The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-02-20


all must raise their hands in assur
ance that until Washington's birthday
is over they will say just exactly what
they mean to each other"
A flutter of uplifting, asseverating
hands and then the music sounded the
opening of the dance and the guests
trooped out to the adjoining hall for
an old-style cotillion. 1t was one of
those dances that require frequent
balancing with the opposite couple and
from his place beside casually
chosen partner Herbert Hunt found
himself face to face with whom? The
fair Helen of his yearnings, and she
was beautifully and most becomingly
hab1ted In flowing pale blue silk with
lacy surmounting of white and, for her
greatest ornament, she wore blush
ing recognition of him that gave him
distinct though pleasurable shock
OF consciousness. The dance re-
Quired him to take her hand and swing
her about and the truthful pact re-
quired that on speaking to her he
must say exactly what he meant. But
she prevented his speaking at all.
Hardly had their hands met in the
dance than she said, in a beaming,
bashful way, Il could not acknowledge
your valentine because did not know
your address after you went away"
The gay, rhythmic music and his
swing back to his place opposite her
saved him the truthful necessity of
saying, Il sent you no valentine" and
thus heartlessly destroying the pleas.
ure she evinced. The dance made it
necessary to enact the balancing fig
ure four times so, when the moment
came for the second hand clasp and
swing he filled the double need of an,
swering her remark and of keeping
truthful by asking the perfectly sin
cere question, What made you think
1 sent it," to which she answered
quickly before they parted, "The
names, of course" and when he re-
gained his place opposite her he could
see the vanishing of a more vivid
blush than before.
The merry music and the deepening
sense of mystery were creating an H.
fusion too delightful to dispel. Yet his
third approach to her compelled him
to be both literal and responsive. So
this time he voiced his genuine curl
osity by asking, did you like the
valentine?" and she said, quickly, CAS-
this is truthful party I've got to say
yes" And back he swung to his
place more deeply mystified and she
more deeply blushing than before.
One more fancy turn and in this he
answered her first remark, saying,
"Why didn't you write to my old adj
dress and have your note forwarded"
and she answered, ut was of such a
particular nature and I was afraid of
mischance or it's getting to someone
else."
The words had to be spoken quickly
to be fitted into the short moment for
saying them. Then the dance figure
changed to another, requiring march
ing and sidestepping and there was
no further need just then of truthful
fencing.
But when the dance was over what
was he to do? He determined to
make his declaration at once to pre-.
vent her talking about the valentine
again. The crystallized moment had
come at last. But as soon as he be.
gan she said, "Well, of course, 1 knew
that was what you meant by the ques-
ton mark under the names. What
makes you turn so pale? Don't you
feel well?"
"Im just overcome" he answered,
which he really was with sudden en-.
and wonder, chow did you
get the book?" Through the mail,
of course. Did you forget that you
sent it,"
He truthfully thought, II forgot
what did with it," but he answered
aloud truthfully, "I'm glad you liked
it,"
Later in the evening when dancing
had given place to good cheer and to
circle of cozy chat Herbert's fan
Gee, beside him, got him to hear aloud
the confiding question through the sur
rounding conversational buzz.
ut is such pleasure to have the
first gift something that just exactly
pleases you. Had I ever told you I
liked Mrs. Browning's poems? Is that
why you got me the book?"
And here the clock, an old-timed
tall, eight day, striking clock from
its own, in more senses than one
time-honored corner, pealed out twelve
distinct strokes and several of the
guests cried in chorus, 1.-THE reign of
truth is over. Now we can all say
what we please"
Herbert had to wait till everybody's
hubbub Of extravagant praises of
each other and the laughter had sub
sided before he answered her ques-
ton. What did he say, when he did?
POPE TO CARE FOR ORPHANS.
A second large contingent of earth
quake orphans will be maintained by