The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-02-27

MIN as he feebly looked back ON them.
After the tragedy Of his sisters reck-
less marriage he deserted public life
entirely and shut himself away in his
country house. except for few weeks
in London occasionally when his pres
ence was required ON one or another of
the boards of which he was director.
The Irish estate, which brought about
all his misfortunes. he disposed Of at
a ridiculously low figure. He said
he would accept any bid. however
small, so that he could sever all con-
nection with the hated village.
From the day Of Angela's clopement
be neither saw nor wrote to any mem.
Der Of his family.
His other sister. Mrs. Chichester,
wrote to him from time to time telling
him one time Of the birth Of boy.
two years later of the advent Of
girl.
Kingsnorth did not answer any Of
her letters.
In no way dismayed Mrs. Chiches.
ter continued to write periodically.
She wrote him when her son Alaric
went to school and also when he went
to college. Alaric seemed to absorb
most Of her interest. He was evident
ly her favorite child. She wrote more
seldom of her daughter. Ethel. and
when she did happen to refer to her
she dwelt principally on her beauty
and her accomplishments. Five years
before an envelope in deep mourning
came to Kingsnorth. and on opening
it he found Il letter from his sister nc
quainting him with the melancholy
news that Mr. Chichester had ended Il
life Of usefulness at the English bur
and had died. leaving the family quite
comfortably off.
Kingsnorth telcgraphed his condo
fences and left instructions for Il
suitable wreath to be sent to the flu
neral. But he did not attend it, nor
did he at any time express the slight
est wish to see his sister, nor did he
encourage any suggestion on her part
to visit him.
When he was stricken with an ILL
! ness from which no hope OF recovery
was held out to him he at once began
to put his affairs in order and his
lawyer spent days with him drawing
up statements Of his last wishes for
the disposition of his fortune.
With death stretching out its hand
to snatch him from life he had en-
joyed so little his thoughts. colorcd
with the fancies Of n tired, sick brain.
kept turning constantly to his dead
sister Angela.
From time to time down through the
years he had a softcncd. gentle re-
membrance Of her. When the news of
her death came. furious and unrclent-
ing as he had been toward her. her
passing softened it. Had he known
in time he would have insisted on her
burial In the Kingsnorth vault. But
she had already been inferred in New
York before the news OF her death
reached him.
The one bitter hatred of his life had
been against the man who had taken
his sister III marriage and in so doing
had killed all possibility Of kingsnorth
succeeding in his political ana social
aspirations.
He heard vaguely Of Il daughter.
He took no interest in the news.
Now. however, the remembrance of
his treatment of Angela burnt into
him. He especially rcpcnted of that
merciless cable, "You have made your
bed; lie in it," 1t haunted him through
the long hours of his slow and painful
illness. Had he helped her she might
have been alive today, and those bitter
reflections TINT ate into him night and
day might have been replaced by gen
tier ones and SO make his end the more
peaceful.
lie thought OF Angela's child ana
wondered If she were like his poor
dead sister. The wish to see the child
became an ObsessiOn with him.
One morning, after Il restless. fever
lsh night, he sent for his lawyer and
told him to at once Institute Inquiries
find out If the child was still living
and If so where.
This his lawyer did. He located
O'Conncll in New York through II
friend OF his in the Irish party and
found that the child was living with
him In rather poor circumstances. He
communicated the result of his inqui-
rics to kingsnorth. That day II letter
was sent to O'Conncll asking him to
allow his child to visit her dying I'LL
Gle. O'COnncll was to cable Mt Kings
north's expense, and IL he would con-
sent the money for the expenses of
the journey would be cabled immcdi-
ately. The girl was to start at once.
as Mr.. kingsnOrth had very little
longer to live.
When the letter had gone Kingsnorth
drew breath of relief. He lOnged to
see the child. He would have to wait
impaticntly for the reply. Perhaps the
man whom he had hated all his life
would refuse his request. If he did
well, he would make some provision in
his will for her in memory Of his dead
sister.
The next day he altered his entire
will and made Margaret O'Conncll a
special legacy. Ten days later IL cable
came:
I consent to my daughters visiting you
FRANK OWEN O'CONNELL.
The lawyer cabled ut once, making
all arrangements through their bankers
In New York for Miss O'Connclls Jour-
ney.
That night Klngsnorth slept without
being disturbed. He aw0ke refreshed
in the morning. 1t was the first kindly