The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-04-17

mo, my dear Miss HolbrOOk, that that
is not so easy of explanation, even to
my poor wits"
"That was without purpose; really
1t was! I was restless and weary from
SO much confinement; you can't know
how dreary these late years have been
for us-for me-and I wished just
once to be free. I went for a long
walk into the country. And If you
saw me, II you watched me-
1 gazed at her blankly. The thing
could not have been better done on
the stage; but Miss Pat was walking
toward US, and I put an end to the
talk.
II came upon him by accident
had no idea he was here" she per-
sisted.
'You are not growing tired Of us"
began Miss Pat, with her brave, beau
tiful smile; you are not anxious to be
rid of u.s."
II certainly am not" 1 replied. II
can't tell you how glad am that you
have decided to remain here. I am
quite sure that with little patience
we shall wear out the besiegers. Our
position here has, you may say, the
strength Of It's weakness. I think the
policy Of the enemy is to harass you
by guerrilla methods-to annoy you
and frighten you into submission"
Eyes; I believe you are right" she
said slowly. Helen had walked on,
and loitered beside Miss Pat.
II hope you have had no misgfvings,
Miss Pat, since our talk yesterday"
"None whatever" she replied, quick
ly. Il am quite persuaded in my own
mind that I should have been better
of II | had made stand long ago.
don't believe cowardice ever pays, do
you?"
She smiled up at me in her quick.
bright way, and was more than ever
her slave.
miss Holbrook, you are the bravest
woman in the world! I believe you are
right. think should be equal to ten
thousand men with your spirit to put
heart into me-"
Don't be foolish" she said, laugh
ing. But to show you that ! am not
really afraid, suppose you offer to take
US for a drive this evening. think it
would be we'll for me to appear today,
just to show the enemy that we are
not driven to cover by our little ad-
venture in the launch yesterday i
Certainly! Shall we carry out
riders and a rear guard?" q
HNof hit NJ %h}p1~ xr,o ,,.o.. -
able to shame my brother out of his
evil Intentions by our defenselessness."
We waited for Helen to reioin us,
and the drive was planned for five.
Promptly on the hour, after day of
activity on my part in cruising the
lake, looking for signs of the enemy,
we set forth in an open trap, and
plunged into country roads that trav-
ersed territory new to all Of us. car
ried Lima along, and when, after a
few miles, Helen asked to take the
reins. I changed seats with her, and
gave myself up to talk with Miss Pat.
The girls mood was grave, and she
wished to drive, I fancied, as an ex-
cuse for silence. The land rolled grad
ually away into the south and west,
and we halted, in an hour or SO, far
from the lake, on q wooded eminence
that commanded long sweep in every
direction, and drew into the roadside.
Lima opened gate that admitted us
to superb maple grove, and in few
minutes we were having tea from the
hamper in the cheeriest mood in the
world. The sun was contriving new
marve1s in the west, and the wood
that dipped lakeward beneath us gave
an illusion of thick tapestry to the
eye.
1--WE could almost walk to the lake
over the trees said Miss Pat. TITS
charming picture" ..
Then, as we all turned to the lake,
seeing 1t afar across the tree-tops
through the fragrant twilight, I saw
the Stiletto standing out boldly upon
the waters Of Annandale. with Ian
guild impudence that l began to as
sociate with its slim outlines and
snowy canvas. Other craft were
abroad, and Miss Pat, Judged, spoke
only of the prettiness of the general
landscape, and there was, to be sure.
no reason why the sails of the Stiletto
should have had any particular signifi-
canoe for her. Helen was still looking
down upon the lake when Miss Pat
suggested that we should go home;
and even after her aunt called to her.
the girl still stood, one hand resting
upon the trunk of great beech, her
gaze bent wistfully, mournfully to-
ward the lake. But on the homeward
drive-she had asked for the reins
again-her mood changed abruptly,
and she talked cheerily, often turning
her head-a scarlet-banded sailor hat
was, thought. remarkably becoming
Ito chaff about her skill with the
reins.
=. Il haven't care or trouble In the
world" declared Miss Pat when left
them at st. Agatha's. II am sure that
we have known the worst that can
happen to us in Annandale. ! refuse
to be a bit frightened after that
drive"