The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-02-21

ana SHOOK MS grl1ny M. .u .u. a.. :.
"You silly loafng idiot" he cried.
"Thump your own crazy-bone and see
how you like it! You-oh, lord!"
His arm dropped, and flush spread
over his face to the brow. For his
eyes had opened. He was gesturing
not at the bull but at a girl, who
fronted him beside the road, haughti-
ness in the very hue Of her gray-blue
linen walking suit and, in the clear
cut cameo face under her felt cavalry
hat, myrtle-blue eyes that held a
smolder of mingled establishment and
indignation. An instant he gazed, all
the muscles of his face frightened with
chagrin.
IL beg your pardon" he STAN
mered.. Il didn't see you. I really
didn't. I was-I was talking to the
bull"
The girl had been glancing from the
flushed face to the thistly fence-corner,
while the startled dignity of her feat
ures warred with an unmistakable ten
dency to mirth. He had struggled to
his feet, nursing his bruised elbow,
irritably conscious of his resemblance
to an emerging chimney-sweep.' II
don't habitually swear" he said, but
I'd got to the point when something
had to explode"
"Oh," she said, don't mind mel"
Then mirth conquered and she broke
forth suddenly into a laugh that
seemed to set the whole place aquiver
with musical contagion. They both
laughed in concert, while the bull
paved the ground and sent forth a
rumbling below of affront and chal-
lenge.
She was the first to recover. "You
did look so funny!" she gasped.
Il can believe it," he agreed, maxi
ing vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. "The possibilities of motor for
comedy are simply stupendous.
She came closer and looked curious
ly at the quiescent monster-at the
steamer-trunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portmanteau peeping
over the side Of the tonneau. us it
broken?' '.'srr- lag s~--, ~.----s~-'
Merely on strike, 1 imagine. Are
we far from the village?"
about a mile and a half.'
I'LL have to have it towed after me.
The immediate point is my traps. I
wonder if there is likely to be a team
passing
I'm afraid it's not too certain" an.
swered the girl, and now he noted the
liquid incubation, with it's slightly
questioning accent, charmingly South
:ern. There is no livery, but there is
a negro who meets the train some
times. can send him if you like"
you're very good" said Valiant, as
she turned away, land I'll be enor-
mously obliged. Oh-and if you see
white dog, don't be frightened if he
tries to follow you. He's perfectly
kind"
She looked back momentarily.
"He-he always follows people he
likes, you see"
Thank you," she said. The tone
had now a hint-small, yet percepti-
ble-of aloofness. I'm not in the least
afraid Of dogs" And with little nod,
she swung briskly on up the Red Road.
John Valiant stood staring after her
till she had passed from view around
a curve. "Oh, glory!" he muttered.
ITO begin by shaking your fist at her
and end by making her wonder if you
aren't trying to be fresh! You poor,
profane, floundering dolt!"
4 =
The girl walked on up the highway
with a lifting stride, now and then
laughing to herself, or running few
steps. occasionally stopping by some
hedge to pull leaf which she rubbed
against her cheek smelling it's keen
new scent, or stopping to gaze out
across the orange-green belts of sun
ny wind-dimpled fields, one hand push
ing back her mutinous hair from her
brow, the other shielding her eyes.
Farther on the highroad looped around
a strip of young forest, and she struck
into this for short cut. In the depth
she sat down to rest on the sun
Bplashed roots Of tree. Leaning back
against the scanned trunk, her felt hat
fallen to the ground. she looked like
some sea-Woman emerging from an
earth-hued pool to comb her hair
against dappled rock.
She drew back against the tree and
caught her breath as bulldog frisked
over a messy boulder just in front of
her.
A moment more and she had thrown
herself on her knees with both arms
outstretched. "Oh, you splendid crea-
ture!" she cried, "you big, lovely
white darling!"
The dog seemed in no way averse to
this sensational proceeding. He re-
sponded instantly not merely with tail
but with ecstatic grunts and
srowls. Where did you come from?"
she questioned, as his pink tongue
struggled desperately to find cheek
through the whorl Of coppery hair.
Why, you must be the one I was told
aot to be afraid off,
She petted and fondled the smooth
intelligent muzzle. "As If any one
could be afraid of you! Well set your
master right on that point" Smiling
o herself, she pulled one of the roses
rom her belt, and twisting wisp of
ong grass, wound it round and round
he dogs neck and thrust the ragged
'ose-stem firmly through it. Now"
The said, and pushed him gently from