The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-05-07

promise me to destroy the infamous
thing-and at once"
Constantine gulped. II promise"
she acquiesced, receiving it tremulous-
ly, 81 will burn it as socn as get to
my room"
"And the confession-how about
that?" He spoke dryly.
you'll not be angry, dear?"
Il don't exactly see how I'm to avoid
that"
"But-but it isn't what you imagine
at all, Dick. Not bit. OF course
can understand what you think and
why you think it-but you mustn't-oh.
you mustn't. Let me explain" She
paused, all out of breath and chung to
him in an agony of entreaty.
He re, arded her gravely by the
lights that glimmered softly from the
grounds beyond. Certainly; am
anxious for an explanation" he re-
| piled, stiffly. Undoubtedly, 1 should
be more than relieved to have this
mystery cleared up
Constantine caught her breath in a
little choking way, and broke directly
into the subject II found 1.-THE pa
per-" she said, speaking rapidly, ION
the front veranda, after everybody had
gone-this morning. 1 thought was
sure that it was meant, had been meant
for you and that--and that-it was
written by that detestable little cat,
Cary Fleming. Oh, hate her and I'm
glad, glad, glad she's going away!"
"And so-you stopped to petty jeal-
ousy-to petty suspicion-to a petty
intention to eavesdrop-to-" He
| shrugged and laughed in a cutting lit
| tie fashion that sent the blood racing
to Constantina's face and lips. She
shivered piteously in the cool wind
that had suddenly sprung up.
ooh, Dick" she cried. remorsefully,
cause loved you so, and was mad
half-crazed to think She burst into
nervous sobbng.
Couldn't you forgive me?" she
asked after awhile, looking up at him
| through tear-bright eyes.
"Why, as to that, suppose so.
am only too glad to be assured that it
is nothing worse. You can see for
yourself that might perfectly we'll
provision I wish to make, however.
This subject must not again be all
luded to between us. 1t must never
be known to anyone that you have mis-
trusted me so grossly. You must never
doubt me again, Constantine. Do you
agree?"
"To everything" she answered in a
low voice. Dear, dearest. I've been a
foolish, unforgivable little fool" she
hurried on, "but do want you to say
just once that you forgive me-"
well, then, forgive you," he re-
cited with an indulgent little laugh.
Constantine lifted her lips to his.
suddenly; he bent suddenly and kissed
them.
They passed silently through the low
iron gate, up the wide gravel path and
onto the veranda where the rest were
assembled for the evenings pastimas.
She did not stop longer than min
ute, but hurried up the broad length OF
stairs and gained the shelter of her
own room. She went first to the long
cheval mirror and stood for some time
regarding herself critically. Her eyes
were very, very gray and eloquently
bright, and her cheeks were beautiful
ly pink and fresh. The pile Of hair thai
tumbled picturesquely over her fore
head, stood somewhat awry, but none
the less golden and splendid. Her hear
was beating unanimously under the
fluff of lace above it; below, the cloud.
like rulIles of her gown hung snagged
and dripping with dew.
; She smiled; then laughed. 1t was q
curiously happy little laugh, full of re-
lief and gladness and love. Suddenly
; she thought of the paper She mus
burn it Immediately; she had promised
Dick that she would do so. She walked
over to the open fireplace A blue ant
red mass Of Goals huddled sleepily il
the CRATE.
Constantine opened her palm slowly
and eyed the crumpled scrap of paper
l with deprecative eyes. 81 wonder
!, she unused, unfolding it mechanically
81 wonder who could have written it
anyway-and 10 whom it was written
No one else came-there. Perhaps
can trace q resemblance" Shit
smoothed out the creases with careful
fingers and read
! Impossible for me to get to ,h'
l branch before $50. Wait for me.
! &C.
An instant her lashes nickered III,
:. paper slipped from her nerveless fin
/; gers and lay unheeded on the floor
Minutes passed. Presently, she stopped
9 quite calmly, and picked it up and lait
4 it on the Goals. She watched it cur
G and blacken and sift to ashes. Their
: she turned away and went downstar
[ to reiOin her guests