The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-12-25

mouse, Dreaming on Q6T COlU uuSSAS
to warm them. But-so fierce was the
wind-she made slow progress. and
before she reached the house he was
/ at her side. He opened the door that
ushered them into the low room.
The round-faced Dutchwoman who
greeted them looked with kindly eyes
on the young lady. She hustled about
the room and placed an armchair near
the fire. you stayed out longer this
time" she said In deep cultural
voice. She gave quick look of inter-
est from Helen to Derring.
Helen sank into the chair with a
grateful smile. Eyes, l stayed out to
fin" She had slipped noiselessly
from the armchair to the floor.
With quick exclamation Derring
dropped to his knees beside her.
Its only the heat" said the Dutch
woman practically. "Give her this. !"
She had prepared draught Of brandy.
Derring poured 1t between the white
lips, around which . blue line was
slowly settling.
They watched for the effect-Derr-
ing eagerly, the woman with close at.
tention. There was no sign Of re-
turning life. Derring looked up in
despair and the woman hurried away
into an inner room for some other
remedy.
He leaned over the motionless flg-
ure, listening. Slowly he gathered it
in his arms. Tenderly, passionately,
he drew her to him and pressed his
lips on the white mouth with its
shadow. She seemed to him already
dead-removed from caresses. Slowly
the lids futtered, breath trembled
through the lips, and she lifted her
eyes to his, family.
The good Dutchwoman appeared,
bearing q large bottle of ammonia.
She figured in behring's eyes as a
ministering angel and the bottle as a
heaven-sent chalice. But 1t brought
tears to Helen's eyes and she pushed
it away with the assurance. halflaugh-
ing. half-tearful, that she should be all
right in minute.
Derring lifted her to an improvised
couch and she lay, with eyes like
stars, looking about the little room.
He held one Of the hands in his and
chafed 1t gently now and then, under
the pretence that 1t was still cold. Her
brown hair had escaped from its
fastening and was pushed carelessly
back. Against the dark covering of
the couch 1t formed halo about her
face. Derring had always fancied that
the Madonna might have been at
home in such room as this. 1t was
q Holbein face.
candles on the low table and was
spreading the table for supper She
entertained her guests by leaving
them free. The two candles gave out
q dull glow and completed the effect
Of an old Dutch interior.
Helen and DerrinE exchanged
glances of appreciation.
Think Of finding 1t within Ave
miles Of Washington street! am go
ing to sketch 1t some day. She has
promised to sit for mo and it will be
nice and warm" She shivered a lit
tie.
Derring suddenly held fast in both
his hands the one he had been idly
stroking. you must never do such a
foolhardy thing again"
mot even for a success? But I am
glad did it. It is a SUCCESS Her
eyes rested lovingly on the sketch on
the floor by the wall.
She was still looking at It when he
left the house to telephone for a car
riaEe. But when he returned, half an
hour later, she was seated at the
table laughing and talking with her
hostess. She declared she had never
felt better in her life, and she started
out bravely to walk to the carriage
which could not drive down to the
beach, but was waiting on the road
above. Before they had gone half the
distance she found that she was very
tired. With sigh of relief she sank
back in the corner of the carriage az
the door was slammed after them.
Derring reached over promptly and
drew her to him, placing her head
against his shoulder and holding hel
ClOHo 10 pTOLCCL ucI lIOul Ll0 JdE VI
the carriage.
"Rest here" he said quietly, as she
made half protest ~ should care
for my mother or sister. Why not
you-dear one?"
She did not protest again, but yield
ed to the protecting arms like a child
He watched her face az they whirled
into the light Of the street-lamps and
out again into the shadow. 1t was still
pale, but full of content. They flew
through the park and down the lone
avenue beyond. Never were two milef
traversed so quickly. Not word was
spoken. 1t was as II the time were
too precious for speech. Once she
raised her face with contentee
sigh and breathed his name softly
more as II to herself than to him.
As for Derring, he dared not realiz.
his happiness. Underneath its pulsint
was half superstition. Fate would
not allow a man to be so happy. Blu
!, sho had haen rfven hack IN him frnn