The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-01-25

" 6> 6a663Zzz7nTzk ca
Henrietta laughed. "You can't do
it, Mr.. Bachelor" said she.
do what?" asked the Watermelon,
leaning forward. The Watermelon
never lacked self-assurance under any
circumstances, and before a pretty
girl it merely grew in adverse ratio
to the girls years and in direct ratio
to her good looks. Henrietta was not
pretty, but she had charm and grace
and good breeding, and combination
of the three sometimes equals pretti.
ness.
Make us believe that you are as
lazy as you are trying to-
'If can't do it, won't try" laughed
the Watermelon. "But you can't do
it, either"
"Do what?"
Make me believe that you are tho
generals daughter" returned the Wa
termelon, letting his voice fall, gently
and softly.
Don't look like him." asked Hen.
rietta, wishing that she had not made
the conversation quite SO personal
thus early in their acquaintance.
"You look like him." admitted the
Watermelon, "but-"
Henrietta laughed family. "You
wouldn't take me for his sister, would
you?" she questioned, fearing he would
say yes. William Hargrave Bachelor
had spent his youth peddling papers
and backing boots. A frank disre
gard for all social graces and hypocri
sizes was doubtless one of his most
pronounced characteristics.
For his granddaughter" said the
Watermelon,
"Of course" said the general aloud,
maine has fine shooting in winter"
"None Of Maine for mine," declared
the Watermelon conclusively. "Matne
is prohibition state"
The general frowned.. "You; don't
drink, hope, young man"
Drink" said the Watermelon, max.
ing Henrietta think unreasonably OF
a minister, drink causes a psyche.
logical condition which each man
should experience to obtain clear
insight into the normal condition OF
the mind" He paused impressively
and Henrietta felt almost compelled
to say 'Amen," for what reason she
did rot know. But" added the youth
in the solemn tones of the benedic
ton, when get-lit, like to do 1t
on whisky and not poison . ''''-f
The general, who had intended a
scathing reply, and firm but gentle
counsel to lead back to the narrow
path this promising young man hover.
ing on the brink Of ruin, with all his
glorious possibilities, found himself
agreeing.
The car had reached the top of the
steep hill, and suddenly left the trees
the narrow, woodland road, with the
columbine and wild roses nodding at
them from the underbrush, and swept
out on to a wide, well-kept driveway.
with smooth rolling lawns on each
side and majestic white building as
a browning glory on the top Of the
hill.
Grandview did not belle its name
High on the topmost ridge, it looked
over valley and woods and streams,
beyond to farther hills, peak after
peak, range after range, fading into
a blue shadow against the sky. It
was big, square, garish building
gaunt and unlovely among it's lovely
surroundings.
It was the dinner hour and in the
country there is never any need to
urge one to the table. So, save for q
man and girl, waiting on the steps,
there was no one in sight.
There are the Bartletts now" cried
Henrietta, as the train Of cars ap-
preached the porch. "Poor dears, we
have kept them waiting" ~
II WONDER" said the Watermelon,
"why a guy always gets so hungry
on Sunday" trn
Nothing else to do" suggested Hen.
rietta, "but eat"
The car stopped and she started to
alight, but the Watermelon was be-
fore, offering his hand with q grace
bred Of absolute Inconsistencies OF
self.
"Alphonse can take your car to the
garage and FIJI it with gasolene," said
the general.
!. Jaw, don't bother" protested the
Watermelon.
flush, tush, man, 1t is no bother"
and the general turned to the coldly
respectful Alphonse.
Henrietta had started toward the
steps and the Watermelon turned to
follow her, when he saw her standing
on the top step, looking straight at
him across Henrietta's shoulder. His
first impulse was to stand and stare,
his second, to turn and run back to
Mike and James and his old clotL es,
his third. which he followed blindly,
was to stumble forward, hat in hand,
not from any respect for woman in
the abstract, but just for her, her tiny
feet, her small white teeth, her dimple.
She would not come up to his Shout.
der by at least six inches, she was
very slender. and in her high.waisted,
yellow frock, she seemed mere wisp
Of girl. Her hair and eyes were