The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-07


ntnty and womanliness. She had
doubtless realized the difnculties Of
my position, and she had taken into
account that her brothers absence
served as an added reason for my
silence, and SO she had met mo more
than half way and yet had remained
silent.
She had even permitted me to kiss
her hand. and then. on the hrst occa-
sion that offered, she had given me
an opportunity to say the words that
l owed to her II she would preserve
her self-respect and not consider that
l had trified with her in q most
cruel and unmanly way And still
l had remained silent, In an egotis-
teal belief that my attitude was chiv-
alrous and commenda5le when, In
fact, 1t was only Quixotic and brutal
~ unkind.
Now. she could only think that
did not love her. for surely she could
not conceive that sane man would
have acted the part did on the yer.
anda unless he regarded her almost
with Indifference
rose and paced the floor until my
head throbbed, hating myself and try.
ing to smother my emotions until the
morning came and l could go to her
and beg hor forgiveness.
As the day began to dawn 4 cold
gray light spread itself over the fields,
showing the hoar-frost on the grass
and bringing clearly into view many
distant objects which stood out sharp
~ in the crisp autumn air
glanced from my window and saw
what appeared to be two people walk
ing slowly down the hillside in the
direction OF the Bruce cottage. A
hasty scrutiny through my field
glasses confirmed my suspicion and
1t seemed that one figure. that of 4
man. carried an implement like =
spade or shovel, while the other was
evidently woman of about the wild.
ow's size and general appearance.
dressed rapidly. and, slipping out
Of the house. made my way as quick.
~ as ! could to the point where I
had seen them passing, feeling sure
that I would have no difficulty in
following their trail through the frost
covered grass.
1t was all l had. expected, and
walked rapidly up the hill, retracing
the path they had made. and, occa.
sionally leaving the trail where 1t
led too directly through the open. and
sinking along In the shadow Of the
hedges until could again take 1t up
with safety.
About half way up the incline
turned and looked down toward the
Bruce cottage. from the chimney Of
which a black column of smoke was
pouring and whose windows were
brightly lighted rs II something of
Importance was going. on within.
AS looked. and I had taken the
precaution to bring my binoculars
with me, . man emerged from the
house and had no difficulty in max.
ing him out to be jerks, the stage
driver. He was followed in a mo-
mont by Mrs. Bruce. and the two
stood for some time In earnest con-
versation, after which the man strobe
rapidly down the road and the woman
reentered the house.
It had seemed to me that the widow
and jerks were Quarreling. for, dur.
ing their talk, he had gesticulated
violently and shown every evidence Of
extreme earnestness, II not of actual
anger; but thoy must have come to
some sort Of an agreement at last,
for he waved his hand pleasantly as
he left her and she returned his SAL
utation by throwing him a kiss az
coyly as a schoolgirl
The f1rst thing the woman did after
entering the house was to extinguish
the lights. no longer necessary, as the
rays OF the sun began to touch the hill
tops, and was just lowering my glass
when l caught neeung glimpse Of
another man, darting around the cor
ner Of the building and disappearing
behind the woodpile. watched in vain
for him to show himself again, but
he did not. and finally, I turned and
followed the trail once more, max
Ing all possible haste, lest I should
lose 1t when the frost disappeared.
The foot prints led me up on the
hill and around to the side away
from the house and, At length, be-
came lost in grove Of hemlocks IN.
der which there was no tell.tale FROST
For a time It seemed that my eff.
forts were to prove of no avail, and
that might as we'll return home
but the more thought of the mat
tor the more was convinced that
these people had been out for no
good purpose, and that 1t was my
duty to learn. II possible, what mis-
chief they had been contrivinE at
this early hour and where they had
been.
In fact, I suddenly realized that I
had not taken a proper interest in
the mysterious happenings at Carney
Croft and that while 1t had seemed
quite enough to bring them to 4 stand.
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