The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-07-28
James" said Miss Annesley, go
and wash your face at once"
"Vec MiSS'

scented his back and was leading tho
horse to the stables.
Nancy would never tell me the SUBJ
stance Of her conversation with Miss
Annesley that afternoon. but l am
conceited enough to believe that a
certain absent gentleman was the main
topic. When she left. it was William
who led out the horse. He explained
that James was still engaged with soap
and water and pumice-stone. Miss
Annesley's laugh rang out heartily,
and Nancy could not help Joining her.
and have YOU heard from that
younger brother of yours?" Betty
asked. as her friend settled herself in
the saddle
Not line. Betty. not line: and
l had set my heart on your meeting
him. do not know where he Is. or
when he will be back"
Perhaps he is in quest of adven-
tures.'
"He is in Canada. hunting caribou"
"You don't tell mel"
"What a handsome girl you are. Bet
ty!"--admiringly.
What handsome girl you are,
Nancy" mimicked the girl on the va
randa. IF Your brother is only half
as handsome. | do not know whatever
, will become OF this heart of mine when
we finally meet" She smiled and drol-
ly placed her hands on her heart.
Don't look so disappointed, Nan: per-
haps we may meet. I have an idea
that he will prove interesting and en-
pertaining: and she laughed again.
Whoa. Dandy! VIVA, are YOU laugh
ing att" demanded Nancy.
II was thinking of James aud his
soap. water and pnmire-slone. That
was all. dear Saturday afternoon,
then. we shall ride to the club and
have tea. Good-by. and remember me
to the baby"
"Good-by! and Nancy cantered
away
What a blssful thing the lack OF
prescicncc is, sometimes!
When James had srraped the SCOT
from his face and neck and hands
and had sudScd il from his hair. James
observed. with some concern that
His fierce run against he wind the day
before had given him a cold. SO
James hunted for the veterinarian
where do ynu keep your hooks
here?' he asked William Pirates
got Il cold.
''In tho house library, You just 20
in and got it. We always do tina, at
home. Nou'll find il ON the lower
shelf. to the right as YOU enter tho
door"
II was half after four when James
having taken IL final look Il, his hands
and nails. proceeded to follow Will
lam's Instructions. lie found no one
about Outside the Kitchen the lower
part of the house was deserted, TO
reach The library he had to pass
through the ,n,sir-room.
The first Thing that caught his at
tcntion was a movable drawing board
an which lay an mncompleted drawing.
Al one side Il glass into which were
thrust numerous pens aud brushes.
Near this lay small ball of rrnmpled
rambric, such as women insist upon
carrying in their strcet-car purses. Il
delicate, dainty. useless thing. SO she
drew pictures too. he Thought Was
there anything this beautiful creature
could not do? Everything seemed
TO suggest her presence. IN indefn-
able feminine perfume still fingered ON
the air. speaking clouuently of her
1 Curiosity compelled him to step
forward and examine her work. He
approached with all The stealth of a
gentlcmanly burglar. He expected to
see some trees and hills and mayhap
n brook, or some COWS standing in IA
stream or some children picking
DAISIES. lie had a sister and was rea-
sonably familiar with the kind of SUBJ
jcrts chosen by The lady-anateur
= fertilization plan!
He bent close to H. Here was ,he
sea, here was the land. here the num-
bcr of soldiers cannon. rounds of am
munitiOn, resources in the matter OF
procuring aid. the Telegraph. the rail-
ways, everything was here on this pale,
waxrn cloth everything hnt a name.
lie stared al il. hcwi,ler"tl. He couldn't
understand what Il plan Of ;his sort
was doing outside the war department.
Instantly he became a soldier: he
forgot that he was maSqut raiing as a
groom: he forgot everything but this
mute thing staring mp into his face.
Underneath. on IA little shelf. he saw
Il stack of worn envelopes lie looked
at them. ito3gh drafts of plans.
Governors Island, Fortress Monroe!
What did it mean? What could it
mean? lie searched and found
plans. plans. plans of harbors,
plans Of coast dcfcnscS. plans OF
ships building. plans of full naval
and military strength: everything,
everything. lie Strengthened. How
his breath panied him. And
all lhis was he handiwOrE of
the woman he loved! Good God, what
was going on in this house? What
right had such things as these to he in
a private home? For what purpose
had they been drawn? So accurately
reproduced? For what purpose?
Oh whatever the purpose was. she
was innocent; upon this conviction he
would willingly stake his soul. In
nocent. innocent. licked he clock
over the manlel. Yes. she was inno-
cent. Else how could She laugh in
| that light hearted fashion? How could
4 I,t, I,,.t.r