The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-04-20

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At the Top Of the Stair, Her Height
Accentuated by Her Gown Of White,
Stood Marian Devereux.
then down the steps, between the line
of guests arrested in their descent,
came dark laughing girl in the garb
of Little Red Riding Hood, amid gen.
eral applause and laughter.
Its Olivia! She won the wager!"
exclaimed the specialized gentleman,
and the girl, whose dark curls were
sheken about her face, ran up to us
and threw her arms about him and
kissed him. 1t was charming pic
ture-the figures on the stairway, the
pretty, graceful child, the eager, happy
faces all about. l was too interested
in the scene to be uncomfortable.
Then, at the top of the stair, her
height accentuated by her gown of
white, stood Marian Devereux, hest.
tating an instant, az bird pauses be-
fore taking wing. and then laughingly
running between the lines to where
Olivia faced her in mock affection.
To the charm Of the girl in the wood.
land was added now the dignity Of
beautiful womanhood. and my heart
leaped at the thought that had ever
spoken to her, that I was there be.
cause she had tainted me with the
risk of coming.
Above. on the stair landing, a deep.
toned clock began to strike midnight
and every one cried Merry Christ
nlas!" and "Olivia's wont" and there
was more hand clapping, in which
joined with good will.
Some one behind mo was explaining
what had just occurred. Olivia, the
youngest daughter of the house, had
been denied a glimpse Of the ball:
Miss Devereux had made a wager
with her host that Olivia would ap-
pear before midnight; and Olivia. de-
feating the plot against her, gained
the main hall at the stroke of ~.
Good night! Good night" called
Olivia-the real Olivia-in derision to
the company, and turned and ran back
through the applauding, laughing
throng.
The specialized gentleman was DIV
las father. and he mockingly rebuked
Marian Devereux for having encour-
aged an infraction Of parent disci-
pine. while she was INVITING him upon
the loss of his wager. Then her eyes
rested upon me for the first time. She
lifted her brows slightly. but contin-
ued talking placidly to her host. The
situation did not please me; l had not
travelled so far and barglariously en-
tered Doctor Armstrong; house in
quest of a girl with blue eyes merely
to stand by while she talked with an.
other man.
drew nearer, impatiently; and was
conscious that four other young men
in white waistcoats and gloves quite
as irreproachable as my own stood
ready to claim her the instant she was
free. did not propose to be thwarted
by the beaux of Cincinnati and I ad-
dressed my host boldly.
Il beg your pardon, Doctor" l
said with an assurance for which I
, blush to this hour.
"All right. my boy; /. too. have been
in Arcady!" he exclaimed in cheerful
apology, and she put her hand on my
arm and led her away.
HE called me my boy so 1 must be
passing muster" remarked, not dar-
ing to look at her.
He's afraid not to recognize you.
His inability to remember faces is a
town joke"
We reached a quiet corner Of the
great hall and found seat for her.
"1ou don't seem surprised to see
me.-you knew would come. should
; have come across the world for this,
for just this"
Her eyes were grave at once.
why did you come? did not think
you We're so foolish. This is also
wretched. You didn't know that Mr..
Pickering-Mr. Pickering"
She was greatly distressed and this
name came from her chokingly.
YES; what of him." laughed. "He
Is well on the way to California,-and
! without you!"
"No-you don't know-you don't un.
derstand-he's here! He abandoned
his California trip at Chicago; he tele
graphed me to expect him-here-to
night! You must go at once-at
once!". ..--..
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