The Irish standard., 1906-04-28
CHAPTER lV.-CoSr,NuEp.

/ whether to scream or run.
Hi, Jack! say you old henpeckcd.
where are your
! The dining-room door slid back and
a tall, misunderstanding gentleman,
rather plain than otherwise. stood ON
the threshold.
Jane, what is all this Why. Bob.
you scalawag!"-and in moment they
were pumping hands a, great rate
The little maid leaned weakly agains,
| the balustrade.
Kit, Kit! say. Kit, come and see
who's here!" cried John.
An extraordinarily pretty little
woman. whose pallor any woman
would have understood. bu, no man
on earth, and who was dressed in Il
charming pink negligce morning.
gown, hurried into the hall.
why, it's Bob!" She flung her
arms around the prodigal and kissed
him heartily, held him away at arms
length. and Rugged and kissed him
again. I'm not sure that Mr. Robert
didn't like it,
Suddenly there was swish %,
starched skirts ON the stairs, and the
most beautiful woman in all the world
(and I am always ready to back this
statement with attendant proofs!)
rushed down and literally threw her.
self into Mr.. Roberts eager. out.
stretched arms.
| Nancy"
Bob! Bob! you wicked boy! You
almost break our hearts. Not line in
| two months!--How could ycu!- You
| might have been dead and we not know
it!"-and she cried on his shoulder.
Come now. Nancy; nonsense!
You'll start the color running out Of
this tie of minc!" But for all his Jest.
Ing tone. Mr.. Robert felt an embalrass-
ing lump wrigSle up and down in his
throat.
Had your breakfast ?" asked the
humane and practical brother.
Yep. But shouldn't mind another
cup of coffee"
| And thcreupOn he was hustled into
the dining-room and pushed into the
best chair. How the dear women
fused over him, pressed this upon him
and that: fondled and caresscd him.
just as if the bcgSar was worth all
this trouble and love and affection.
Hang it, girls. it's worth being an
outlaw 10 come to this" he cried. lie
reached over and patted Nancy on the
cheek, and pressed the young wifc'S
hand and smiled pleasantly at his
brother. Jack. you lucky pup. yon!"
1.-TWO years. m,lrmurcd Nancy;
"and We haven't had a glimpse of you
In two long years"
Only in photograph said the
homeless one, putting three Jumps
Of sugar in his coffee because he was
so happy he didn't know what he was
about
| "And you have turned %" said Kit.
counting on her fingers
THAT makes You "a, Man, Jack
laughed.
"And much care!" replied Nancy,
shaking her head dcfantly. I've a
sncaking idea that she was thinking
of me when she made this declaration
For if didn't care. why should she?
"A handsome. stunning girl like you,
Nan. ought 10 be getting married." oh
served the prodigal What's the mat
ter with all these dukes and lords and
princes. anyhow"
An embarrassed smile ran around
the table, but Mr.. Robert missed II
by several inches.
Jack threw cigar across the TIA
BILE. Now" said he. where the
! deuce did you come from?'
Indirectly from Arizona. which is
a synonym once removed for war"
Jack looked at his plate and laughed;
but Mrs. Jack wanted TO know what
Bob meant by that.
'lt's word used instead Of war,
as applied by the late Gen. Sherman"
Jack replied. And ! am surprised
that Il brOther-n-law Of yours should
So far forget himself as to hint 1t
even"
by the way. Jack" said my hero,
lighting the cigar ami blowing the
first puff toward the ceiling. his face
admirably set with nonchalance. do
you know Of a family named Anncs-
ley-Col. Anneslcy" ] knew it would
take only a certain length of time for
this question to arrive.
| "Col. Anncsley? Why, yes. lie was
In the war department until year
ago. A fine stratcgist; knows every in
and out OF the coast defenscs. and is
something of an inventor: lots Of
money, too. Tall. handsome old fell
low"
That's the man. A war volunteer"
"NO, A regular Crippled his gun
fingers in some petty Indian war, and
was transferred to the department. He
was a widower. if my recollection Of
him is correct; and had lovely
daughter"
"Ah!" There was great satisfac-
ton evident in this syllable. do you
know where the colonel is now?"
"Noi the faintest idea He lived
somewhere in Virginia. But he's been
on the travel for several years.
Robert stirred his coffee and took a
spoonful-and dropped the spoon
"Pah! must have put in a quart Of
sugar. Can you spare me another
cup?"
"Annesley?' Nancy's face bright
ened "Co]. Anneslcy? Why. know
Betty Anncsley. She was my room
mate at Smith one year. She was in
my graduating class. III show you
her picture later She was the dear