The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-14

be explained at once or I shall notify
the authorities; and. for my part, I
do not see how it can be explained at
ALL"
"What did you see. sir?" she gasped.
as If in great meotal distress.
WELL" l replied, slowly, II saw
number of little graves, or what ap-
peared to be SUCH"
ooh, my Cod" she moaned, cover
ing her face with her hands, Il did
not think anything like that could
happen! l should have burned them,
sir. Oh, why didn't I burn them!
1t would have been much safer!"
jerks had skunk into the house,
leaving US to ourselves, and l was
enabled to talk more freely.
Look here, woman" l exclaim-
ed. What in the name of heaven
does all this mean? Speak, or by all
that's holy I'll have you in Jail before
morning."
My impassioned words had no effect
upon her other than to make her
weep piteously, and waited until she
had regained her composure some
what and was able to talk coher.
emily.
You misjudge me, Mr. Ware" she
said. Indeed you do, sir. have COM
mitted no crime. sir. and am doing
all iu my power to prevent one; for
it would be crime if it happened,
although the law wouldn't call it so,
SIR"
She laid her hand on my shoulder
respectfully and then, the old-fashion-
ed, motherly way coming over her,
she continued in choking voice:
"You must do as I ask, Mr.. Ware.
Do not distrust me, beg of you.
sir, for have so much to bear and
have borne it all so patiently and
SO willingly, too, sir. Remember,
have no fault to find, and I am glad
to have been able to do what 1 have
done, sir, but the end is so near
now that ] cannot bear to have every
thing go for nothing at the last"
Her eyes were filled with tears, and,
do what I might, l could not doubt
her honesty and sincerity. Before
could speak, she went on hurriedly,
looking about her in an apprehensive
way:
"Just believe In me for a few days,
sir, won't you? Do this for your own
sake and for Miss Carneys and the
other young lady's. You will never
regret it, sir, promise you; swear
1t, sir, on everything I hold sacred,
and God knows l am churchwoman
and live in fear OF Him and His love
SIR"
For my life could do no more than
she asked, and, after a moments
hesitation, I said slowly:
II must trust you, Mrs. Bruce, but
must tell you that do so against
my best judgment. l do not see how
all these things can be explained sat-
isfactorily and they must be ex-
planned soon in every way. /: Still, I
believe that you are sincere In what
you tell me, and, for the present. at
least, / will ask no more questions and
rely upon you to fulfill your protesta-
tions Of good faith when the proper
time comes. You will understand, of
course, that in spite Of this promise
shall feel perfectly free at any time
to take such steps in this matter as
may deem necessary, and, while I
am willing to let things stand as
they are now for short time, 1
shall act promptly and effectively If
any new or otherwise suspicious cir
cumstances arise"
With these words I turned and
walked down the path in the direc.
ton of Carney-Croft, leaving her
standing by the gate, crying softly.
The next afternoon took a boat on
the river and padded aimlessly up and
down trying to kill time and watching
for an opportunity to speak to Miss
Carney, whom I had not seen for two
days. Miss Weston's condition was
growing steadily worse, and the arriv-
al Of the nurses from town and their
close attention to their patient,
coupled with the frequent and anx-
ious visits of the village physician,
served as a sufficient excuse for the
hurried departure Of all of Miss Car
ney's guests except myself, whe re-.
NAMED from sense of duty as we'll
as desire to be near at hand and
In, position to set myself right with
my hostess on the first occasion that
offered.
did not go far from the house, but
rowed up and down the stream with
no particular objective point in mind
and only thinking of what 1 might do
in regard to Mrs. Bruce, and, most of
all, how I could hope to again gain
Miss Carney's good will, if nothing
more, and explain, in the slightest de-
gree, my outrageous behavior.
1t is needless to say that was in no
happy frame of mind and, as allowed
the boat to drift slowly down stream
with the current, leaned over the
side and peered into the depths of the
limpid water on which l was float
Ing.
AS drifted carelessly along in this
I}azv foohinr I