The Irish standard., 1909-05-22
ing. me! Good:bv!~

l. lett .ner Abruptly ana was running
toward Glenarm House to rouse lima,
when bumped into Gillespie. who had
been told at the house that was
somewhere in the grounds.
What's doing, Irishman?" he de-
manded.
Nothing, Buttons; I'm just exercis.
ing"
His white flannels were as fresh as
the morning, and he wore little blue
cap perched saucily on the side of his
head.
Il was pondering," he began, "the
futility Of mans effort to be helpful
toward his fellows"
He leaned upon his stick and eyed
me with solemn vacuity.
Il suppose I'll have to hear it; 60
on"
Il was always told in my youth that
when an opportunity to do good Of
fered one should seize upon it at once.
No hesitation, no trifling! Only few
years ago l wandered into a little
church in hill town of Massachu-
sets where l waited for the Boston
express. 1t was beautiful Sunday
evening" shall never forget it," he
sighed. Il am uncertain whether I
was led thither by good impulse, or
only because the pews were more COM
Portable than the benches at the rail.
way station. arrived early and an
usher seated me up front near win
dow and gave me an armful Of books
and pamphlet on foreign missions.
Other people began to come in pretty
soon: and then heard lot of gig
Cling and a couple Of church pillars
began chasing stray dog up and
down the aisles. was placing my
money on the taller pillar; he had the
best reach Of leg. and, besides, the
other chap had side whiskers, which
are not good for sprinting-they Of
fer just SO much more resistance to
the wind. The unseemliness of the
thing offended my sense of propriety.
The sound of the chase broke in harsh
ly upon my study Of Congo missions.
After much pursuing the dog sought
refuge between my legs. I picked him
up lCIuVlIS III MY I'll lib huu ulOppCO
him gently. Donovan, gently, from the
window. Now wasn't that Selling an
opportunity when you found it, so to
speak. underfoot?"
No doubt of 1t at all. Hurry with
the rest Of it, Buttons!"
We'll. that pup fell with a sicken-
ing yelp through skylight into the
basement where the choir was vesting
itself. and hit bishop-actually
struck a young and promising bishop
who had never done anything to me.
They got the constable and made q
horrible row. and besides paying for
the skylight had to give the church
new organ to square myself with the
bishop, who was friend Of mine in
Kentucky who once gave me a tip on
the Derby. Since then the very thought
Of foreign missions makes me Ill. /
always hear that dog-it was the usual
village mongrel Of evil ancestry
crashing through the skylight. What's
doing this morning. lrshman?"
l linked my arm in his and led the
way toward Glenarm House. There
was much to be done before l could
bring together the warning members
OF the house Of Holbrook. and Gillespie
could, I felt. be relied on in emer-
gencies. He broke forth at once.
~ want to sec her-I've got to see
herr"
"Who--Helen? Then you'll have to
wait a while, for she's gone for pad
die or a gallop. I'm not sure which.
and won't be back for couple Of
hours But you have grown too dar-
ing. Miss Pat is still here, and you
can't expect me to arrange meetings
for you every day in the year."
1--WE got to see her." he repeated.
and his tone was utterly ioyless. II
don't understand her, Donovan"
MAN is not expected to UNDERSTAND
woman. my dear Buttons. At the ca
sino last night everything was as gay
as an octogenarian's birthday cake"
He stopped in the shadow Of the
house and seized my arm.
"You told her something about ms
last night. She was all right until you
took her away and talked with her at
the casino. On the way home she was
moody and queer-a different girl al
together. You are not on the square;
you are playing on too many sides Of
this game"
You're in love- that's all. These
suspicious and apprehensions are lead
ing symptoms. Up there at the casino.
with the water washing beneath ana
the stars overhead and the band play.
ing waltzes, spell was upon you both.
Even hardened old sinner like me
could feel 1t. I've had palpitations all
day! Cheer up! In your own happy
phrase, everything points to plus"
II tell you she turned on me, and
that you are responsible for it!"-and
he glared at me, angrily.
Now, Buttons! You're not going
to take that attitude toward me, after
all have done for you! really took!
some trouble to arrange that little
meeting last night; and here you come
with sad eve and mournf,1 voice and