The Irish standard., 1905-12-09

arst. every eye in the church was
upon them and her face was very red.
Full well she knew what all were
thinking and what tempest of gos-
sip would follow. 1t did not occur to
Martin. however, until service was
over, and rs he opened the hymn book,
found the place and stood up, he was
quite proud of himself. But on the
way home species OF frost seemed
to fall upon Angie and her Won't
you como in?" when the gate was
reached, was SO chilly he came near
refusing il. The old custom had re-
CURED to him by this time, however,
and he felt he owed her an apology.
But it must be delayed, for Aunt
Comfort and Hannah sat upon the
porch, and for an hour chatted of
commonplace and the evening. which
was one worth talking about, for the
moons full light glowcd in the naples
and fell chrckered through the lat
ticed, vine-hid porch where they sat.
the syringas in the ,l0cryard mingled
their odor with the new 1nown mend
oWs, and the low murmur of the Mizzy
fails whispered in the balmy air-an
evening when Cupid should be abroad
But Angie was decidedly out of har-
mony with it. She would not have
gone to church had she dreamed that
Martin would have intruded his COM
pany upon her. She could not refuse
1t without affront, and thus caught,
ho6 nm tn, al
for all eyes and target later for all
tongues, and l:'!s, in the face of her
determined effort, so far to avoid his
attentions. Something of this came to
him by degrees. however. and when
they were left alone together his first
words were humble.
Il owe you an apology. ANGIE" he
said, quite meekly. land realize I've
put my foot in it, tonight; l didn't
until l saw that we were stared at,
and I hope that you will pardon my
blunder."
ooh, it was nothing" responded
Angie. quietly. "asd no harm has been
DONE" 1t was the least she could
say.
I've been away so many years." he
continued, "1've forgotten Greenvale's
social laws, and how they will gossip
here. won't make another such
blunder, ! assure you" Then, as she
made no further response to this, per-
force he had to speak of something
and launched into a recital of the
incidents of his recent trip with DIR.
Sol. 1t was ancient history to her,
but she listened and commented with
simulated interest 1t was forced, as
Martin soon felt, and gradual sense
of his own failure to interest her grew
upon him. Beyond that her chilly re-
ception of him upon all occasions,
added to the changes he had found in
his old haunts, now rendered him
gloomy. He had tried his best to be
agreeable, he had spoken all the
pleasant words he could, pertinent to
the occasion: he had shown his de-
sire to pay her attention. and it all
availed not. His return had so far
been disappointment in all respects,
and he began to wish that he had kept
away from Greenvalc
"Did you ever read the story of
Rip Van Wrinkle, Angie" he asked at
last, land how the old fellow, after
sleeping 90 years, returned to his
village to find himself dead to all?
never before realized how he felt, but
tonight do. I've been here less than
q week, but l have come to realize
How soon we are forgot as Rim said"
1t was not wise speech, and In
view Of the manner in which he had
turned his back upon Angie years be-
fore, it was an ungrateful one. It
st,sng her to the quick; and yet he was
her guest and she forbore to reply
sharply
1--WE are all in the same position"
she answered antlYA "and out Of