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

''who else could IT BET Surely Cap
tain Grant told you as much"
The colonels eyes wandered about
the little group, and his doubt and be-
wilderment were clearly evident.
do you know Eric's purpose in
coming here? in presuming to act as
an officer in Delavan's company"
"He did not inform me. sir.'
"You know this man?'
She turned, and looked at me for
the first time, silent plea in her blue
eyes.
II do-he is Major Lawrence of Gen.
eral Washington's army" her voice
low, but distinct. Il have known him
since the Continental troops were first
Quartered in Philadelphia
I started slightly, yet as instantly
recovered my outward composure,
realizing that this strange girl again
purposed protecting me from exposure.
even at the expense Of a falsehood.
Indeed; you were doubtless aware
then that he was within Sir Henry
Clinton's lines as q spy?"
Ear from It," she laughed easily,
not glancing toward me, but permit.
ting her eyes to rest upon the bewil-
dered face Of Captain Grant. "Why,
that idea is perfectly absurd. Did you
tell my father so ridiculous a story,
captain?"
did II What else could I say?" he
growled Indignantly. "He was within
our lines in British uniform"
Her long lashes yelled the blue
depths modestly.
"Yet there might be other reasons
for such masquerade, gentlemen" she
confessed. "Would it be impossible,
think you, that he should have taken
so great a risk to again meet with
met"
There was a silence following the
simple question, broken by Seldons
laugh, as he slapped his knee in ap.
probation.
"Good enough, BY Gad!" he ex.
claimed heartily. 1.-THE lass has cleared
the mystery with word. The fellow
would be poor soldier indeed to fail
In such a test-eh, Grant,"
The Ranger scowled at him in sui
len response, his face dark with pas.
sion.
"Hell's acrel This thing may touch
your humor, but not mine. What ia
the meaning Of your words, Mistress
Claire? Are you shameless, forgetting
the pledge between us?"
She turned her face toward him as
q queen might. her head held high,
her cheeks flaming.
you have said your answer once
for all, Captain Grant. There is no
pledge between U.S."
"But, daughter" broke in the colonel,
still bewildered by this sudden explo.
sion. Il can scarcely comprehend;
surely it was understood that you were
af1anced to this son Of an aid neigh.
bor."
Understood, yes, by those who kind.
~ arranged the affair, but the fact
that I might possess a heart of my
own was entirely overlooked. AS a
child I'permitted you to plan my fu.
ture without protest. I am a woman
now; I have been out in the world;
the war has taken all girlhood from
me. II this were not true the way
Captain Grant has watched my every
action in Philadelphia would have dis.
gusted me with the thought Of ever
intrusting my happiness to him. He
has openly quarreled with every man
have spoken to, or danced with. He
has made me the sport of all the city
gallants by jealous wrangling. Now
1t is done with. IT'S in shame that I
am driven to say all this here in pres.
ence Of these gentlemen, but will not
stand In silence while Major Lawrence
Is being condemned as a spy. He was
at the dance to meet again with me,
and for no other purpose"
Colonel Mortimer's face had ex-
pressed many emotions, while she was
speaking, but now 1t hardened into
military severity, his hand clinched
on the arm Of the chair. 49,.
DO / understand, then, that this
officer was there at your request?"
Il think" hesitating slightly. che
knew he was not unwelcome."
And" his voice breaking slightly,
"he came here also to meet you?"
Certainly not" her head lifting in.
dignantly. II am your daughter, and
am guilty Of nothing unworthy our
family name. have no shame to con-
TESS. Major Lawrence is an officer
and gentleman, the friend of Wash.
1ngton, and my friend also. At any
other time he would be a welcome
guest at our table. If he risked his
life to meet with me in Philadelphia
1t was done openly and honorably in
the midst of acquaintances. There
has been nothing hidden or clandes-
tine. He was brought to Elmhurst a
prisoner, bound to his horse, guarded
by armed men. In the morning I
learned his identity, and at once had
him ro1oo cod Th,% 4. I'll