The Irish standard., 1906-08-25
can you forgive me? How can for
give myself?"

Father J. am brave Let us forget.
1t will be Better So"
She kissed his hand and drew it
lovingly across her cheek Then she
rose and moved toward the light. She
studied the note carefully. There was
nothing on it save Karlotf's writing
and her fathers and the red imprint
of the banks cancellation. Out of the
window and beyond she saw James
leading the horses to the watering
trough. Her face suddenly grew
crimson with shame. and as suddenly
as it came the color faded. She folded
the note and absently tucked it into the
bosom of her dress. Then. as il
struck by some strange thought, her
figure grew tense and rigid against the
blue background Of the sky. The glow
which stole over her features this time
had no shame i'll it. and her eyes shone
like the waters of sunlit seas. II must
never be; no it must never be.
I'VE shall make inquiries at the
bank" she said. And do not be down.
cast. father, the worst is over. What
mistakes you have made are forgotten.
The future looks bright to me-"
Through innocent young eyes the
future is ever bright. but as we age
we find most of the sunshine or either
side. and we stand in the shadow be-
tween. Brave heart, l glory in your
courage. God will provide for you: He
will not let my shadow fall on you.
Yours shall be the Joy Of living. mine
shall be the pain. God bless YOU! I
wonder how shall ever meet your
mothers accusing eyes?"
Father. YOU must not dwell upon
this any longer; for my sake YOU
must not. When everything is paid
there will be little left, enough till I
and my violin find something to do.
After all. the worlds applause must
be fine thing. can even now see
the criticisms in the great newspapers.
"A former young society woman. we'll
known in the fashionable circles OF
Washington. made her debut as Il con-
cert player last night. She is a stun
ming young person. "A young queen
of the diplomatic circles, here and
abroad. appeared in public as q ,iolin-
list last night. She is member of the
most exclusive sets. and society was
out to do her homage One of WASH
ington's brilliant Young horseWOmen,
and so forth. Away down AZ the bot
tom of the column. somewhere, they
will add that play the violin rather
we'll for an amateur" In all her trial.
this was the one bitter expression. and
,l>, l,n
escaped her.
Happily her father was not listening.
He was wholly absorbed in the mystery
of the Cancelled note.
She had mounted Jane and was gath
rring up the reins, while James
strapped on the sadtllc-hamper. This
done. he climbed into the saddle and
signified by touching his cap that all
was ready. So they rode forth in tho
sweet freshness of that November at
ternoon. A steady wind was blowing,
the compact white clouds sailed swift
ly across the brilliant heavens. the
leaves whispered and fluttercd, hithcr
and thither, wherever the wind listed:
! 1t was the day Of days. 1t was the last
ride. and fate owed them the compen-
sation Of beautiful afternoon.
The last ride! Warburton's mouth
dropped. Never again to ride with her!
How the thought frightened his heart!
He recalled the two wooden plates
in the hamper. Whom was she going
to meet? All, well, what mattercd it:
After to-day the abyss of eternity
would yawn between them. How he
loved her! How he adorcd the ex-
quisite profile, the warm-tinted skin,
the shining hair! +. And he had
lost her! All, that last ride!
The girl was holding her head high
because her heart was full. No more
TO ride on bright morning, with the
wind rushing past her, bringing the
odor Of the grasses, of the flowers, of
the earth to Jingle her nostrils: no
more to follow the hounds on win
tcr's day. with the pack baying beyond
the hedges, the gay, relocated riders
sweeping down the field; no more to
wander through the halls Of her moth
er's birthplace and her own! Like a
breath on mirror. oil was gone. Why?
What had she done to be flung down
ruthlessly? She. who had been brought
mp in idlencss and luxury. must turn
her hands to living! Without being
worldly, she knew the world Once
she appeared upon the stage, she would
lose caste among her kind. True. they
would tolerate her. but no longer
@culd her voice be heard or her word
have weight.
Soon she would be tossed about ON
the whirlpool and swallowed up Then
would come the haggling with mana
gers, long and tiresome Journeys,
gloomy hotels and Indifferent fare, Gu
rious people who desired to see the
onc-time fashionable belle; her por-
traits would be autographed and hung
up in shop-windows. in questionable
resorts, and the privacy so loved by
gcntlewomen gone; and perhaps there
would be insults. And she was only
on the threshold of the twenties, the
radiant. blooming twcnties!
During the long ride (for they COW
cred something like seven miles) not
word was spoken. The girl was bid
ing her time; the man had nothing to
voice. They were going through the
woods, when they came upon a clear
ing through which narrow brook loi-
tered or sailed down the incline. She
refined in and raised her crop. He
was puzzled. So far as he could see,