The Irish standard., 1911-10-21
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
ARTHUR B. WILLIAMSON
Copyright. BY A. c. McCiura / Co.
Entered q Seaeion1's Hall Lcndoo,

Entered u ssasonsz.s Hall Indoa
relationships. sYou forget, possibly.
that your friends are strange to me.
You refer to tho gentleman who or.
pected to meet you On tho roadf
ITO Major Brennan, yes"
There was nothing about the tone Of
her reply that invited mo to press the
inquiry further. One thing, however,
was reasonably oertain,-the man she
called Frank" could not be her father.
i longed to ask Il he was a brother,
but the restraint Of her whole manner
repealed the suggestion.
Did understand that you have
nursed in the Federal hospitals at
Baltimore?" questioned, more to con-
tinue the conversation than from any
deep interest.
Merely as volunteer, and when
the regular nurses were especially
busy. Major Brennan was stationed
there for some time when I first
visited him, and felt 1t my duty aa
a loyal woman to aid the poor fel.
lows"
remained silent, striving vainly
to frame some innocent question:
which should solve for me the prob
lem of who and what she was. sud-
denly she spoke softly:
Captain Wayne, feel owe you
an apology for my unwarranted and
unladylike conduct last night. I am
very sure now that you are a gen,
tleman, and will appreciate how bit!
terly I was tried, how deeply have
ever since regretted It,"
It hurt her pride to say even this
much, as could tell by her downcast
eyes and heaving bosom, and I
fastened to relieve her embarrass.
ment.
"You have nothing whatever to ask
forgiveness for" said earnestly:
Rather such request should come
from me. only trust, Miss Brennan,
that you will excuse my part in this
extremely unfortunate affair."
She sat looking down upon her
plate, her fingers nervously crumbling
a bit Of corn bread.
you. do not even known who am"
she said slowly. II am not Miss, but
Mrs. Brennan"
felt as If dash Of cold water
had been suddenly thrown in my face.
"Indeed?" I stammered, scarcely
knowing what said. "You appear so
young girl that never once thought
OF you as being married woman"
II was married very early; indeed.
before I was seventeen. My hus-
band"
What she was about to add could
but conjecture, for a quick change in
the expression of her face startled me.
"What is it," questioned. half ris-
ing to my feet, and glancing over my
shoulder toward the wall where her
eyes were riveted.
Something resembling hand
pushed aside the coat hanging yon-
DER" she explained in low trembling
tone, "and I thought saw face"
Believing it to be merely her over
wrought nerves which were at fault,
sought to soothe her. ut was prob
ably no more than shadow" said,
crossing to her side Of the table, to
enable her better to feel the influence
of my presence. LET us be content
to sit here by the door, for we should
be taking too great risk Of discovery
If we ventured into the OPEN"
had barely spoken these words and
placed my fingers on her hand to lead
her forward when the small door
which opened into the shed was
thrown back noisily, and two CREST
shaggy dogs. the evident mates Of
the dead brute at our feet, leaped
f1ercely in. She shrank toward me
with a sob of terror: but even as I
drew revolver from my belt, man
and q woman appeared almost stimuli
taneously in that same opening.
Down, Douglas! down. Roderickl
Ha! There lies Red Murdoch, stark
and Shutdown, you brutes; you'll
be dead yourselves sometime"
The man strobe forward as he
spoke, clubbing the frenzied brutes
with the stock Of the long rifle he
carried. .
"'Yelled on the view the opening
pack" he quoted, as he distributed
his blows impartially to right and left:
crock, glen, and cavern paid them
back Them thar be Scott's words,
stranger, an I reckon as how Of Sir
Walter knew whut he wus writin'
bout Stop tibet blame youlin', you
Roderick, er I'll take tother end o
this gun ter ye."
He redoubled his efforts for peace.
finally driving the rebellious beasts
back into one corner, where they sat
upon their launches and eyed US visit
fully.
"'Two dogs Of blacA Saint Hubert's
breed, unmatched for courage, breath,
and speed" he exclaimed, wiping the
perspiration from his face with the
back of one hand and staring at US,
specially the breath"
He was fierce-looking little fellow.
scarcely more than half-grown boy
in size. with round, red face full OF