The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1908-08-15


feeling bewildered and stunned. For
seven years she had worked and wait.
ed only for this day. Now her father
had come-but the future was more
uncertain than ever Then she thought
OF her little sister. The child would be
In presently, and must not find her
crying.
Mary soon came in with a hop and
jump, hungrily inquiring for supper,
and Ellen arose and busted herself in
preparing the meal, thinking how best
to break the news of their fathers
situation to the demonstrative child,
who was busy now in the little bed
room.
A sudden sharp knocking caused her
to nervously drop a fork and stare
helplessly at the outer door. Why had
her father stopped to knock?
Come in,' she said, family.
A tall man. heavier than Callahan,
but looking much as he had appeared
seven years ago in his uniform of blue,
entered quietly. He was dressed in
military attire and wore a corporals
Startling thoughts flashed through
the young woman's terrified mind
the long weeks of delay in hearing
from the war department-her fathers
sudden appearance - this soldier,
following on his footsteps! She had
called down upon his head the very
disaster they both dreaded. The mil
itary authorities had tracked him to
her door!
She remained silent by the fire as
the soldier saluted and inquired If she
were not Miss Ellen Callahan. She
nodded, feeling denial to be useless.
But lie rose to her lips at the next
question. How could she tell the ruin
Gus truth? She nerved herself to the
equivocal answer, II don't know Just
where he is now"
WELL" answered the trooper, Il
suppose he's where you can get word
to him, and that's all l want. Tell
him he need not worry about having
killed me, If that's what keeps him in
hiding!"
Killed you!" stammered Ellen.
"Then you are"
I'm Miller, the man that was
wounded when he was arrested for de-
sorting, seven years ago. was in the
hospital for weeks, and so was another
Miller. He died of typhoid, and some
how they mixed up our names in the
report. That suited me, as l was dead
sick of the service then. So deserted
myself-bein' as was considered
dead-and loafed a few years. Then
/ enlisted again in the east, where they
didn't know my record. Now my three
years term is up again, and I'm done
with the army for sure, but want to
do good turn for your father"
The words your father" were the
only ones that struck the ears of little
Mary, as she came tripping from the
bedroom.
Father" she cried, looking with
rapture at the tall, military figure, the
ideal she had always cherished.
Father, you've come home at last!"
and she threw herself joyously upon
the stalwart soldier, clasping him
| about the waist.
Before the stolid corporal could ex.
tricate himself or make reply-before
the elder sister could frame an expla-
nation-Callahan entered abruptly and
gazed upon the embarrassed group. He
shrank back, his face blanched and his
whole frame trembled with horror and
dread.
Jim Miller!" he muttered. "Jim
Miller-or his spirit
The foam gathered on his lips, his
features worked convulsively and his
hands twitched with frightful tremors.
Then a shrek burst through his
tclenched teeth, echoed by the girls,
and he sank in limp heap upon the
floor. The shock had been too great