The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-06-22

confide, and-and the time mas com,
when / must have help-the help of ,
friend. l should have explained t,
my father-indeed intended to do 81
but now he is helpless to aid me
There is no one else feel able Il
trust. I-I-you were in my though
tonight; IL am not sure l did no,
oven pray for your coming, and-an(
then God sent you"
My hand sought hers, and held \
against my horses name.
Tell 1t in your own way, DEAR"
whispered.
She flashed one glance into my face
leaving her hand in mine. while om
horses took a dozen strides.
ut will not take long" she began
In SO low a voice, that l leaned for
ward to listen, land you already know
; many Of the characters and can judge
their motives. l have been strangely
situated since the commencement Of
his war. only, surely ours is not the
pnly family divided in Its loyalty. My
!ather was Kings officer, and felt IL
bis duty to serve the crown. While
he has said little. yet / know that
iown in his heart his sympathies have
been with the Colonies. Those of nv
brother were openly from the start,
md my father has never attempted to
interfere with his actions. They talk
I'd 1t all over together, and Eric chose
MIS- own course. Only Alfred Grant
made trouble, presuming on what he
termed our engagement, and endeavor-
ed to force my brother to join tho
Kings troops. The two quarreled bit
!erly, and Eric, a hot-headed boy,
struck him. Grant has never forgiven
that blow. nor Eric's influence over
ME. To the latter he attributes my
dlslike-yet this was not true; 1t was
because as l grew older l realized the
VI character OF the man."
She paused moment, gathering the
threads of thought more closely. 1
did not speak, preferring she should
tell the story in her own way.
"The two did not meet after that
Tor many months. The Queens
Rangers, in which regiment my ia.
Their secured Grant commission.
were in New York, while Eric was sta.
TONED up the river with Morgan's
Fiflemen. When New Jersey was in.
Taded, both commands came south.
md, because Of Eric's knowledge of
this country, he was detailed as scout.
This rockies life was greatly to his
liking; | saw him occasionally by ap-
pointment, usually ut Elmhurst, and
became aware that his old quarrel
with Captain Grant was seemingly for
gotten. There appeared to be some
understanding, some special conneo-
lion between them. They met once,
1T least, and l delivered one note be-
tween them"
Perhaps l can explain that later"
| interrupted. rom something men,
toned at Lees headquarters.
You! oh. l wish you could, for
their relationship has mystified me;
has made me afraid something might
be wrong with-with Eric"
~ think not, dear; say rather with
Grant"
"If that be So then 1t may prove
the key to all the mystery What
made their intimacy so difficult to un
derstand was that l knew the cap.
tains dislike Of Eric had in no way di.
minished. He spoke of him as saw.
agely as ever"
Perhaps he played a part-his ul.
Innate purpose revenge"
ut might be that-yes, It might be
that. and-and the contamination OF
that revenge may account for all which
has occurred. But l must go on with
what I had to tell"
! had forgotten the passage of time
the men riding steadily in advance
constantly increasing their distance
even the possible Importance of the
dispatch within my Jacket pocket. The
evident distress Of the girl riding be
side me, whose tale, l felt sure. woult
fully justify her strange masquerad,
in male garments, her risk Of life ant
exposure to disgrace in midst o
fighting armies, held me neglectful o
all else. realized that. whatever thu
cause, had unconsoiously become .
part Of It's development. and that
was destined now to be even NOR.
deeply involved. Whatever the mys
terry, must solve it for her sake. My
hand again sought hers, holding 1t II
firm clasp. There was q sound o.
hoofs on the dusty road behind us.
1T is Peter" she whispered. "What
can have happened!"
The rider barely paused, turning his
horses head even as he spoke hastily
Captain Grant is with the ambu
lance, Mistress Claire" he reported
"ic came up alone about five min
utes ago."