The Irish standard., 1905-07-15

But she was angry With him, too. C
tually the man had said no word ct n
corning Gertrude; he had not even
seemed surprised that she should he
taking Gertrude's place.
Il want to speak to you concerning
Gertrude" she said.
"Yes?" said the man. coolly. Which
Gertrude? Gertrude who?"
Gertrude Ellerton, of course"
snapped the enraged Constance. Il
want to know If you think it right for
her to elope?"
Good heavens. MOI" said Gertrudes
fiance, very decidedly.
: "Then," demanded Constance, hotly,
will you kindly explain why you're
helping her to do it?'
I'm not" denied the man promptly.
NO." agreed Constance, scornfully.
Gust at this moment you're not. But
It's no fault of yours nor hers. either"
The man at her side calculated some-
thing that might easily have been in
terpreted as expressive of any one of the
half dozen different emotions
"My dear young lady, would you
mind telling me just who you are?"
"Pm Constance Farrar." said the own-
er of that name, in the tone of one issu-
ing challenge, land I'm here to pre-
vent your elopement with Gertrude"
The effect of her words was not pre-
cisely what Constance had anticipated.
The gentleman at hex side. after heroic
but Intellectual struggle abandoned him.
self to uncomfortable mirth. Constance
glared at him. She was unable to detect
any humor in the situation, and she
said so.
"You don't see the joke now, of
course" he said. But you're going to.
I'm not Raymond Fenton, as you seem
to imagine. I'm Albert Worthington,
and I'm here to prevent your elopement
with Fenton."
There was moment of astonished ST.
lence on Constance's part, then she gig
gled nervously. Good gracious" She
said, ''who would have dreamed of such
thing?"
"It Is rather peculiar coincidence
agreed Worthington. that the spirit
should have moved us both to go into
| the rescue business at precisely the same
| time and in exactly the same manner.
BY the way. would you mind telling mo
how you got here in Miss Ellerton's 8
| place?"
II set her clock back an hour" Ger
trude confessed.
Coincidence No. g" said Albert
| Worthington. cheerfully. 81 juggled with
Fenton's watch to precisely that en-
! tent.
I'm most awfully glad" Worthing-
, ton went on. that it wasn't you Fenton
had planned to elope with"
Constance blushed again. She felt
that she ought to be angry. but she
wasn't.
81 say, Miss Farrar," proposed Worth
ington, lets go and see them off. First
they'll 60 to hunt up clergyman, then
| they'll show up down at the station. We
couldn't miss them even though we
| tried"
| It is really astonishing how we'll &C.
quainted it Is possible for two people tc
become in very short time. When
they left their carriage at the sta
ton Worthington drew Constance
hand through his arm with manner
that was distinctly proprietary. And il
was evident that Constance in no way
| resented the proDrietOrship.
"We're forgetting" said Worthing
and miss their train into the bargain.
suggest that we reconnoiter bit before
telling them"
| Constance assented, and from behind
a sheltering post they beheld the newl.
| welded ones. They were seated side by
side, oblivious of time or place.
'"The great moon-struck idiots"
whispered Worthington. II don't be-
lieve they even know they've missed
their train.'
But Constance, with shining eyes
whispered: Pm SO glad we didn't stol
them"
eyes," Worthington answered. But
I'm more than glad-I'm thankful that
we both tackled the rescue business
Otherwise" His tone and eye were
| eloquent.
He gave Constance's arm quick
light pressure. "With your permission, >
he said, I'm coming to call tomorrow
| and the day after, and all the other days
| too"
The permission was not withheld
| Denver News.
| TIM DI@L AMIN nr@H1Ecc