The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-08

was also the secret OF the cipher tele-
grams.
Miss Carteret said little-said moth
Ing. indeed, that an anxious kinsman
lover could lay hold of. But when
the secret was hers she donned coat
and headgear and went out on this
square rallied platform. whittier the
Reverend Billy dared not follow her.
But another member Of the Rose
mary group had more courage--or
fewer scruples. When Miss Carteret
let herself out Of the rear door,
Jastrow disappeared in the opposite
direction. passing through the for
ward vestibule and dropping catlike
from the step to inch his way silent
ly over the treacherous snow-crust to
a convenient spying place at the other
end of the car
Unfortunately for the spying pur.
pose. the shades were drawn behind
the two great windows and the glass
door. but the starlight sufficed to show
the watcher shadowy Miss Virginia
standing motionless on the side which
gave her an outlook down the canyon.
leaning out, 1t might be, to anticipate
construction camp below.
The secretary. shivering in the
knifelike wind slipping down from
the bald peaks. had not long to wait.
by the time his eyes were fitted to
the darkness he heard man coming
UP the track, the snow crunching
frostily under his steady stride,
Jastrow ducked under the platform
and gained a view point on the othSr
side Of the car. The crunching foot
falls had ceased, and man was
swinging himself up to the forward
step of the Rosemary. At the instant
voice just above the spy's head
called softly: "Mr. Winton!" and the
newcomer dropped back into the snow
and came tramping to the rear.
1t was an awkward moment for
Jastrow: but he made shift to dodge
again, and so to be out of the way
when the engineer drew himself up
and climbed the hand-rail to stand be-
side his summoner.
The secretary saw him take her
hand and heard her exclamation, half
Indignant, wholly reproachful:
You had my note. told you not
to GOMEZ"
$50 you did, and yet you were ex-
pecting me-" he asserted. He was still
holding her hand, and she could not
Or did not-withdraw 1t.
WAS I, indeed" There was a
touch of tho old-time raillery in the
words, but it was gone when she
added: "Oh, why will you keep on
coming and coming when you know
so we'll what 1t means to you and
your work?"
81 think you know the answer to
that better than anyone" he re.
Joined, his voice matching hers for
earnestness. "It is because i love
you: because I could not stay away
if I should try. Forgive me, dear;
! did not mean to speak SO soon. But
you said in your note that you would
be leaving Argentine Immediately
that should not see you again; so
I had to come. Won't you give me a
word. Virginia?-a waiting word, IL
it must be that?"
Jastrow held his breath, hope dying
within him and sullen ferocity crouch
ing for the spring if her answer
should sic it on. But when she spoke
the secretarys anger cooled and he
breathed again.
"No; a thousand times, No." she
burst out passionately; and Winton
staggered as if the suddenly freed
hand had dealt him blow.
CHAPTER x.
For little time after virginia's
passionate rejection Of him Wi1r4nn
stood abashed and COMPOUNDED.
Weighed in the balances of the after.
thought, his sudden and unpremedi-
tated declaration could plead little ex-
cuse in encouragement. And yet she
had been exceedingly kind to him.
II have no right to expect better
answer" he said, finally, when he
could trust himself to speak. But
am like other men; I should like to
know why"
"You can ask that?' she retorted:
'You say you have no right. What
have you done to expect a better an
swer?" a.
He shrugged. Nothing. suppose.
But you knew that before"
II only know what you have shown
me during the past three weeks, and
it has proved that you are what Mr..
Adams said you were-though he was
only jesting."
And that ie?''
"A faineant. a dilettante: man
with all the God-given ability to do
RS he will and to succeed. and yet who
will not take the trouble to perse-
we're"
Winton smiled, grim little smile.
you are not quite like any other
woman I have ever known.not like
any other in the world. believe.
Your sisters. most Of them, would take
II as the sincerest homage that a man
should neglect his work for his love.
Do YOU care so much for succesa