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

never to speak OF her brother again.
Mrs. Wexford respected her wishes
and watched her and nursed her
through her convalescence with ten
der solicitude.
When O'Connell's letter came Angela
showed it to Mrs. WEXFORD, together
with her reply.
'.Do you mind if l see him here?''
Angela asked.
What kind of man is he:"
The kind that heroes are made Of"
lie writes so strangely one say
unreservedly? Is he gentleman?"
I'm the real meaning Of the word
yes"
"Of good family
Not as we estimate goodness. His
family were just simple peasants
do you think it wise to see him?''
Il don't consider the wisdom.
only listen to my heart"
"You-you love him|'
$50 much Of love as l can give is
his"
"Oh. my dear!w cried Mrs. WEXFORD,
thoroughly alarmed.
Don't be afraid" said Angela quiet
ly. Our ways lie wide apart. He is
working for the biggest thing in life.
His work is his life. | am nothing"
But don't you think it would be In
discreet, dear, to have such a man
come here?"
why indiscreet?'
HNn, to-
and Mrs Wexford shuddered ut the
thought. She had seen and helped so
many poor victims Of the cruel laws.
and the memory Of their drawn faces
and evil eyes and coarse speech flash
ed across her mind. She could not rec
oncile one coming into her little home.
Angela answered her:
"Yes, he has been in prison, but the
shame was for his prosecutors. not for
him. Still, If you would rather saw
him somewhere else
"Oh, no, my dear child. If you
wish it,
II do. just want to see him again.
as he writes he does me. l want IT,
hear him speak again. want to wish
him godspeed on his Journey"
Very well. Angela" said the old
lady. las you wish.'
A week afterward O'Connell arrived
in London. They met in Mrs. Wrex-
ford's little drawing room in Mayfair.
They looked at each other for some
moments without speaking. Both not
ed the fresh lines Of suffering in each
| others face. They had been through
the long valley of the shadow of sor-
row since they had last met
But O'Connell thought as he looked
at her that all the suffering he had
gone through passed from him as some
hideOus dream. 1t was worth it
these months of torture-just to be
looking at her now; worth the long
black nights. the labors in the heat of
the day with life's outcasts around
him. the taunts of his iailcrs; worth
all the infamy of it just to stand there
looking at her.
She had taken his life in her two lit
tie hands.
He mad hathe,l his soul all these
months in the thought of her. He had
prayed night and day that he might
see her standing near him just as she
was then. see the droop of her eye and
the silk of her hair and feel the touch
of her hand and hear the exquisite
tenderness of her voice. Ee stood mute
before her.
She held out her hand and said sim
ply:
"Thank you for coming"
1T was good of you to let me-" he
answered hoarsely.
"They nave not broken your spirit
or your courage?'
mo" he replied tensely; they are
the stronger"
II thought they would be-" she said
proudly.
All the while he was looking at the
pale face and the thin transparency of
her hands.
"But you have suffered too. You
have been i'll. Were you in-danger?"
His voice had catch of fear in it as
he asked the, to him, terrible question.
mo. 1t was just a fever. 1t is past.
I am little weak-a little tired. That
will pass too
IF anything had happened to you
or ever should happen!' He buried
his face in his hands and moaned
"Oh, my God! oh, my God!"
His body shook with the sobs he
tried vainly to clock. Angela put her
hand gently on his shoulder.
Don't do that" she whispered.
He controlled himself with an effort.
1T will be over in a moment. Just
moment. am sorry
He suddenly knelt ut her feet, his
head bowed in reverence. God help
me!' he cried family. II love you,
love your
She looked down at him, her face
TRANSPORTED.
He loved her!
The beat of her heart spoke it. HE
loves you!" The throbbing of her
brain shouted it, He loves your The
cry of her soul whispered it, 'He loves
your
She stretched out her hands to him:
my love is yours, just as yours is
mine. Let US join our lives and give
them to the suffering and the op.
pressed
He looked up at her in wonder.
Il daren't. Think what am!'