The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-21
CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Entrance of Chico.

| CHAPTER XVI.
Tho Entrance of Chico.
| I dashed the painting beast until
| great welts stood out on her sides and
her hide was lathered with foam. while
we dashed along in the binding storm
and finally galloped through the gate
way and up the winding road toward
the house. The snow was drifting
heavily and MacArdel leaned over the
side Of the sleigh and held the lantern
close to the ground so that could see
such little traces of the road as re-
manned or we would have been ditched
dozen times in our mad race to the
dying girl.
Suddenly, as we neared the house,
and at place where the drifts were
deeper and the exhausted horse strug-
gled heavily in her effort to make her
way on, man sprang out of the sleet
and, grasping the animal by the head,
threw her backward with almost SUI
perhuman strength and brought us to
standstill.
What do you meant" I shouted,
raising the whip high over my head.
Let us go on or I'll brain you!"
Don't strike, Mr. Ware!" he gasped,
Its Bobbs, sir! You remember
Bobbs!"
Let us pass, Bobbs!" exclaimed,
angrily, losing my establishment in my
anxiety to reach the house. "1ll see
you again, Bobbs! It's the doctor,
here, for Miss Weston!"
II know, SIR" he painted, land it's
the doctor I want! She's gone, sir,
and I'm afraid he's going, too. Come
with me, for Gods sake!" ~,
do you mean she's dead, Bobbs?"
I cried, as a great lump rose in my
throat.
Eyes, oh, yes!" he almost screamed
The doctor can't do her no good!
She died some half hour ago, and he's
dying, too, 1 tell you! Have you no
heart, sir? Oh, bring the doctor to
him, in Gods nanne!"
Can we driver" l asked, suddenly,
realizing the fellows meaning and ap.
preciating the uselessness of our 60
ing on to the house.
NO" he replied, "but It's only a
step, sir. I'll show you the way. Oh,
l thought you would never come, sir!"
We sprang out and, giving Bobbs
the lantern, followed him through the
snow to the side of the house on
which Miss Weston's windows opened.
"He doesn't know she's gone yet"
said Bobbs, as he trudged along, light
ing our way as best he could. But he
knows it must be soon, and he's been
waiting out here in the storm for over
six hours"
We came to a tree, partly sheltered
by some shrubbery around it, and
there, leaning against its trunk was
poor John Carney, tottering feebly for
support and gazing fixedly at the win
loved one.
Its Mr.. Carney, sir" explained
Bobbs, choking down sob. You
might not know him, sir, he's changed
so in the year and it's long bit since
you saw him last"
him and we stood there, in expecta-
ton and MacArdel with an air of pro-
fessional sc, utiny. Carney spoke, but
without turning his head"
II know you, Ware" ae said slowly
and painfully, raising his voice feebly
to make it heard above the fury of the
storm. you have been good to Flor
ence and so to me-and-I thank you.
l can't say more than that, Ware, but
my thanks are heartfelt"
He paused and seemed to choke for
an instant before he resumed:
you must pardon me, Ware, for all
the trouble I've made you and for the
worry that Florence has had to suffer,
but was too sure Of myself when I
thought l could brighten you away
with the ghosts that Bobbs and man.
ufactured and the letters that l had
him write you. No one knew we were
here but Bobbs' good mother, and
she's been more than mother to me,
Ware, You must never let her want
for anything as long as she lives. She
and Bobbs must be we'll provided for
when I'm gone, Ware" 4,
He stopped again and gasped heav.
lily for breath, but soon he recovered
| himself and went on, though more
feebly and with greater effort than be.
fore:.
81 know Twas foolish to do this,
Ware, but at first 1 fancied l could
stay here and keep out Of sight of the
authorities and then. when needed
exercise, we thought of the ghosts as
a means ofzkeepfng people away and
giving me more freedom"
J He had not taken 81 his eyes from the