The Irish standard., 1915-03-13

Ethel again turned to the perplexed
Brent. "Eh?"
"Extraordinaryg' And Brent shook
his head.
The position was unbearable. Ethel
decided instantly how to relieve it.
She looked freezingly down at the for
lorn looking little intruder and said:
1.-THE servants quarters are at the
back of the house,"
"Are they" asked Peg without NOV
ing and not in any way taking the
statement to refer to her.
"And may save you the trouble of
waiting by telling you we are quite
provided with servants. We do not
need any further assistance"
Peg just looked at Ethel and then
bent down over Michael. Ethel's last
shot had struck home. Poor Peg was
cut through to her soul. How she
longed at that moment to be back
home with her father in New York
Before she could say anything Ethel
continues:
If you insist on waiting, kindly do
SO there
Peg took Michael up in her arms, COL
lected once more her packages and
walked to the windows. Again she
heard the cold, hard tones of Ethel's
voice speaking to her:
"Follow the path to your right until
you come to a door. Knock and ask
permission to wait there, and for your
future guidance go to the back door
Of house and ring. Don't walk un-
announced into private ROOM"
Peg tried to explain:
Eye see. ma'am, I didn't know. All
the gentleman said was, Go there an
waltz
'That will do.'
"I'm sorry disturbed ye." And
she glanced at the embarrassed Brent
''That will dor said Ethel finally.
Poor Peg nodded and wandered of
through the windows sore at heart.
She went down the path until she
reached the door Ethel mentioned.
She knocked at 1t. While she is wait
ing for admission we will return to the
fortunes Of the rudely disturbed low
ers (3.
Ethel turned Indignantly to Brent
as the little figure went off down the
path.
courageous" she cried.
."Poor little wretch" Brent walked
to the windows and looked after her.
"She's quite pretty"
Ethel looked understandingly at him.
us she?'
"In shabby sort of way. Didn't
you think so?'
Ethel glared coldly at him.
II never notice the lower orders.
You apparently do"
"Oh, yes-often. They're very inter-
esting-at times" He strained to get
last glimpse Of the intruder.
do you know, she's the strangest
little apparition''-
"She's only few yards away If you
care to follow herr
Her tone brought Brent up sharply.
He turned away from the window and
found Ethel. arms folded, eyes fash.
ing. waiting for him. Something in
her manner alarmed him. He had
gone too far.
''Why, Ethel" he said as he came
toward her.
Suppose my mother had walked in
here-or Alaric-instead of that crea-
ture? Never do such thing again.
Il was carried away" he fastened to
explain.
"Kindly exercise a little more re.
straint. You had better go now" There
was finality of dismissal in her tone
as she passed him and crossed to the
great staircase. He followed her:
MAY call tomorrow"
NO" she answered decidedly; mot
tomorrow"
'"The following day. them" he urged.
"Perhaps.'
Remember, I build on you"
She looked searchingly at him.
Il suppose we are worthy Of each
other"
Through the open windows came the
sound Of voices.
"Go!" she said imperatively. And she
passed on up the stairs. Brent went
rapidly to the door. Before either he
could open it or Ethel go out of sight
Alaric burst in through the windows.
Hello. Brent! he cried cbeerfully.
"Disturbin' yep And he caught Ethel
40 she was about to disappear "Or you.
Ethel?"
Ethel turned and seated herself with
her little white lap dog clasped in her
hands. then answered cooIly:
you've not disturbed me-
"l'm just going" said Brent.
"Well, wait moment" And Alnric
turned to the window and beckoned to
some one on the path. and in from the
garden came Mr.. Montgomery Hawkes.
Come in," said the energetic Aiarlc.
"Come in, Ethel. l want you to meet
Mr.. Hawkes.. Mr.. Hawkes-my sister:
Mr.. Brent-Mr. Hawkes." Having sat
isfactorily introduced every one. he
said to Ethel: "see IL the matters well
enough to come down. like a dear. will
ye? This gentleman has come from
London to see her. Dye mind? AMI
come back yourself. too, like an angel
He says he has some business that con.
Germs the whole family"
Alaric hustled Hawkes. into q chair
and then seized the somewhat uncom
Portable Brent by an unwilling hand
and shook it warmly as he asked:
WkHnaf vns7 no2ss