The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-06

man, come into that or any other
neighboring shop. She explained that
the lad was her granddaughter and was
lost (she eschewed the harsher word,
for she had no desire to set afloat a
rumor which might bring the police
upon her). She named a sum large
enough to kindle sudden CLEAN in
the boys eyes, as the reward awaiting
the lucky man who might put her on
the right track. But her words struck
no responsive spark from the China
mans yelled gaze. In perfect English
and very soft voice he avowed ig-
norance and sympathy with the same
breath.
And all the while she could feel his
glance slant down at the jade orna.
ment.
"Send the boy to look in the shop
next door," said she. AS she spoke
she raised the charm between her
thumb and her first two fingers, look
ing at him directly. Her tone was
that Of command, not request. He
frowned very slightly. making an al
most imperceptible gesture, to which
she returned a single Chinese phrase.
spoken so low that had he not ex-
pected the words they had been indis-
tfnguishable to his ear. Instantly he
addressed the boy rapidly in their own
language. The boy went out. The
master Of the shop returned to Mrs.
Winter. His manner had utterly
changed; the bridesmaids perfunctory
difference was displaced by an almost
eager humility of bearing. He would
have her sit-there were few cane.
seated American arm chairs, in gro
tesque contrast to all their accom-.
paniments-he Frustrated himself be-
fore her; he put himself at her SER
vice; still to her trained eye there was
a corner Of his mind where incredulity
wrestled with stronger emotion.
do not fear" she said, gently. "It
is really my own, and he gave it to me
himself, almost 80 years ago. He
was hardly 30 years old himself then.
You see, my husband had been so for
tunate as to do him a kindness. 1t
was he who had it first. When he
died it came to me. and now for the
second time in my life I am using it.
knew you belonged. I saw the sign.
Will you help me find my boy?"
did your ladyship know he is he's.
Ia San Flansico?"
II she had not already dissipated
any doubt in his mind, her evident re-
lief blew the last shred away now.
Haven't you such a thing as tele-
phone somewhere" cried Rebecca
Winter. thine is precious. Can't
you speak to him-have him come
here?"
1t appeared that there was q tele-
phone, and in moment she was put
into communication by the shopkeep-
,er. He stood in an attitude of deep
respect while she talked. He heard
with unsmiling attention her first
Chinese words; he listened as she re-
turned to English, speaking very
quietly, but with controlled earnest
ness, explaining that she was Archi-
bald Winters widow, giving dates and
places, in nowise abiding to the
service which had won the charm
about her neck. Yet as he listened,
tnsensibly the Chinaman grew certain
that she had spoken the truth. Pres
emily she turned to him. "He wishes
to speak to you," she said, and went
back to the shop. She sighed as one
signs from whose heart great burden
rolls. ITO find him here, and still
grateful" she was thinking. What
wonderful good fortune!"
She sat down, and her face grew
dreamy. She was no longer thinking
of Archie. Her vision was on another
face, another scene, a time of peril.
when almost against her reason her
instructive woman's recoil of pity for
a fellow-creature in danger of unthink-
able torture had been so intense that
she had more than acquiesced in her
husbands plan Of risking both their
lives to save him; she had impelled
him to It; she had overcome his terror
Of the risks on her account 1T is
only death we have to fear, at worst"
she had argued. eve have the means
to escape in second, both of us, from
anything else; and if we run away and
leave this poor wretch, who hasn't
done anything but love his country,
Just as we love ours, and be too civil
liked for his trifling, ornery, pusillanf-
NOUS country people to understand, to
get slashed to pieces by their horrible
Observation-Disclosures they call it-Arch-
jbald Winter, don't you reckon we
shall have nightmares az long a. We
1ive?"
Thirty years ago-yet 1t seemed
like yesterday. Distinctly she could
hear her husbands voice: it had not
come back to her with such reality for
years; it was more real than the cries
of the street outside; and her heart
was beating faster for his words:
Becky, there never was woman like
you! You could make dead man hop
up and fight, bless you!"
Your ladyship"-it was the shop
keeper back again; he had lived in
England, and he offered the most re-
spectful western title of his knOwl.