The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-03-06

CHRIS, some time. perhaps in the
dead Of night. something will snap IN
me-the slack, selfish, luxurious me,
that hates to be reused into action
and the craving for adventure will
come. Then I'll send for you"
He took her hand again, and this
time she did not draw it away. He
said in whisper:
"And you'll go with me?"
Ethel stretched lazily and smiled at
him through her half closed eyes.
II suppose So Then heaven help
you"
why should we waltz he cried.
1T will give us the suspense Of ex-
pectation."
II want you! need your he
pleaded.
Until the time comes for amputa-
tion?"
Don't! Don'tw And he dropped
her hand suddenly.
"Well, l don't want you to have any
illusions about me, Chris. have none
about you. Let us begin fair anyway.
1t will be so much easier when the end
comes"
'"There will be no end! he said pas
sionately. II love you-love you with
every breath of my body, every thought
in my mind. every throb of my nerves.
l love your He kissed her hand re-
peatedly. II love you" He took her
in his arms and pressed her to him.
She struggled with him without any
anger or disgust or fear AS she put
him away from her she just said SIM
ply:
please don't. It's so hot this morn
ing"
AS she turned away from him she
was struck dumb. Sitting beside the
table in the middle Of the room, her
back turned to them, was the strangest,
oldest little figure Ethel had ever seen.
Who was she? How long had she
been in the room?
Ethel turned to Brent. He was quite
pale now and was ncrvousy stroking
his slight mustache.
Ethel was furious. 1t was incredible
that Brent could have been 50 indis.
Greet
How on earth did that creature get
there without their hearing or seeing
her?
Ethel went straight to the demure
little figure sitting on the chair
Pegs journey to England was one Of
the unhappiest memories Of her life.
She undertook the voyage deliberately
to please her father. because he told
her 1t would please him. But beneath
this feeling Of pleasing him was one
OF sullcn resentment ut being made to
senarate from him.
She planned all kinds of reprisals
upon the unfortunate people she was
going among. She would be so rude
to them and SO unbearable that they
would be glnd to send her back on the
next boat. She schemed out her whole
plan of action. She would contradict
and disobey and berate and belittle.
Nothing they would do would be right
to her, and nothing she would do or
say would be right to them. She took
infinite pleasure in her plan of cam
paign. Then. when she was enjoying
the pleasure Of such resentful dreams.
she would think Of her father waitingl
for news Of her, of his pride in her, OIL
how much he wanted her to succeed.
She would realize how much the part
Ing meant to him, and all her little
plots would tumble down, and she
would resolve to try to please her re-
lations. learn all she could, succeed be-
yond all expression and either 60 back
to America prosperous or send for her
father to join her in England. All her
dreams had her father either centrif-
ugally or centripctally beating through
them.
She refused all advances of friendship
aboard ship. No one dared speak to
her She wanted to be alone in her sor-
row. She and Michael would romp on
the lower deck by favor of one Of tho
seamen. who would keep sharp look
out for officers.
This seaman-O'Farrell by name
took quite II liking to Peg and the dog
and did many little kindly. gracious
acts to minister to the comfort Of both
OF them. He warned her that they
would not let Michael 60 with her from
the dock until he had first been quaran-
tined. This hurt Peg more than any
thing could She burst into tears. To
have Michael taken from her would be
the last misfortune. She would, In
deed, be alone in that strange country.
She was incOnsOlable.
| O'Farrell Mt last took it on himself
to get the dog ashore. He would wrap
him up in some sailcloths, and then
he would carry Michael outside the
gates when the customs authorities
had examined her few belongings.
When they reached Liverpool O'Far-
rell was as good rs his word, though
many were the anxious moments they
had as one or other of the customs
officers would eye the suspicious pack
age O'Farrell carried so carelessly I'M
der his arm.
At the dock distinguished looking
gentleman came on board and after
some considerable difficulty succeeded
in locating Peg. He was well Dress
ed. soft speaking. vigorous man Of for
ty-f1ve. He inspired Peg with an In
STINT dislike by his somewhat authori-
tative and pompous manner. He in
troduced himself rs Mr.. Montgomery
Hawkes. the legal adviaer for tho