Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-07

the contempt in his face but I thought
he grinned as he answered, quietly:
You don't seem to understand, young
man, that you are entitled to no eXplana-
tions from me. II my sister has heI
sense of a joke, I assure you that 1 have
mine. l came here to see my daughter
AS / taught her to fence when she was
ten years DID, and as she is particularly
expert, and moreover, as in my present
condition of poverty I have been obliged
to forego the pleasure Of metropolitan
! life and to give up my membership in the
Fencers Club. you can hardly deny my
right to meet my own daughter for a
brief bout anywhere I please. You strike
me as a singularly fresh young person
1t would be positive grief to ME to feel
| that my conduct had displeased you. And
! now. as the night grows chill. shall beg
you to precede me into the house by the
way you came"
But, first I persisted, "let fne ask a
question. 1t is possible that you your
self have some preference among your
daughters several suitors, Mr.. HOLSTER
Would you object to telling me which one
you would choose for Miss Cecilia?''
Beyond question the man for Cecilia
if | have any voice in the matter, is
Lord ArrowOod."
"Arrowoodr' exclaimed you sur
prise me greatly. l saw him at the inn,
, and he seemed to me the most insigniti-
| cant and uninteresting one of the lot"
That proves you person OF poor gifts
OF discernment. Mr.. Ames." and his tone
and manner were quite reminiscent of his
sisters ways; and his further explanation
proved him even more worthily the
brother of his sister.
LAS 1 was obliged he began, lowing
to an unfortunate physical handicap. to
abandon my art, that of a marine painter,
have given my attention for number
of years to the study of the Irish situa-
between
ties OF Great Britain poor Ireland can
never regain her ancient power. But
see no reason why she should not become
once more free and independent nation.
| have gone deeply into Irish history. and
may modestly say that 1 probably know
| that history from the time of the Anglo
Norman invasion to the death of Glad
stone better than any other living man.
met ArrowOod by chance in the high
way yesterday. and l found that he holds
exactly my IDEAS
But ArrOwood isn't an Irishman," l
! interjected; neither, / should say, are
| your
That's not to the point. Neither was
Napoleon F'renchman strictly speaking;
nor was Lafayette an American. A friend
Of mine in Wall street is ready, when the
| time is ripe. to finance the scheme by
| selling bonds to the multitudes of Irish
officeholders throughout the United States
| most of whom are not unknown to the
| banks
And l suppose you and Arrowood
would sit jointly in the seat OF the an
| cient kings in Dublin after you had eff
fected your COUP"
. You lose your bet, Mr.. Ames. We
have agreed that, as the mayors of Bos-
ton for many years have been Irishmen,
| and as they have, by their prowess in
holding the natives in subordination. DEM
onstrated the highest political sagacity,
| We could not do better than take one OF
these rulers Of the old Puritan capital
and place him on the Irish throne. The
keen humor OF that move would SO tickle
all interested powers that the investiture
| and coronation of the new ruler would
be accomplished without firing shot"
! This certainly had the true HOLSTER
I touch! Miss Octavia herself could not
have devised a more delightful scheme.
! And So" Mr.. Bassford HOLSTER con-
cluded. II naturally incline toward AFRO
wood. though he is SO poor that he was
Obliged to come over i'm the steerage to
| continue his wooing of my daughter
! He let himself down into the dark
trunkroom, waited for me courteously.