The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-07-15

growing things you car work In the
garden at something profitable"
Il suppose am to be sort of serv.
ant then, with no privileges or voice
In the management of affairs?" said
Jennie gently.
Her very gentleness disconnected
the young man, and he sat in be-
wildered silence.
II suppose you thought wife
would be less expensive than house
keeper, especially as she would some
day bring you good farm, also?
But understand one thing, Fred
Rumford. I am not that wife! l can
never call place home where can.
not keep a pet or plant a flower or
breathe free breath"
With the utmost GOODNESS she drew
from her finger the inexpensive little
ring and held it out to him.
you must find some one else for
the-position," she said, walking de.
liberately into the house.
If the girl felt any sorrow for the
shattering of her dreams she con.
cealed it admirably. She tended her
flowers, petted the yellow cat ostenta.
tiously, and watched to see Fred Rum.
ford follow her advice.
But the utmost he did was to give
the iron dog new coat of shiny black
paint that caused 1t to stand forth
with increased conspicuousness. Never
once in the months that followed did
he acknowledge her existence by sign
or word.
One beautiful spring day the cat
Chris had failed to come to his din
ner. Jennie, peering anxiously about
the premises, heard distressed cat
voice from the Runford front yard.
There, high up on branch of the
huge maple, sat Chris crying dis
mally
What could be done? She was alone
In the house; yet Chris must be res.
cued at any cost. He had recently
been famed in trap, and some dog
had evidently driven him up the tree.
With wildly beating heart, Jennie
ventured into the neighboring yard.
Come down, Kitty! Come down,
Christ" she coaxed cautiously, yet en-
t1cingly. But Chris, inundated by his
crippled state, glanced at his mistress
and then at the fierce iron dog, and
remained obdurate.
"Oh, you foolish creature, it is only
an iron dog" she laughed at last,
half ready to cry.
Can I help you?" asked familiar
voice so near 1t made her start.
"Oh, do you think you could get
him?" questioned the girl, flushing fu-
riously, and pressing her hands
against the tree for support
For answer, he silently procured a
ladder, mounted to the tree, and gent
ly lifted the frightened Chris to his
shoulder. Being cat Of wide ex-
perience, Chris allowed himself to be
returned to his mistress arms with
out struggle.
THANK you very much" murmured
Jennie. feeling exceedingly uncomfort.
able. II am so sorry i! to have made
you SO much trouble; 49,.
But Rumford laid his hand on the
gate detainingly as she would have
passed through.
See here, Jennie, 1've-Ive wanted
to talk with you, but did not quite
dare to presume upon calling"
The girl raised her eyes for a mo-
ment to his embarrassed face, and
dropped them again, hastily.
when you gave this back to me-
he went on, taking from an inner
pocket the little ring she had once
worn, II meant to do exactly as you
told me. was terribly angry, for
what you said was mostly true. had
thought much more about getting a
housekeeper than had about having
you in particular. And l thought II
manly for a man to manage his own
home. But when 1t came to having
some one else in your place. could
not do that. Jennie. I've learned a
great deal these long winter months
here alone, dear. I've learned"
He paused as II unable to express
what was in his heart.
better than to let yellow cat
and an iron dog come between me and
the dearest girl in the world" he fin
lshed, with tender little SMILE
Jennie smiled too, with sudden I'M
derstanding.
do you think you could trust me
after the glimpse gave you Of what
can be like?" he asked, very hum
bly,.
"Oh, OH" she protested, holding out
her hands.
He grasped them eagerly, looking
deep into her eyes. Then with an ex
clamation of Joy, he slipped the ring
on her finger, and gathered her-Chris
and all-into his arms.
Later in the afternoon, Mrs. Grey
passing through her empty house.
paused at the sitting room window.
For the good land!" she calculated
In utter establishment, IF the iron dog
Amt heen nnovedi And If Fred Rum.