The Irish standard., 1908-05-02

of something within, dim vision OF
the power of her own soul, that
brought tranquility and courage for
her difficult venture.
The declining sun shot a level ray
into her retreat before she realized
the hour and the call of duty. Long
before she reached the hotel, Alvin's
cheerful voice foated up in one of
his jocund songs.
Stella sighed. In few days Alvin's
bright face would be out of her life.
He had been promoted from Colfax to
the Sacramento office, and was now
awaiting his successor. Yet the sight
of him carried her thought swiftly to
the telegram from Gideon he had that
morning brought her.
The message was brief Gideon was
coming for her! He had not needed
her negative-laden letters. She had
not disclosed her engagement; she
had been afraid And there was
reason for fear. The gossip concern
ing Alfred that foated from tongue
to tongue did not escape her sensitive
with the superintendent niece; again.
that he cared nothing for her, only
for the position he might, as her hus-
band, command. Gideon must hear all
this. Stella knew it would confirm his
belief that Alfred had no love for her,
and that she must meet Gideon, tell
him, defy him. It would be battle of
wills, and Gideon would be defeated;
but at what cost? What cost to him,
to herself. to Alfred? Fear gripped
her at thought of the time when the
two men should face each other.
In the parlor she found Sally B., AL.
win and Viola in an excited, triangular
discussion, Alvin pleading, Sally B.
stern. Viola in tears.
"Oh, Miss Stella" Alvin cried ap-
pealingly as she entered, "do you think
a feller that's all straight but one leg
the Lord himself put crook in ought
to be tipped the cold shoulder for
that?"
boy! 'Tain't that" Sally B. said
sharply before Stella could speak. "If
you had home. an money, an could
give vi some place in the world"
"You bet Iii never ask you to give
her up, ma'am. till I have home for
her." Alvin broke in impetuously; "a
number one home, too!"
But, AL, that's turrible fur of. How
In thunder kin you do it?"
Sally BIS heart warmed to the
pluck Of him in spite of her deter
mination.
do it? I'll Just inch along, little
every day, sames have been doing.
I got three hundred saved already, an
on interest; and it'll grow faster all
the time. Ma, she helps lot, too. I'm
going to night school in Sacramento;
and when ask you for vi I'll be no
Greaser. can't go on my shape, but
I'll make what brains got stretch like
blazes!" His face was eloquent, but
Sally B. would not look at him.
Instead she gazed at Viola, all the
mothers pent pride shining in her
eyes. "Oh. vi" she said, after a pause
that was broken only by the buzz of
an uneasy autumn fly on the window.
1--WE staked hull mountain O. hopes
on you. l amt never thought o. you
separate from me, some way. l."
She stopped. and Viola spoke with
some spirit in spite of her sobs. But,
ma, you expect me to wear a Mrs. in
front of my name some day, don't
you? And Mrs.-Mrs. Carter" she
blushed and smiled through her tears,
though her gaze shifted to the window,
Mrs. Carters just as good as Mrs.
Bernard, amt it?''
The mother glanced furtively at Al
win, whose heart spoke naively in his
adoring eyes fixed on Viola's downcast
face. The boy had won Sally BIS ap-
probation, yet she could not relinquish
her dream. If yore brothers had a
lived, vi" she went on slowly. II
might a considered of this. But yo're
all yo' paw an mes got to bank on.
We're goin' to be rich some day, an
bernardN be name to conjure with;
an yo're all we got to do it proud"
"Oh, ma, we're always just going to
rich. 1t may be thousand years."
There was heart-break in Viola's
voice that touched Stella's sympathy.
They're SO young, Mrs. Sally; it'll
be years before they can marry, and
they may not care for each other
when the time comes. They're too
young to marry now; why not let
marriage drop out of the case till
Alvin has his home to offer, and Viola
has seen more of life? Then Alvin
can ask for her again."
Alvin peered eagerly into the older
woman's face, waiting her slow reply.
When it came the two young things
hung breathlessly on each word, their
faces growing dull with despair as
the fateful sentence fell
"Vi. yo're yo' paws child g we'll as
mine. I amt got no right to settle
this question without his havin' a
say. An you all nights we'll know it
now's later-yo' paws made his pile.
It's on the sly yet, so lock yer lips.
We're goin' to pull up stakes pretty