The Irish standard., 1913-06-28

resist the temptation to look once
again at the ruin Of his home; but
he had not the heart to awaken Mary.
When he left the squalid, sordid en-
closure 1t was with no intention of
returning.
And Mary knew that. She had not
slept that night. She had thought. all
through the long, sleepless hours, Of
that other ruin, their common life.
Had she not also been to blame for
that? She recalled times when she
might have been more to John; en-
dearments which she had repelled;
times when she had let pride master
her inclinations toward reconciliation.
And John had not changed, only he
had let material things creep up be-
tween their love like noisome weeds,
and strangle 1t. Yet she could not
bring herself to call him back. She
! watched his tall, bent figure pass out
Of the enclosure, and out Of her life,
as she thought.
Half an hour later he was back,
his face adame. She looked At him
In amazement. He might have been
another man-no. the old one. her
boyish sweetheart who had 80 long
been only memory to her.
Mary" he called. Come! No,
put on your cloak and bring your grip.
will carry it for you. Come-I'll
show you!"
Cho oonorpovlad r,l,, ~,,%.;dn ~.
squalid buildings to where the reced.
ing floods had left q swampy stretch
of earth. Here their farm had been,
their house and growing crops, and
now
She started in amazement. A now
house stood almost upon the spot of
the old one. 1t might have been their
house-the house they had planned
in the first dreams OF their married
life. Firm and foursquare it stood,
with its eight rooms, it's neatly shut
tered windows, it's front door with
the cleaning knocker. Mary turned
to John.
ITS magic. John1 What does It
mean?" she asked.
John pointed to the receding river.
1T is the rivers gift to u.s." he an
swered.
Torn from its foundations, hundreds
OF miles away, in heaven only knew
what county or state, even, it had
been deposited there by the flood. It
needed but two teams Of oxen to
place it upon the foundations of the
old home. And 1t was theirs! For
it could never be taken away; prob
ably those who had once owned It had
died in the cataclysm. 1t was theirs,
tits home. They crept up toward it,
wadins like children through the
swampy places. And. looking In,
Mary gasped with wonder. For it was
furnished, neatly, cheaply, but taste
fully. There was parlor. with a
table and chairs, living room; even
the curtains swayed upon their rods.
The river had borne 1t upon its breast
as gently as child.
Il wonder IL the upper floor IL furn.
ished, Mary" John suggested.
Suddenly she caught his hand in
hers and motioned to him to remain
silent. Hush. joint" she whispered,
listening intently. Did you hear any.
thing?" she added presently.
John had heard nothing except the
sullen tapping Of the waves upon the
river banks. But Mary's eyes were
alight with strange fire and her
cheeks flushed and the hand that hs
held in his was trembling.
What 10 1t, Mary?" he asked stupid.
ly.
Suddenly she dashed wildly up the
steps Of the stranded house, while
John looked after her. wondering at
the feverish eagerness which had sue.
ceeded her customary apathy. She
disappeared inside, and almost imme.
diately afterward she reappeared.
Her hair was tumblinX all over her
face. upon her lips there played q
smile of tenderness that he had often
imagined there but had never seen.
In her arms she carried bundle.
She came toward him, and, as she
unwrapped 1t, the feeble cry Of child
smote upon his ears.
Look, joint" she whispered.
An infant OF six months was lying
in her arms. And even as John looked
he saw the little arms go upward,
seeking Mary's neck, and, having
found it, they clasped themselves con.
tentedly around 1t.
What do you think. joint" said
Mary. with little laugh. "He hasn't
even finished his bottle-although tbs
milk is souring. You didn't hear
him." she added, but did,"
She stood there 80 proud, so happy
In this vicarious motherhood that
Johns arm stole timidly around her
waist and no drew her toward him.
MARY, dear" he whispered, II have
often thought that II we had child
like this-it would have drawn us to-
gether. We would not have drifted
| apart as we have DONE"