The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-08-31

ter they make when they come for
their mail. they amt none Of EN-
deaf and dumb"
"You say they were here the first
Of the week. are they gone now3"
demanded Maldon.
Gone for awhile. Another girl
on the other side Of tho mountain
invited them to finish out the week
with her on tho ranch. But I I'M
derstand the whole bunch are comm
back Saturday night to attend the
hop at the hotel where you're stop.
PIN"
No further news was to be obtained
from the old man, SO Maldon was
obliged to possess his soul in patience
till the night of the dance.
Her affliction makes no difference
to me; her eyes and her smile make
up for all"
Saturday night he was on the hotel
veranda when large car drove up
and six girls alighted. They made
pleasing picture. but with their long
coats and enveloping wells he could
not distinguish one from the other.
He stationed himself where he
could see them come from the dress
Ing room, and a. he waited he felt
the reaction from his keyed.up hopes.
Probably l am mist lken. and she
isn't In this crowd. 1t Is unlikely that
I shall ever see her again. Oh, why
did meet her, only to lose her 80
soon?" He glanced out at the happy
couples strolling up and down in the
soft summer night, then, up at the
moon which, to him. looked tranished
and dull. 1.-THE light seems to have
gone out" he said.
So preoccupied was he that he
looked up with start at the sound
of Jean McNarth's voice saying:
Miss Lander. let me present Mr.. NAL
don" He found himself looking into
the blue eyes OF lady-idyl girl "lll
let Lillian do her own explaining"
mischievously added Jean, and left
them alone together.
Il think l do owe you an explana-
tion, Mr.. Maldon." laughed Miss Ian
der.
For moment he stared at her in
blank amazement. "You--you speak?"
he bluntly asked
Quite fluently, I've been told" she
gayly responded.
His daZed faculties awoke with
fervor. 1--WE cannot talk here with
out interruption. Let us go where 1t
is more quiet" he suggested. and led
the way to coy corner Of the YER
anda.
Really, Mr.. Maldon, l owe you
big apology" she began when seated.
1T all must seem like dreadful mys-
terry"
"A delightful mystery-but perplex-
ing"
walt till tell you ALL" she dim
pied. you see it is part of our
seniority initiation to pose In some un-
known place as being deaf and dumb,
and trust to the first person we meet
t. guide us back in safety"
But the disappearance act! How
did you elude me?"
"Just behind that big clump of
pines near where we were standing Is
a hole among the rocks leading to a
natural cave There the other sorority
girls were waiting for me. You kept
us In captivity long time that day
while you secured the woods"
Il couldn't find single trace Of
you and at last would have sworn 1t
was all dream IL 1t hadn't been for
the end"
At the mention Of that, she flushed
a little. I'VE are obliged to thank
our guides that way" she shyly ex-
planned.
In that case. should like to be
your guide-always," he laughingly
declared. but his keen eyes were very
earnest
This time it was Maldon who took
the initiative, and it was she who was
surprised. And the old yellow moon.
which a short time before had seemed
to him so dull and furnished. now
shone brightly.
Copyright. 1912. by Associated Literary
| Press)
LAST OF THE SAXON KINGS