The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-21

ghosts after Florence came back, and
l had Bobbs send you that one last
note in faint hope that you would
go away again.
"Bobbs wrote to Annie for me, too,
telling her to talk with Mrs. Bruce and
try and persuade you to go, but she
only begged to see me and insisted on
keeping as near to me as she. could.
OF course, l could not see her, Ware,
but she used to write me every day
and leave the letters on the window
sill for Chico to get after dark.
wasn't able to answer them, Ware, for
am perfectly helpless now, you
know" and he changed his position
enough to show US two arms swathed
In bandages. "but God only knows
what comfort they were to me, and
Bobbs or his mother got a word to
her from me whenever they could"
He was painting noisily from the ef-
fort Of his long exertion, and Bobbs
made deprecatory gesture as if he
would have him stop, but Carney mo.
toned him away and began once more
in faint, disjointed words:
Il mustn't stop now, Bobbs. 1 have
more to say and my time is growing
short"
He leaned heavily against the tree
for support and paused as if summon
Ing to his aid all his energy and all his
courage and then gasped on:
BE good to Florence when she
comes to you, Ware, and-God's-
blessing-on you-both."
Suddenly, and with a muffled sob,
he lunged forward and raised his poor
distorted arms toward the window,
which his gaze had never left for an
instant. One of the nurses appeared
and raised the sash to the top, letting
the bitter wintry air rush In and fill
the death chamber.
ITS the end" moaned Carney, in a
scarcely audible tone. IT'S the end,
and yet the beginning, too. Oh! my
God, be kind-be good to me now
cannot wait-my Annie-I-am-com
ing i Ware - by =. her - side
- Ware - by - her - side - Ware
don't - forget. l = cannot -
harm - her - now Il Annie -
my precious Our Father -
who - art - Amen - my Annie"
AS we sprang to support him the
light of the lantern flashed across his
cruelty disfigured face and MacArdel
muttered in my ear:
"Leprosy-poor devil, juss as l
thought, but what he said was true,
Ware. There's no Danger to anyone
here"
We lowered him gently to the
ground and the rapidly drifting snow
received him In :ts soft embrace and
covered him over like a shroud.
Some hours later, when the house
was quiet for the night and MacArdel
had retired to his room, called Bobbs
into the dimly lighted library and said:
i:t's late, know, Bobbs, and we
are all worn out in mind and body, but
want you to tell me the rest of this
story before you 60"
THERE'S little to tell now, SIR" said
Bobbs, oravely keeping back his tears.
I'VE lived either in my mothers house
or In the old cellar with the tunnel
that leads to the river. Mrs. Bruce Is
my mother. sir, and my name is Rob.
ert Bruce, but in the old country they
used to call me "Bobs,' sir, after Lord
Roberts. you know.
Mother helped take care OF Mr..
Carney, sir, and washed his things and
the bandages he used, and when we
had to go to the cellar to stay as We
did when you came, fearin' as you
might see us at the house. Nr. jerks
would get the things for her when
we'd leave m in the path. We always
had enough to eat stored away for
such times and we could get water
from the river. but sometimes 10 haA