The Irish standard., 1908-06-13

faint?"
"Faint?" he secuted. Indeed, no.
But where are you going? Don't
leave me, Stella!" he called little
wildly as she stepped back pace.
Perplexities, embarrassments, were
forgotten. In this solemn moment of
tragedy they resumed their old rela-
tions, unquestioning.
'Ill be back in minute. Here!
You may keep this for met" She
tossed him her hat. "a hat is pretty
sure anchor for woman, isn't it?"
she said, smiling up at him, and was
out of sight around the end of the
train.
She could not help the gayety in her
voice. The world was alive once
more. Life was beautiful in spite of
the grewsome sights in the car be-
yond. Since she could do nothing for
them she would not think of them.
Alfred was here; hurt, yes, but not
unto death, not even to great pain.
For one little moment she would self
ishly hug her Joy.
Down in little swale, Just before
they had halted, she had noticed the
bunch grass growing long and rank.
She flew at it, tore it up, handful by
handful, till she had high pile, which
she gathered in her arms and carried
to the car. Pitching it in, she was of
again, needless of Alfred's protest.
Three times she made the short jour
ney, pausing at the door after the
third load to catch her breath.
Aren't you coming in this time?
You must let me help you." he said.
partly rising, but falling back.
"No, no! Don't move! You aren't
able to; and if you do won't comet"
she replied emphatically, though her
face was shining. "Turn your head
away, and don't look till I say
'Here!'"
II can't turn away from you, stel-
la!" he said whimsically, yet tender
ly; and her eyes dropped. Still, she
did not move.
ooh, come, dearest, won't you?
Don't wait so long. I'll-I'll turn
MY true love sent me a letter to turn
back my head Did you ever play
Green Gravel when you were little
tad? My head Is turned back"
81 Esther never knew how she man
aged the climb through the great,
gaping door, yards above the sloping
ground; still, she was there, standing
before him.
He spoke no word, but gazed up into
her tender, bending face. Light
speech that had bridged the first tense
moments was impossible now. Pain,
misunderstanding, pride. prudence,
even the years, fled. She loved him,
loved him! Nothing else counted.
Lean down. Stella. sweetheart"
ne whispered at last, his eyes draw.
ing her with his words.
She knelt beside him. The long
separation melted into the land of the
unremembered.
The engine whistle startled them
shortly. and brakeman came with
blanket for Alfred, his coat, and
Esther's bags and cloak.
"Will the fireman live?" Alfred
asked, while Esther helped him into
his coat.
I'VE think so, but can't tell surely,
Of course. Poor fellow! He's con.
scious now" The sympathy in the
mans tones brought Esther's tears.
Gould l do anything? Some"
she began haltingly.
"I'm sure can," Alfred exclaimed,
half rising again.
The brakeman waved him back.
"Miss Anthony, don't let him! He had
q pretty good shaking up himself;
but that's nothing to what he did. No
one knows how he ever pried that
wheel off from poor Dooly's leg; but
he did, and held it free till we came,
the sun broiling him like beefsteak,
and Dooly begging all the time to be
put out of his misery. That's enough
for one day. You keep him right
here"
Alfred tried vainly to stop the story.
The brakeman finished, prompted by
Esther's eager, appreciative face. Yet
he left them shortly, and the train
started. Then Esther turned toward
the cabbages.
what in the world" Alfred began.
I'm captain now," she interrupted.
I'm going to make you comfortable
before the last shred of daylight goes"
1T won't be dark; there's a moon"
Much light four-days-old moon
will give!" she scoffed.
But I'm comfortable now, If you
will only come and sit beside me-"
Needless of his importuning. she
continued piling the cabbages away
till one forward corner was bare.
whats that for?"
"You must sleep; and it will be Bit
ter cold. This is"
"sleep! Sleep tonight, with you
here? Never!"
She smiled at him, yet persisted,
throwing the soft grass in the corner.
smoothing it carefully. Come. Let
me help you over here. 1t Is too cold
there hv tho doopo