so young as once was, and
realize fully what an alteration in my
E, life assent to your request woult
= mean. Before passing upon question
! so wcighty,I think it scarce unreason
able to stipulate for due consider
alton"
She spoke with dignity and firm
ness, and Bessemer, shrcwd enough
to know that such poise ;ugured les:
: well for him than girlish confusion
! would. felt the blood swirl hotly il
: his veins. while his eyes narrowed
:, with fuller determination to conquer
where conuurring was made difficult
His was not II nature to value highl,
= that which came easy Women al
:, most as beautiful as Jane had COM
: lightly to his arms and been light.
:. east aside. This girl would be hare
to win, and won, would be won TO
always.
He bent his head and kissed he
hands with appealing lips. 'Ah be
loved. my Jealous heart hath agai
betrayed me into an cagrrues., tina
merits your rebule. would no
have YOU think that ] could refus
any request of yours, though it i
one which means for me many wear
moments of uncertainty. now an
guishcu by doubt. now consumed b.
fire Of hope. Sweet one, may no
pray that YOU will at least make til
time of probation short? am o
my way to capture that brigant
Sumter. When that is accomplished
L shall return this way; then may
not claim my answer?
They had reached the entrance t
the grape-arbor by now, and Jane
eyes viewed qucsti"ningiy the pro:
poet before her-the bright garden
the rear and side of the great oil
mansion. the sweep # the Fruit,
fields to the east, tiic rh,n,p of wood
wailin% in the west. IBIS was HON
beautiful. luxurious, Beloved hom,
- and the man beside Her asked he
TO leave it all for him. Surely niue
to ask: yet. with him close bessie
ID her; with his suppiirating words
s. her ears: with his m'lsic;rl, prrsuasi,
&c voice: his forccful pri's onality appea
Id ing to her. it would not have bee
Id hard to Have turned AND given hi