The Irish standard., 1909-04-10

AAS "oASSu a paw W HUG WueH
the cities became too hot for him.
advise you, Miss Holbrook. in view Of
all that has happened. and II you have
any sense Of decency left, to keep
away from there
And suggest to you. Mr.. Donovan,
that your devotion to my aunt does
not require you to pursue my father.
You do we'll to remember that a stran.
ger thrusting himself into the affairs
Of family he does not know puts him.
self in very bad light"
Il am not asking your admiration,
Miss Holbrook.''
"You may save yourself the trou-
ble!" she flashed; and then laughed
out merrily. Let us not be SO alb
surd! We are quarreling like two
school children over an apple. It's
really pleasure to meet you in this
unconventional fashion, but We must
be amiable. Our affairs will not be
settled by words-T am sure of that. I
must beg OF you. the next time you
come forth at night. to wear your
cloak and dagger. The stage setting is
fair enough: and the players should
dress their parts becomingly. I am
already named Rosalind-at night;
Aunt Pat we will call the Duchess in
exile; and we were speaking a mo.
ment ago Of the Fool. Well, yes;
there was q FOOL
II might take the part myself, II
Gillespie were not already cast for IT,"
"(SS11our}o ~ eh ao{l
then added at once, as though memory
had prompted her: ITO be sure, there
is Gillespie"
There is certainly Gillespie. Per
haps you would liefer call him Or.
lando?" ventured.
Let me see." she pondered, bending
her head; then: 20, that's a brave
man! He writes brave verses. speaks
brave words. swears brave oaths and
breaks them bravely, quite traverse.
athwart the heart Of his lover; as a
puisny litter, that spurs his horse but
on one side. breaks his staff like q
noble goose: but all's brave that youth
mounts and folly guides"
THAT is Celia's speech, but we'll
rendered. Let us consider that You
are Rosalind. Celia. Viola and Ariel
all in one. And shall he those i'm
mortal villains Of old tragedy-first,
second and third murtherer; or, II 1t
suit you better. let me be 1ago for
honesty: Othello for great adventures:
Hamlet for gloom; Shylock for relent.
lessness, and Romeo for love.sick.
ness"
Again she bent her head; then draw
Ing little away and clasping her
hands, she quoted: "'Come. WOO me,
WOO me; for now I am in a holiday
humour and like enough to consent.
What would you say to me now, an
were your very. very Rosalind?'"
stammered moment, dimly re.
calling Orlando's reply in the play.
did not know whether she we're dar.
| ing me; ana this was certainly not tina
girls mood as We had met at ST. Aga.
tha's. My heart leaped and the blood
tingled In my finger-tips AZ memory
searched out the long.forsotten scene:
and suddenly ] threw at her tho line:
How II the kiss be denied?'"
She shrugged her shoulders.
The rehearsal has gone far enough.
Let us come back to earth again."
But this, somehow. was not 80 easy.
Far across the lake heavy train
rumbled. and its engine blew a. lonG
blast for Annandale. felt at that In.
slant the unreality Of the days events,
with their elimination in this strange
interview on the height above the
lake. Never, thought. had man par
leyed with woman on so extraordinary
a business. In the brief silence, while
the whistles echoes rang round the
shore. drew away from the bench
that had stood like barricade be.
tween US and walked toward her. I
did not believe in her; she had
Haunted her shameful trickery in my
face; and yet felt her spell upon mo
as through the dusk realized anew
her splendid height. the faint dis
closure of her noble head and felt the
glory OF her dark eyes. She did not
draw away. but stood quietly, with her
head uplifted, a light scarf caught
about her shoulders, and on her head
round sailors cap, tipped away from
her face.
You must go back; must see you
safely to ST. Agatha's," ! said.
She turned, drawing the scarf close
under her throat with quick gesture.
Is though about to go. She laughed
with more honest glee than had
known In her before, and I forgot her
dnplicity, forgot the bold game she
was playing. and the consequences to
which It must lead; my pulses bounded
whom bit OF her scarf touched my
hand az she flung loose end over her
shoulder.
MY dear Mr.. Donovan, you propose
the impossible! We are foes, you
must remember, and I cannot accept
your escort
But have guard about the house;
You are likely to get into trouble II
you try to pass through. I must ask
you to remember our pledge, that you
are not to vex Miss Pat UNNECESSARILY
! in this affair, To rouse her in the