The Irish standard., 1906-09-01
The Man on
the Box
4 BY HAROLD MacCRATH
Author Of /" The Grey Cloak, 1.-THE
Puppct Crown"
Copyright. 1905, The pobbs- Merrill Company.
CHAPTER XXVI,
. q

Va viz AeaNes WAS WITHOUT SOUND. A
spar OF sunshine. filtering through the
ragged limbs of the trees, fell aslant
her, and she stood in an aureola. AS
Tor my hero. a species of paralysis had
stricken him motionless and dumb.
1t was all so unexpected. all so sud-
den, that he had the sensation of be-
ing whirled away from reality and
bundled unceremoniously into the un-
real. She knew, and had known!
A leaf brushed his face. but he was
senseless to the touch of it. All he had
the power to do was to stare at her. i.
She knew. and had linown!
Dick stepped into the brook and be-
gan to paw the water, and the inter-
mission of speech and action came to
an end
"You-and you knew" What a
strange sound his voice had In his own
ears!
Yes. From the very beginning I
knew you to be gentleman in mas
querade: that is TO say, when saw
YOU in the police-court. The absence
of the beard confused me at first, but
presently ] recognized the gentleman
whom had noticed on board the
ship" So she had noticed him!
That night you believed me to he
your sister Nancy. But did not know
this till lately. And the night visited
her she exhibited some photographs.
Among them was portrait OF you
without a beard"
W9rhnrfnn Sto rt 4
that this might be the case had never
trickled through his thick skull! How
She must have laughed at him secretly!
She continued: Even then l was
not sure. But when Col Raleigh de-
clarea that you resembled "A former
lieutenant Of his, then I knew" She
ceased. She turned to her horse as if
to gather the courage to 20 on; but
Jane had her nose hidden in the
stream. and was oblivious of her mis-
tress' need.
He waited DULY for her to resume,
Tor he supposed that she had not vet
done.
Il have humiliated you in hundred
ways. and for this want YOU to for
give me. ! sent the butler away for
the very purpose of making you serve
in his stead. But you were so good
about it all. with never murmur of
rebellion. that ] grew ashamed Of my
part in the comedy. But now" Her
eyes closed and her body swayed: but
she clenched her hands. and the faint
ness passed away "But for you, my
poor father would have been dishon-
ored and ! should have been forced
into the arms Of man whom despise,
whenever | have humiliated you you
have returned the gift of kind deed.
You will forgive me?"
Forgive you! There is nothing
for me to forgive ON my side, much on
yours. 1t is YOU who should forgive
me. What Won have done l have de-
served His tongue was thick and
dry. How much did she know?
mo, not wholly deserved it," She
fumbled with the buttons of her waist:
her eyes were so full that she could
not see. She produced an oblong slip
Of paper.
When he saw ii breath us of ice
enveloped him. The thing she held
| out toward him was the Cancelled note.
For while he did me the honor to
believe that I had betrayed him.
II understand the kind and generous
impulse which prompted this deed. Oh,
admire it, and say to you. God bless
you! But don't you see how impos-
sible 1t Is? 1t can not be: no. no!
My father and I are proud What we
owe we shall pay. Poverty. to be ac-
cepted without plant. must be with
| out debts Of gratitude. But H. was
noble and great of you: and I knew
that you intended to run away without
ever letting any one know"
"Who told you?"
"No one. guessed It,"
And he might have denied all knowl-
edge of it!
Wont yOu-won't You let it be as
IT. is? ! have never done anything
worth while before, and this has made
me happy. Won't you let me do this?
Only you need know. am going away
on Monday. and 1t will be years be-
fore I see Washington again. No one
need ever know"
III is 1mpOSS1Dle!
"Why?"
She looked away In her minds eye
she could see this man leading a
troop through q snOw-stOrm. How the
wind roarcd! How the snow whirled
| and eddied about them. or suddenly
blotted them from sight! But on and
on. resolntcly, couragcously, hopeful
ly he led them on to safety
He was speaking, and the picture dis
| solved
Won't you let it remain Just as
It is?" he pleaded.
Her head moved negatively. and once
more she extended the note. He took
it and slowly tore it into shreds. With
it he was tearing mp the dream and
tossing it down the winds
1.-The money will be placed to your
credit at the bank on Monday. We can
not accept such gift from any one.
You would not. know. But always
shall treasure the impulse. 1t will
give me courage in the future-when
am fighting alone"
What are you going to do?"
81? am going to appear before
the public, ic,"-with assumed lightness;
II and my VIOLIN"
He struck his hands together The
|. ge?"-horrified
II must live,"-calmly.
"But servant to public caprice?
1t ought not to be! realize that
can not force you to accept my gift,