The Irish standard., 1904-12-03

Then Aiicc sobbed her heart out In
Helea's .2D. ana ielt much injureo-and
.atntg u. purtant. Several Say passed,
l..ring N4.uh Alice was such Z alodel
OF prcG".sIy, gcoCaess anQ thoCs utlul-
ness. tat tle family became alarmed.
Her mother arXiously inquired if she
were tss.ins quite we'll, her iather
regarded her lovingly, thinking how
pretty. aEG-with sish-how grown
up" she was becoming. Brother Tom
mocliinely accused her Of being in love,
and asked: Who is my future brother
in-law? for now's the time for me to be
getting in my work"
AS the Gays passed, and nothing I'M
usual happened, the load of care began
to slip eff Alice ard her precautions be-
came less rigid, At last one afternoon
she fingered with Helen until that pru-
dent friend said: My dear. you must
love and leave me- now. or stay for
dinner, for it is getting quite late"
NO. can't stay to dinner, for IA
Their always wants me at home On, I'm
tired of being so careful; it's such q
bore. but as you say, discretion is the
better part of valor.' so farewell, and
she started forth merrily.
Oh. dear. she had forgotten her music
and she wanted to practice that adaglo
before her lesson on the morrow. 1t
was in the music room; she would not
disturb Helen, but just run back for 1t
and then fly home.
| Winslow was little slow in answer
ing her ring, and then in her haste she
dropped several sheets; how horrid
everything was. 1t seemed like night
mare AS she neared her own door her
heart lishtened; though the sky had be-
come rapidly darker. Was that foot
step behind her? She fastened on. The
steps behind rapidly gained on her, and
| low voice murmured:
Surely the very kind young lady is
! not going to run away from her ardent
/ admrer TaIus?'
Her heart stood quite still; her feet
We're para!yZed; she could not utter a
sound young man with his overcoat
collar drawn high and his hat low. came
! quickly up to her and said, tenderly
and in a voice evidently disguised:
do not be frightened; surely you do
not fear me? Ii you only knew how my
heart beat the other day when l gazed
| on your beautiful face, and when
realized that you were interested in
me-"
i Alice tried to hurry on, and stam-
! I),{ int fnl ~
Il just did it for fun-please go away;
/ you surely realize that cannot speak
to you"
"You should have thought of that be-
fore. my good girl" the man answered,
coldly. Young women do not give such
evident encouragement to young men,
without meaning something, and in
! sist upon having talk with you,
wish to explain"
"Impossible!" cried Alice. "You must
F, let me pass. If you are a gentleman,
you will not detain me moment
longer"
We'll, suppose am not a gentleman.
Do gentlemen as a rule go around adj
vertising brass? But l am man, and
have you in my power and with this
he firmly seized both her hands.
I The next thing Alice knew she was
lying on the couch in the library, with
mother. and Tom bending anxiously
overher, and sa, volatile was being free
ly administered.
4 Mother was saying responsibility: 1T
seems to me, Tom, that it was rather he
roic treatment; you should have con-
suited me. The child has been on
strain for days, and her nerves simply
! gave way Are you all right now, dear?"
"Ye-es,' faltered Alice; but where
! is the brass man?'
ut was only Tom, darling, trying to
teach you a little lesson, but it seems
to me that both of my children are
! thoughtless."
! In the earnest talk that followed moth
er tried to point the way to pure and
true living and discreet conduct, and to
help both her girl and her boy.
| 1t seems that Tom had, by the merest
accident. been witness of Alice's little
! joke, and had Immediately determined to
teach his siddy young sister a lesson
He had argued that all his preaching
went in at one ear and out at the other"
and that little practical frightening
! would be most beneficial. The missive
he considered quite work of art as
illustrating the character of a would-be
gallant and a fire gentleman.
II was rather severe treatment, but
Alice was strong and robust Indeed,
she was heartily ashamed of herself for
fainting, so in day or so she was quite
hnrcnlf nuain L.. I'M. L..