The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-01-28

! Bunce shook himself like great dog
leaving the water.
There's the niggers goin' out to the
cane" he said laconically. 1.-THE morn
ms here. Well, Gene?"
"Well, Larkin?"
The other hesitated, fortifying him
self with a cheroot, which he content
| ed himself with chewing. Finally he
arose, offering elaborate signs of de-
parture.
II hate to see man lose out on
everything" he tentatively observed.
"Well, Pm goin', Gene. reckon
they'll let me have boss now. Meb-
be better have two saddled, eh?"
"Well, what do you think?" parted
Kirby, slowly lifting the deck of cards
from the table. rs that my wife? Do
1 turn back to the old river road with
you, or do r. He lifted his head
with frightening vision Have two
saddled," he added quietly, with bitter
fnality.
Bunce nodded slowly, understand.
, ingly.
Alone, Kirby remained at the table,
: staring and seeing not.
"'Take one good look at yourself,
Gene Kirby; then take another at
her," he unused mechanically and
with dull monotony reiterating the
phrase. flake one good look at your.
self, Gene Kirby might never have
; thought of that have been so busy
looking at her."
| AS he sat there face to face with the
future, striving to learn remuneration
; without enlightenment, the General
now dressed in nightclothes, tiptoed
softly into the room.
They sent me to bed again." he
/! whispered, triumphant at his evasion
while he cuddled against the mans ex,
tended arm. II want to know the end
Of that story Tell me-"
/, Kirby strOve to assume his wonted
gayety of manner. How long ago IL
seemed since in the closed carriage he
had prompted that light hearted laugh
ter!
$50 you made another halrbreadth
escape, General" he commented light
ly. And you want to hear the end OF
the story-about the bad prince who
was half good? IL don't know if ]
can tell you the end"
"Why? Hasn't the end happened
yet?"
eyes; it's come"
on1oH vi d;5~,St IL
persisted the General, with all youths
confident optimism.
"Yes," said the man; ut ended all
right"
| But I want to know if he's still a
mixed prince-a mixed good and bad
prince"
Kirby pressed weary hand over his
throbbing forehead. II guess he's pref
ty much Mixed" he confessed, still
smiling brayely.
The child pondered over this state
ment until at length he began to nod
"Did-did he go away?" he murmuree
drowsily, inquisitiveness battling no
bly, against outraged nature.
"Yes-he went away" whispered thu
man, his arm tightening about thu
small form. you're sleepy, General"
"I'm not" protested the child, will
great earnestness, opening wide hi
eyes only to promptly close them aftel
an Intellectual struggle. "1-want-to-
know-the-end" He gave vexed
protesting sigh; then his breathing
grew deep and regular.
''Your sister will tell you the end ir
the morning" said the man.
Rising, he gently laid the now sleep
ing child on the sofa and with clumsy
tenderness covered him with rug
For long time Kirby stood looking
down upon the faithful little General
who Of them all had from the first
given his full measure of answering
loyalty and devotion without question
and without price, and this despite the
influence of family pressure, the ven
ON Of lying tongues or the specious ev
fdence Of circumstance. He knew only
that he loved; that was faith and trust
sufficient. AS yet he was only very
small Juvenile member in life,s boys
brigade. but still he had bis own dim
notions Of standing true to the colors.
When at length Kirby turned away
it was to find himself face to face with
Adele. How long she had been stand
ing there he did not know. The fugi.
tive sunbeam had long since vanished
as if heartily ashamed Of taking prece
dence over it's majestic progenitor. and
the room was now suffused by dull
rosy glow. For space girl and man
eyed each other in silence, both wait.
ing for the other to speak. Finally she
whispered:
cam I to tell him the end of the
story?" nodding to the sleeping Gen.
eral. "But he'll want you to-
"I'm afraid it won't be fixed so that
I can, Miss Randall. You see, was
only waiting to say goodby to you"
"He'll-he'll be disappointed" she
ventured. with a pitiful attempt at
composure. "And-you are only wait
ing to say goodby"