The Irish standard., 1907-10-05

as his remarkable powers of pleasing,
to ensnare the susceptible heart of
this young, conflding girl. While the
man had advanced no direct claim, he
had said enough to make perfectly
clear the close intimacy of their re-
lation and the existence Of definite
understanding between them. With
this recognized as fact, was he JUS
titled in endeavoring to win Nadia Gill
lis for himself? That the girl would
find continued happiness with such a
ment believe possible; that she had
been deliberately deceived regarding
his true character he felt no doubt.
That the girl was morally so far
above him as to make his very touch
q proclamation, and at the unbidden
thought of it, the soldier vowed to op-
pose such an unholy consummation.
Nor did he, even then, utterly despair
of winning, for he recalled afresh the
intimacy Of their few past meetings,
his face frightened in memory Of this
and that brief word or shy glance.
All the world loves lover, and all
the fairies guide him. AS the Off
GERS eyes glanced up from the dusty
road, he perceived just ahead the same
steep bank down which he had
plunged in his effort at capturing his
fleeing tormentor. With the sight
there came upon him the desire to loi-
ter again in the little glen where they
had first met, and dream once more
of her who had given to the shaded
nook both life and beauty. He swung
himself from the saddle, tied loose
rein to a scrub oak, and clambered up
the bank. a
With the noiseless step Of plains
man he pushed in through the laby.
rinths Of bush, only to halt petrif1ed
upon the very edge of that inner bar
rier. No Pigment Of imagination, but
the glowing reality of flesh and blood,
awaited him. She had neither seen
nor heard his approach, and he STOP
ped in perplexity. He had framed a
dozen speeches for her ears, yet now
he could do no more than stand and
gaze, his heart in his eyes. And it
was vision to enchain, to hold lips
speeches.. She was seated with I'M
studied grace on the edge of the bank,
her hands clasped about one knee, her
sweet face sobered by thought. her
eyes downcast, the long lashes plain.
ny outlined against the clear cheeks.
TO draw back unobserved was impos-
sible, even had he possessed strength
of will SUFFICIENT to make the attempt,
nor would words of easy greeting
come to his relief He could merely
worship silently as before a sacred
shrine. 1t was thus she glanced up
and saw him with startled eyes, her
hands unclasping, her cheeks rose.
cblored.
Lieut.. Brant, you here?" she ex.
claimed, speaking as if his presence
seemed unreal. What strange mir
ecles an idle thought can work."
Thoughts, I have heard" he re-
piled, coming toward her with head
uncovered, will sometimes awaken
answers through vast distances of
time and space. AS my thought was
with you may be altogether to blame
for thus arousing your own. From
the expression of your face, I sup
posed you dreaming"
She smiled, her eyes uplifted for
single instant to his own. 1T was
rather thought just merging into
dream, and there are few things in
life more sweet. know not whether
It is the common gift of all minds, but
my day.dreams are almost more to
me than my realities"
First is was moods, and now
dreams" He. seated himself comfort
ably at her feet. "You would cause
me to believe you a most impractical
person, Miss Nadia"
If that were only true, l am sure
/ should be most happy, for it. has
been my fortune so far to conjure up
only pleasure through day-dreaming
the things like and long for be-
come my very own then. But If you
mean, as l suspect, that I do not en-
10y the dirt and drudgery of life, then
my plea will have to be guilty. Back
of what you term practical some one
+: has said. there is always a dream, a
hrst conception. In that sense I
choose to be q dreamer"
and not so unwise q choice, II
your dreams only tend toward re.
suits" He sat looking into her ami
mated face, deeply puzzled by both
words and actions. II cannot help
noticing that you avoid all reference
10 my meeting with Mr.. Hampton. Is
this another sign of your Impractical
nind?"
II should say rather the opposite,
for had not even supposed 1t con.
cerned me-"
Indeed! That presents a vastly DIFF
: ferent view from the one given us an
hour since. The distinct impression
was then conveyed to both our minds
that you we're greatly distressed re-
garding the matter. Is 1t possible you
can have been acting again."
Il? Certainly mott" and she made
no attempt to hide her indignation.