The Irish standard., 1903-11-21

tive, fleeing from them, and relies
upon you. Jane. to aid his escape or
to hide him here. Was there ever
such audactiy? Gabriel, tell the man
to be gone; that under no considera-
ton will Miss Jane see him.
Up rose Jane, and laid her book
upon the nearby table with an en-
phatic slap. You must permit me-"
she said, looking coldly at her step
mother and for once blind to the
nervous frown which had gathered
upon her fathers brow and to the
wistful look which ever came into
his eyes at sign of disagreement be-
tween her and his wife, you must
permit me to deal with my visitors
as see fit. Gabriel, you may CO."
She swept from the room, out into
the hall, and halfway down the
stopped to collect her thoughts; to
! still the flutter of her heart; to plan
her mode of procedure.
Godfrey, sitting upon the portico,
! gazing into the peaceful night, was
thinking of the beauty of the sur
roundings; of the luxuriousness of
James home. 1t required no little
/ courage, no small amount of self
confidence, to ask her to leave it for
him; and that she could think
enough of him to do it-ah, that was
the wonderful thing.
Yet, if all went we'll, when this war
was over, when American success
was assured, as he never doubted it
would be, he could offer her home
scarcely less beautiful, for he would
accept his grandfather's offer to
manage for him his estates in Vir-
ginia. Settled in the great white
house under the Virginia oaks and
walnuts, Jane would miss but little
of the luxury of her present abode.
There was a tlutter of white upon
the staircase, "a soft step across the
hall. Godfrey sprang to his feet.
Janet" he cried. holding out both
hands; but the one hand Jane gave
him was cod-cold despite the fra
grant warmth of the night.
"Ah, Jane cried Worthington,
the heat of his own emotions
making him impervious for the nonce
10 the chill Of her dcmeanor, chow
| have longed for this moment, for
this opportunity to see you, since
that blessed night when you saved
my life: and did far more than save
it--madr it worth the living by tell
ing me that you loved me. 1t seems
incredible that but four days have
passed since then. They seem rather
like four months, SO tagging has been
each moment until l could again be
with YOU"
With an effort Jane freed her hand
from his strong clasp and moved
away trom him to the edge of the
portico.
Capt. Worthington," she said,
without looking at him, 81 pray that
you will forget that night and all
that occurred then. Let us cancel ii
from our memory"
Cancel it3" he gasped. Cancel
. it? Jane, what do you mean? Is
) this some joke, some wilticism, that
: i am too dull to see the hulnor of?'
, May" she answered, half turning
towards him and speaking in voice
, whose sweetness was lost in over.
! tirmness, "when 1 tell you that I am
: betrothed to Col Bessc1ner you will
: ssibly-ilnderstan
"Betrothed to Col. Bcssemer? And
since when?" JIe came closer
"Since when? Were you, perhaps, be-
trothed to him that night when you
risl1ed your life to save mine; wher
r what made that life worth the say
n ing was the belief that you glorified
: it by your love? Tell me, Jane. were
s you betrothed to Col. Besseme1
: then?" He laid his hand upon hel
8 arm.
g She sIrank back. "No-since."
:. "Since? And with the memory O.
Q that night before you? No, will
: not believe it. You are playing will
n me; but seeking to test my love-m.
d faith in you. Know, then, that Their
7; is no test you can bring to beal
e which it will not stand. I believ
. in you, in your faithfulness, as be
lieve in God.''
The girl threw out her hand in
gesture of despair. How hard, HOY
bitterly hard, he was making it.
He came still closer. "Speak t.
me, beloved" he said. "Tell me VIII
you thought 1T necessary to put m
to this test?"
She turned to the figure besid
her. In stress of excitement, Cap
Worthiugton," she said, 1--WE oft d
that which our cooler judgment doe
not approve. You and ! have bee
friends from childhood. I have Ion
looked upon you as u brother. You
life is nearly as precious to me a
my own brothers. That night, whe
had devised way to save it an
you We're so laggard in availing you
self OF the opportunity L"
"You?" He bent his dark head t.
wards her.
"And you-what, Jane?" Godfre
proddel gently.
She clasped and unclasped hi
hands nervously. The task she hs
set herself was decorating one. b.
W, she went on with it bravely, if falte
- ingly. "And it may be that lin II
anxiety that my old-time friend, Thu
;,v Mary's brother, should not reckless