The Irish standard., 1912-04-06

~oSAt
society reporter for the only paper in
the county, that bis Aunt sallis, who
had raised him. had said that very
night that any girl would bs proud
to marry him. and that It must be
now or never. And all the time he
sat glumly In q STRAIGHTFORWARD chair.
facing Genevieve. who chatted gayly.
They. too, heard the unusual noise
In the hall, and the girl was fright
ened. Before Jack Wilton could re-
assure her the curtains parted and
the rat and the cat darted into the
room The young man sprang up
With open arms and Genevieve, utter.
ing one unearthly shrek, rushed into
his close embrace. Her hair was
tousled. her white frock crushed and
Jack Wilton, in hot rush Of words,
told her everything that he had meant
to tell her and great deal more
besides.
He might have talked all night, had
not a voice of thunder interrupted
him.
"Sir, what does this meant"
In the door stood Mr.. Grantwood,
glazing ominously, with Mrs. Grant
wood In curl papers and blanket,
trying very hard to see and not be
seen. and behind them Tommy Grant
wood. grinning broadly. John vii.
ton had seen Mr.. Grantwood in tow.
ering RACES. but never SO angry as
this; he had seen Mrs. Grantwood
relaxing" in a rocking chair, but
never 50 limp as now. Still he did
not waver.
"Genevieve, come to your mother"
commanded Mrs. Grantwood.
Genevieve did not stir; she was ex-
periencing the first great thrill OF her
ladylike life. and she chung to her
lover.
"Sir!" cried Mr.. Grantwood, swell.
Ing with rage; but his wrathful tor.
rent of words was cut short by Thorn
as Vaudeville brentwood. who shout
ed:
Say, pa, look at that rat!"
For Jack Wilton's cat had at last
cornered her prey and was bringing
1t to her master for the customary
praise. Mr.. Grantwood, at his small
sons suggestion, looked.
Good gracious, Lily" he exclaimed,
what rat!" And forgetting his
daughter he fell on his knees by the
cat.
"Mr. Grantwood," begged Jack Will
ton, pressing his girl to his heart,
Il love your daughter"
Mr.. Grantwood was pressing the
cat to his heart Jack" he replied
with conviction, she's the best ratter
In the state"
II know I am not worthy" sighed
the young man, but Ill try to make
her happy"
"She's hungry" suggested Mr..
Grantwood, land she's much too tine
to eat rats. Get her chicken bone.
Tommy" '-'''
"Give her to me-" urged Jack Will
ton, and the absent-minded Mr..
Grantwood realized at last that he
was being asked for his daughters
hand. He picked up the cat and his
eyes began to twinkle. "All right.
jack" he answered, 'Ill swap with
you. If you must have Genevleve, 1
must have the cat. Now that's bar
gain"
A little later in the evening Jack
Wilton was Fastening home to tell
his Aunt Sallie the glad news. The
blood was still pounding unreason-
ably through his veins, and he
seemed to be walking on air.. when
suddenly the words of his poem came
back to him. imbued with new and
wonderful meaning. He thought OF
the time he had spent on that poem.
his nights of agony, his early morn.
ing fittings in pursuit of inspiration
from the rising sun. And its queer"
he unused, for he was still Of the
opinion that a newspaper man is
necessarily literary" that it wasn't
the poem that won her after all, but
my old mouser, Nelly"