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

and an easy way to reach 1t, had put
her in her most gracious mood. III
you really don't mind walking" she
said to him, II should be delighted to
take your place in the buggy. I'm
sure we can drive this horse without
your assistance. Perhaps you will see
that my daughter, Miss Watson, finds
us .safely?"
With a few more words of explana-
ton the party started over on their
research.
Il suppose you know all about it
ancestors and that sort Of thing?" the
young man began as he and Matilda
walked along the dusty road In the
wake Of the old buggy.
Matilda opened her eyes wide in sur.
prise and looked at him. "No," she
said. do you?"
Indeed mott" he assured her, "but
It's my mothers one extravaganza, so
have to humor her. She's trying to
find some missing links in the family
tree just at present.
To Mrs. Watson the day was one of
rare interest. She had met-so she
explained to Matilda-a woman Of
rare insight, sympathy and discrim-
nation, who like herself, was sacri.
ficing her own pleasure to the lasting
good of her children. But in spite Of
this great and unexpected pleasure,
Mrs. Watson's day had it's disappoint-
ment. The Watsons dian't even have
grave stones, or at least, If they ever
did have any, they were worn away
past recognition.
Mrs. Tyson prevailed upon the moth.
er and daughter to stay with them
at the farm house for few days in
the hopes that another search might
throw some light on the Watson pedi.
gree. On the third day, with the aid
of Mrs. Tyson, the Watson tree had
been begun. It was rather more frame
work than anything else, to be sure,
but it served to support the slight in
formation they had.
At the end Of the week the Watsons
still fingered. That morning at break.
fast young Tyson conceived brilliant
plan whereby he might contribute to
the fund of Watson history.
II just thought of an old man that
lives up the hill who might tell US
something" he announced. "He's very
old"
Gust the thing, Sidney" said Mrs.
Tyson with motherly approval.
"Where did you hear of him? We
can all go up this morning. You
young people can walk and we can
take the horse"
"The horse!" Sidney explained.
avoiding his mothers question. "Why
the hill would kill this old nag. No.
you will have to walk-that is If you
don't mind pretty stiff climb"
"You had better 60 alone, then"
said the mother in alarm. "But be
sure to make full inquiry"
"I'll do my best" said Sidney. "Of
course, could do better If I knew
more about the Watsons-"
"You don't mind the climb, Matilda,
do you?" said Mrs. Watson, falling into
Sidney's trap.
Half way up the hill Sidney turned
and looked into the face Of his com.
panion. "You haven't said word
about ancestors since We started
he laughed.
"And unless you force me too, !
don't intend to begin," she answered.
"At least not till we reach the old
man in the hill"
"But suppose there isn't any old
man in the hill, after all? Suppose l
had just made that yarn up as an ex.
cuse to get you OFF,"
"Why didn't you wait till we had
got all the way up before you told me
Now we shall have to turn around and
go back" said Matilda reproachfully
"But we might just happen to find
an old man up there anyway" he sug-
gested. and they continued their
climb.
TITS shame to disappoint mother -
said Matilda half an hour later as she
threw herself down on the side of the
hill overlooking the surrounding coun.
try. "But am glad we came just for
this view"
Have you so many blanks in your
family tree?" he asked in mock seri
BUSINESS.
Several" she said, opening the
! portfolio she had brought. ooh, dear!"
she cried again as she tried to catch
the papers that were blowing far out
over the trees below.
"You don't care" he assured her.
"But 1t was the only copy of the
| Watson tree we had"
Sidney then drew a paper from his
pocket. He unfolded it, displaying the
! spreading branches Of the Tyson gen.
ealogy, and handed 1t to her.
"How would that do instead?" he
asked "There is only one blank in
our tree that care anything about,
and there is only one name that will
fill It,"
Matilda looked up timidly.
"You will fill It," he assured her az
he crushed the precious paper and the
| girl in his arms.