The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-05-29

WHdt> Salu W yOu O1 Her. She was
all tenderness, all gentleness when
she came in this morning" She fun.
bled at her belt and held up a small
cluster Of the sweet peas that Rosa.
lind had brought from Red Gate.
Il told you SOL" said, trying to
laugh of her contrition. What YOU
said to me is forgotten. Miss Pat"
and now when everything is set,
tied, If she wants to marry Gillespie.
let her do It,"
But she won't! Haven't I told YOU
that Helen shall never marry him."
had ordered blackboard, and II
was now announced.
Don't trouble to go upstairs, Aunt
Pat; I will bring your things for you"
said Rosalind; and Miss Pat turned
upon me with an air of satisfaction
and pride, as much as to say: "You
see how devoted she is to mel"
wish to acknowledge here nv Oh
legations to Sister Margaret for giving
me the benefit Of her care and re.
sourcefulness on that difficult day.
There was no nice detail that she over.
looked. no danger that she did not an.
ticipate. She sat by Miss Pat on the
long drive, while Rosalind and I chat.
tered nonsense behind them. We were
30 fortunate as to strike the first bat.
talon, and saw 1t 90 into camp on a
bit Of open prairie to await the arrival
Of the artillery that followed. But at
no time did lose sight Of the odd
business that still lay ahead of me,
nor did I remember with any salts
faction how Helen, somewhere across
woodland and lake. chafed at the de.
layed climax Of her plot The girl at
my side, lovely and gracious as she
was. struck me increasingly as but
tame shadow Of that other one, SO like
and so unlike! l marveled that Miss
Pat had not seen it; and in a period
Of silence on the drive home think
Rosalind must have guessed my
thought; for caught her regarding
me with mischievous smile and she
said. as the others rather too generous.
ly sought to ignore us:
You can see now how different I
am-how very different"
When left them at St. Agatha's
with an hour to spare before dinner,
Sister Margaret assured me with her
eyes that there was nothing to fear.
I was nervously pacing the long ter
race when saw my guests approach
ing. I told the butler to order dinner
at once and went down to meet them.
Miss Pat declared that she never felt
better: and under the excitement of
the hour Sister Margaret's eyes
glowed brightly. y.
As we sat down in the screened cor
ner of the broad terrace. with the first
grave approach Of twilight in the sky,
and the curved trumpet of the young
moon hanging in the west, it might
have seemed to an onlooker that the
gods Of chance had oddly ordered our
little company. Miss Patricia in white
was a picture Of serenity, with the
smile constant about her lips, happy in
her hope, for the future. Rosalind,
fresh to- these surroundings, showed
clearly her pleasure in the pretty set
ting of the scene. and read into It. in
bright phrases, the delight Of a story.
book incident.
Let me see" she said, refiectively.
gust who we are: We are the lady Of
the castle perilous dining al fresco,
with the abbess, who is also a noble
lady, come across the fields to sit at
meat with her. And you, sir, are a
knight full orgulous, feared in many
lands. and sworn to the defense Of
these ladies'"
"And you''-and Miss Pats eyes
were beautifully kind and gentle, as
she took the cue and turned to Rosa.
lind, you are the well-beloved daugh.
ter of my house. faithful in all service,
in all ways self,forgetful and kind, our
Joy and our pride"
It may have been the spirit Of the
evening that touched US, or only tho
light Of her countenance and the deep
sincerity Of her voice; but l knew
that tears were bright in all our eyes
for moment. And then Rosalind
glanced at the western heavens
through the foliage.
There are the STARK, Aunt Pat
brighter than ever tonight for your
birthday"
Presently, as the dark gathered
about us, the candles were lighted, and
their glow shut out the world. To
my relief the three women carried the
talk alone, leaving me to my own
thoughts of Helen and my plans for
restoring her to her aunt with no
break in the new confidence that Rosa.
lind had inspired. had so completely
yielded myself to this undercurrent OF
reflection that I was startled to find
Miss Pat with the coffee service before
her.
Larry. you are dreaming. How can
remember whether you take sugar."
Sister Margaret's eyes were upon
me reproachfully for my inattention,
and my heart-beats quickened as eight
strokes OF the chapel chime stole lin.
geringly through the quiet air. had
half-raised my cup when was
startled by question from Miss Pat