The Irish standard., 1908-05-30

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Alvin walked abruptly away to the
open window. The beautiful palm gar.
den with its waxen-crested Gala hedge
and vine-wrapped trellises was full of
winter bloom and fragrance; but he
saw nothing. His eyes were misty.
He was looking into dun future with.
out Viola, future never before con.
templated.
Sally B., watching, saw her battle
won; and quick revulsion of feeling
set in. She admired his square, manly
shoulders. Freddy Bryan was thin,
and stopped little, and the lord was
small for an Englishman. Alvin's
plain, well-f1tting business suit had
wholesome, honest look that appealed
to her. She remembered how valiant
through half-starved boyhood to man.
hood, honorable manhood. Even his
straightness touched new chord-she
was proud of the courage that had
pioneered an operation that was the
talk of the papers. And he had done it
for vi!
Alvin felt her changed attitude, and
when he came back to her and spoke,
his voice was very gentle. MAY see
Viola before I go? It'll be my last
chance, you know"
"Oh, All" she cried out, and stopped.
Alvin was astonished at her emo.
tion, yet waited.
Almost, ambition had lost; not
quite. CAL, boy! Do you think you'd
better? Won't it be harder for you?
breath.
Alvin's face contracted. Give her
up without one more look into her
dear face? Not see for himself that it
was well with her? That she could
love-at least, be content with-the
man her mother would secure for her?
His heart beat clamorously; and he
told himself he would see her, would
see her!
Yet he took up his hat, looked calm
ly for his gloves and turned steady
eyes to where Sally B. stood, her
white-knuckled hands grasping chair
back desperately.
Tell Vi-tell Vino, don't tell her
anything" he said, with forced calm
ness. Goodbye, Sally B." He bowed
slightly and walked out of the door.
"Oh, AL Carter, you're the best man
I ever" She caught her breath and
stopped, staring after him.
Neither to the right nor to the left
did he turn his eyes as he walked
down the winding, rose-lined avenue
to the iron gates. Life seemed at an
end!
"Al! AL Carter!" screamed a shrill
voice behind him. Through the gates
Sally B. flew, her hair disordered, her
full draperies bellying to the wind like
pirate sails, her Grape ruff1es dragging
out behind her. cal, come back!" she
: cried breathlessly, catching him by the
arm, hurrying him through the iron
gates again, through the rose-lined
f! avenue to the house. "Come back an
| see vi! Gosh durn 1t, Al! throw
up LIc 6dllO. WAdC uOCo q
| old Greaser like me want Of a big bug
| for a son-in.law? You're good enough,
right smart better'n l deserve; an
! good enough for vi, too. Go long in
the music room there, an find vi. Tell
: her If she's said Yes to Reg Lawrence
f; or to Freddy Bryan, or to any other
feller, I'll say NO to him! Co."
She dragged him into the hall,
pushed him toward the music room;
and, sobbing wildly, ran up the sound.
! less stairs
Alvin stood still, dazed, half con-
scious of ripping, tearing ruffles on the
stair, when little figure sprang for.
ward to meet him.
"Oh, Alvin" she cried in quick
rapture, then halted questioningly.
viola, your mother has accepted
me for you," he said softly, and took
her in his arms. And long years Of
misery were cut from the lovers cal.
endar.