The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-04

els the warning on your account,
or my own?"
Both, perhaps. Captain Grants
family and mine are neighbors-or
were before war intervened-and be.
tween our fathers exists a lifelong
friendship. l could never consent to
be the cause of his quarreling with
anyone, and l have reason to know
how quick tempered he is"
81 have little use for any man who
swaggers about seeking trouble" re-
turned, as she hesitated. 1T has been
my experience that there is usually
cowardice back of such disposition"
"Not in this CASE" earnestly. Gap
tain Grants courage has been sufti-
GENTLY tested already. I warn you
not to presume on your theory so far
as he is concerned. advise the safer
course"
what is that?"
Her eyes met mine, smiling slightly.
and yet grave enough in their depths.
ITO let this one dance prove Laff1.
Client reward for your act Of rec ,e."
"You request this?"
"Oh, you must not place the entire
burden of decision on me, sir. I can
only suggest"
elias Captain Grant any authority
to dictate who shall be your partner?"
Her lashes lifted, and then fell be-
fore my gaze.
"He at least assumes the power,
and generally with fair Success. !
must ask to be excused from discuss.
ing this matter further now. but-but,"
her voice trembled to whisper, "1-l
am sure your safety depends upon
your leaving me-"
Astonished by these words, sudden.
ly wondering If she suspected me,
scarcely comprehending what she
meant, stared into her face, as we
circled the room. Grant stood stif1iy
against the wall where we left him,
his eyes fastened modify on the
| crowd; realized his presence, yet
my whole thought was concentrated
! on the girl, the strands of her hair
brushing my lips, her steps lightly fol-
lowing the music, her eye downcast.
Into the cheeks there came a flush of
| pink, and she glanced up to read the
surprise in my face.
"Do need to say more?"
Eyes, you must" insisted, "you can
! never believe would leave you be-
cause of personal fear"
II did not know-at first. Now ]
realize it will require higher motive
to influence you; not love Of life, but
! love Of country"
I felt the closer clasp Of her fingers
on my guiding hand, and knew took
a deep breath of surprise.
Lean your head just little Closer
she whispered. "1-I know you, Ma.
| jor Lawrence, and-and I wish you
we'll"
How kept to the measure cannot
imagine, for, in an instant, all my
! house Of cards crumbled into nothing.
ness. She knew me, this blue.eyed
! girl; knew me, and sought to aid my
| mission, this daughter Of loyalist,
this lady of the Blended Rose. It was
Uncomfortable, and yet fact-my
name had been whispered by her lips.
Suddenly she looked up laughing, as
though to make others feel that we
conversed lightly. We passed Grant,
even as I held my breath, almost
afraid to venture with words. Yet
they would not be restrained.
"You certainly startled me; how do
you know this? Surely we have never
met before?"
II refuse to be questioned, sir; 1t
means nothing how l know-the fact
| that do should be sufficient"
"Must Mistress Claire"
Rather Mistress Mortimer"
"Yet the captain called you Claire -
"And we were children together
you can scarcely claim such familiar
| ity."
Il warrant you can name me-"
"Allen. is it not, sir?"
What was 1t the witch did not know!
This was no guess work, surely, and
yet how could her strange knowledge
be accounted for? Sweet as the face
was, greatly as it had attracted me,
there was nothing to awaken a throb
of memory. Surely could never have
seen her before, and forgotten; that
would have been impossible. The mu-
sic ceased, leaving us at the farther
extremity Of the hall.
"And now you will GOT" she cues.
toned eagerly.
"You mean, leave here?"
Eyes; you said once tonight, that
but for me you would be riding yon-
der. I realized all you meant, and
you must not remain. The guard lines
are slack tonight, and you can get
through, but if you wait until tomor.
row It may be too late. Believe me, I
am your friend, friend of your
cause"
II do believe you; 1 could not con-
meet you with deceit. but l am Devil.
dered at this sudden exposure. Does