The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-21
CHAPTER Nj,

CHAPTER nj.
~ OWN ut Maple Grove the win
ter had been a long one to
everybody. After Nora had
- left the life seemed to have
gone out of the homestead. At first it
had not been SO bad The excitement
incident to the departure Of the girls
and endless discussion as to what they
would do and how Nora would get on
kept Mallory and the old people keyed
up. That they would be all right was
never the subject of doubt for one
moment All had unbounded confidence
in Patsy, the breadwinner. and in her
ability to shift for Nora as we'll as for
herself. That their faith was fully
justified was proved when. two weeks
after the arrival of the girls in New
York, q letter was received announc-
ing Patsy's engagement Mt the Long
Acre theater and subsequently came
the news that she had procured an
engagement for Nora In the same CON-
pany. This caused great rejoicing.
On top Of this was Patsy's momen-
tuous enterprise in taking nat and
her glowing descriptions of the luxury
and comfort they enjoyed IN it. The
letters Of both girls gave such minute
particulars that the old people were
able to picture the place in the minds
eye, though the picture. as such pic
lures always do, differed largely frem
the original
Nora's departure, however, was a
tearing away which was bound to be
felt and felt severely. AS the "baby'|
she had held a very large part indeed
in the hearts and lives Of her parents,
especially after Patsy had aNwn the
home nest After time the Ioss
of her bright presence and laxative
ness began to have it's effect On Mrs.
O'Brien. She became irritable, then
melancholy.
"Sure the house is loike stove in
winter with the foirc out since me
baby's gone away" she complained.
Another person by whom Nora's alb
sence was kecnly felt was the Duke,
and her departure had further conse-
Quences for hin, in troubles Of various
kinds and another fierce encounter
with the Shrimp. The Dukes Nveli-
ness had been succeeded by gloomi-
ness that was positively melodramatic
and alternatcd with periods of sicl1ly
sentimentaity. His moroseness was so
marked, especially as 1t WAS acc0mpa-
MED by diminished appetite, that Mrs.
OBricn noticed It, and her motherly
solicitudc was aroused She rather
liked the Duke
""ris bilious We are, chOild," she
said one morning after watching him
attentively. "Yir livcr's all upset
ORR have to physic ye Show me yir
tongue"
The Duke shook his head.
'YOu myke Il mistykc, num-" he re-
piled. ut amt because l don't feel
like blowin' aont me kite that l wants
physic."
Thin phwat's the matter?" she de-
handed
"Nothn', habsolutcly nothin'. Him
all right" he assured her
"But yc're not all right" she said
authoritativcly. "an' We can't fool me
by sayin' that ycz are. II it's not yir
liver, phwat is it?'
The Duke heavcd heavy sigh.
'Its 'igher hup. Mrs OBrien-'igher
hup," he said tragically.
"Thin It's Indigestion" she dag
nOsed.
He shook his head.
II carn't tell you what it is, so don't
arsk me-" he sighed. "Time p'r'aps III
cure It,"
1t dawncd upon Mrs. O'BrIen that
the cause of his trouble might be other
than physical.
"Ye haven't had bad news from yir
motherT she inquired kindly.
He answered in the negative, and the
old woman definitely made up her mind
that he was suffering either from bill
10usness or indigestion. She made no
further allusion to the matter, but the
next morning when he came in to
breakfast he found surprise awaiting
him. Instead of being allowed to sit
down, as usual, to the nourishment
called for by two hours Of hard work
after rising he was waylaid by Mrs.
O'Brien with a big cupful of black
strong SIENNA tea.
| Down with itw commanded Mrs.
O'Brien peremptorily. "Ye're not a
baby. Hold yir nose an ye woan't
taste it."
He hesitated, and she eoaxed him.
"Ofll give yez lump AZ sugar after,
it."
Once again for the sake Of Nora he |
sacrificed himself and under the eyes
Of the srinning Shrimp swallowed the
obnoxious concoction, though every in
ternal organ Of his body revolted.
For the best part of the remainder Of
that day he really was I'll, and he was
careful thereafter not to let his love
sickness show in the presence Of Mrs.
O'Brfen-by gloominess, at any rate.
In the stable, however, and out exer-t
cisfng the horses he was free to let 1t
influence his moods. He liked to utter
Nora's name aloud. To him it was as
sweet music. Plucking an unusually
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