The Irish standard., 1914-04-04

cloak. was dofing his plumed hat be-
fore her. Circling the polished door
In the maze, there was something
gratefully like former days in the a.,
sured touch. the true and ready guid,
ance. The intrusive question faded
He was the John Valiant she had aA
ways known, Of flashing repartee and
graceful compliment, yet With . touch
pf dignity, too-as befltted the lord
Of manor-which sat we'll upon him!
After decorous dozen Of rounds. She
took his arm and allowed her perfect
figure to be conducted through the
various rooms Of the ground doors
chatting in quite the old.time way. till
. new gallant claimed her.
The mellow strings made on their
merry tune, and at length the WASH
angton Post marched all In flushed
unity Of purpose to tho great muslin.
walled porch with it's array Of tables
groaning under viands concocted BY
Aunt Daphne for the delectation Of
the palate-weary.
And then once more tho waltz-strain
supervened and in the yellow parlor
Joy was again unconfined.
Again Valiant claimed Katharine
and they glided OF on 1.-THE Beautiful
Danube" Her paleness now had q
tinge of color, but nevertheless he
thought she dropped. you are tiredtci
he said. "shan't we sit 1t out3" .
"Oh. do you mind?" she responded
gratefully. 1T has been a fairly stren-
nous day. hasn't it,"
He guided her to q corridor, whero
branches of rhododendron screened IN
alcove Of settees and seductive oush-
ions. Here. her WEAKNESS seemed put
to rout. There was no dropping Of
fringed lids. no disconcerting 81
lences: she chartered with ease and
;piquancy.
II have been listening to paeans all
the evening"" she said. "And you de,
serve them. It's fine big thing you
are attempting-the restoring OF this
old estate. And know you have even
bigger plans. too"
He nodded. suddenly serious and
thoughtful. There's q lot I'd like to
do. It's not only the house and
grounds. There are other
things. For instance. back on the
mountain-on my own lands q set.
Element they call Hell's-Half-Acre.
Probably it has we'll earned the
name. It's q wretched collection Of
novels and surly men and drabs OF
women and unkempt children. tho
poorest of poor-whites. Not ono Of
them can read or write. and they liva
like animals. If I'm ever able. mean
to put a Misunderstanding school up
there. And then"
He ended with half laugh, sudden
~ conscious that he was talking In q
language she would scarcely under.
stand-in fact. in tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray, shot through with emerald
were looking into his with franknesg
and sympathy no would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla1
cidity.
To Katharine. indeed. It made little
difference what philanthropio fads the
man she had chosen might affect al
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had immortal flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mill
lions would bear much harmless ham1
mering. A change. subtle and incom1
municable. passed over her.
II shall think Of you," she sighed
"as working on In this splendid pro-
gram. For 1t is splendid. But New
York will miss you, john"
"Ah, no. I've no decisions on that
score. dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here have a place.
Her head. leaned back against the
cushion. turned toward him. the pale
orchids trembling on her bosom-shd
was so near that he could feel her
breath on his cheek. A new waits
had begun to sigh its dangerous meas
ureB.
placer" she queried. do you thinl
you had no place there7 In 1t possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a void7"
He looked at her suddenly, and her
eyes fell. Before he answered, how
ever. the big form Of Major Bristov
appeared. looking about him.
1T has-left void" she said. her
eyes still downcast. her voice just low
enough. for me-"
The major pounced upon them al
this juncture. feelingly accusing John
Of the nefarious design Of robbing the
assemblage Of it's bright and particl
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand In her cavaliers arm. her eyer
were dewy under their long shading
1ashes and her fine lips ever 10 Ht&3S
tremulous. It had been her best avaiA
able moment. and she had used Il.
As she moved away, her faint coloI
slightly heightened, she was glad Cd
the interruption. Il was better @ Il
was. When John Valiant cana 10 haa
But to him. as he stood WATCHING
her move lightly from him. there ~
vouohsafed illumination. It came ~
him suddenly that that placidity and
nauteur which he had 20 admired ~
fhe old days were no mask for drea
within. The exquisite husk was thd
real Katharine. Hers was the lovelA
psss of some tall white lily cut 81
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