The Irish standard., 1904-07-30

light and air she really Was-how tar
removed from his homely life. Her
mother had gone into the dining room
and was making great gathering there
with the dishes. Dave started up from
his chair and looked at her with a,
strained, frightened look on his face.
What you got on all that borrowed
finery fur?" he demanded in tone that
he had never used to her.
cit isn't borrowed, Mr.. Lorry-it's
mine-its been give to mel" she re-
torted, fitting up. her indignant little
chin and sailing around him haughtily.
"You look-I don't know how you look
with such things on!" he said, almost
with groan. "We'reall plain workin'
people, Indy. Take 'em off!-please
take 'em off-you don't know what
things it makes me think of-do take
'em off. Lindy!"
I'D like to know what you've got to
do with it," said the butterfly out of the
midst of the blue cloud, frowning at him,
and yetlaughing, too. because she knew
she was so pretty, and because another
maniwas coming in little while and he
would see how pretty she was.
Even while she futtered around the
room, she heard them coming-the
sound of wheels and her fathers loud,
jovial tones. He would come in through
the kitchen, as he always did-her father
always would bring people in through
the kitchen. Not now-she could not
see him at once-and the butterfly fled
wildly through the house and out into
the porch in front, where the moonlight
caught and held her. Miss Margaret,
glay-clad within and without drew
further back into the shadow of the
ant thing palpitating there in the noon
light.
But what was this?-there was her
fathers voice in the kitchen-but some
one was coming in at the front-and
Indy turned her back to the moonlight
lest he should see how her heart, her
foolish heart, was shaking her from
head to foot. And then
Indy lay still in his arms with the,
silly butterfly soul half swooning out Of
her He was talking in broken sentences
against the crown of bonny brown hair
and what was that lie was saying? She
steadied her Keeling brain and tried to
listen
They told me you were here, Mar
garet-and could not stay away longer
we must make it up--what is life worth
without you? And you knew was cons
ing, and put on the dear blue gown to
wait for me? Why, Margaret am not
sure I would have had the courage to
speak if l hadn't seen the blue gown.
Sweetheart-don't let's quarrel again!
1t takes too much out of a mans life."
He felt the light form begin to move,
slowly and family.
Let me go!" the girl whispered, with
her face still away from him. "I'll see
you again-after awhile. Let me go
yes-we won't quarrel any more!"
He did not let her go very readily, but
she broke away from him and ran into a
darkened room. He drew his hand
across his eyes, and perhaps it was be-
cause of the happy mist there that he
went into the house without noticing the
gray figure that trembled and wept in
the shadow of the vines.
"But why did you change your gown?"
he asked afterwards of the gray firure.
which sat on the step beside him in the
moonlight. He did not care for the gown
now, with Margaret's head on his shoul-
der; but it was worth while to ask, for
this was another of the mysteries which
made it impossible for any man to I'M
derstand woman.
''You had seen it-that was all that
was necessary" she answered, very
softly.
1t was the voice of Lindy's mother
that brought her out of her hiding place.
Come, Indy, you'll have to clean
up it cried fretfully. "I'm clean tagged
out, an want to set out at the door
awhile and cool off,"
Indy came slowly into the kitchen,
winking against the glare of the tin re-
flector She wore blue calico waist,
turned in as to the neck and rolled up as
to the sleeves; and she was very white.
Dawes lowering face lighted up as he
looked at her.
"Lindy"-he was standing close oe-
side her-"Lindy, I'll wipe the dishes for
we, SOS you can get through quick"
The little blue butterfly which had
danced and fiuttered before him for such
a brief space was gone. A wave of color
came into the white face, but she sur
rendered the cloth without word. Her
silence filled him with vague trouble.
Don't mind what said about the fine
dress, Indy" he said, with the gentle
ness of a giant who feels that he is unex-
pectedly handling small thing whose
wings are easily broken. 1T jes' made
me feel kinder-as if-you was so far
away from me-and anyhow, think We
look purifier like We air now than any
body else does with all the finery they
can put on"
The flush in her cheeks deepened and
spread.
II amt goin' to put on the fine things
any more, Dave" she said, humbly and
a little wistfully. 81 don't keer half as
much about 'em-as thought did"
And then, with swift-shy glance into
his face, she added: can it hasn't nut
me-so fur from you Dave-it's done
jes' the other way!"
"Take keer you don't break none o.
them dishes, Lindy!" called the sud-
denly aroused voice of Lindy's mother
from the back door.
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