The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-06-08

/
to my knees, believing the animal
must be the one left there for my use,
when heard the growl of voice, a
mans voice, from out the summer
house.
An instant could not locate tho
sound nor distinguish it clearly; then
a sentence cut the air so distinctly
that I recognized the speaker. Grant,
What was he doing here? Had we
delayed too long? Had Fagin's pur.
suers returned? If so. why was he
there In the summer house, and with
whom was he conversing? I crouched
back listening. afraid to move.
Il saw the CLEAN Of your white
skirt as l rounded the house." he ex
claimed. by Cad, I thought the
horse was going to bolt with me- Fine
bit Of luck this, finding you out here
alone. What's going on out yonder?"
I There was an attack on the horse
guard, and Mr.. Seldom is in pursuit.
But how does it happen you have re.
turned alone? Has anything occurred
to my father?"
Judged from the sound that he
seated himself before answering, and
there was hesitancy sufficiently mo.
ticeable, so as to cause the girl to ask
anxiously:
HE has not been injured?"
"Who, the colonel!" with short
laugh. mo fear Of that while pursu-
Ing those fellows; they ride too fast,
and are scattered by now all the way
from here to the Atlantic. Probably q
squad of the same gang out there
fighting Seldom. Trouble with the
colonel is he takes the affair too seri-
ously; imagines he is actually on the
I; trail, and proposes to remain out all
night. l became tired of such foolish
ness and rode back"
"You mean you lett? Deserted?
ooh, hardly that" lazily "You see
| was sent out with a detachment to
ride down the Lewiston road. l mere
ly left my sergeant in command and
turned my horses head this way. I
can be back by morning, and l wanted
to see you"
ITO see me, Captain Grant! You
disobeyed my fathers orders to ride
back and see me? hardly appreciate
the honor"
"Oh, suppose not" his tone grown
suddenly bitter. "But am here just
the same. and propose carrying out
my intention. What do you think I
am made of-wood? You treat me as
though possessed no feelings to be
hurt. See here. Claire, don't draw
away from me like that. What has
got into you lately? You have led me
a merry chase all winter in Philadel.
phia. but now you have even dared
to f1aunt me to my face, and in The
presence Of your father. Do you sup.
pose am the kind to stand for that?
What is the matter, girl? Who has
come between us? Is it that rascally
rebel? No; you stay where you are,
and answer me. That is what came
back alone for, to find out"
She was upon her feet, and could
even see her hand clasping q lattice
Of the summer house.
why do you ask this? What right
have you? There was never a prom.
Use between u.s."
1.-THE understanding has existed for
ten years; never denied until now" he
protested hotly. "You knew l loved
you; I've fought q dozen men on your
account"
"True enough" she broke in, "you
have challenged every gentleman who
has dared address me. Did you think
such swashbuckling was going to win
my heart? Any girl possessing self.
respect would revolt at such methods,
Whatever affection ! may have felt
for you as boy has been driven from
me by these actions. You wanted q
slave, servant, not a companion, and
1t is not in Mortimer blood to yield
to every whim, to every crack of the
whip. l never loved you, never con.
fessed l did. l tried to be obedient,
endeavored to like you to please my
father. but this past winter has so
thoroughly revealed your real charac
ter that | will pretend no longer"
my character! We have known
ee h other from childhood. 1 know
We'll enough what has made tho diff
ference In you"
Indeed"
Eyes, indeed; it's that damned Con.
tinental spy"
ut has been some one all along
according to your theory-any gentle
man who has shown me ordinary kind.
ness. You have called out Captain
kincade. Lieutenant Mathieson, Major
Lang, and others. just to prove your
ownership Of me. You have made me
the laughing stock of Philadelphia
Now 1t pleases you to select Major
Lawrence with whom to associate nv
name. Because he danced with me
once You feel justified in quarrelina
with him in my presence, in goadine
him into fighting you. 1t was the act
Of cowardly bully. Whatever respect
! may once have had for you, Captain
Grant. has been dissipated this past
| winter"