The Irish standard., 1915-03-27

Peg came into the room ruefully and
sat down on the sofa. She was thor.
oughly unhappy.
Jerry looked at her a moment, walk
ed over to her and asked her, "Whats
the matter?"
"One Of us girls has been brought up
all wrong. tried to make friends
with her just now an only made her
angry. as l do every one in this house
whenever open my mouth"
Aren't you friends!'
Observation-Disclosures not
None OF them are with me"
what shame!'
wait until you hear what me aunt
says when sc ask her about the
dancer
Don't you think she'll let you go?"
mo. do not" She looked at him
qui2zically for a moment Then she
burst out laughing.
"Misther Jerry. will ye take me all
the same If me aunt doesn't consentY
"Why, Peg he began astonishedly
But | haven't got an evenin' dress
Does it matter?'
mot In the least, but
"Will this one do?'
Its very charming; stil"-
"Stains and au?"
my dear Peg
perhaps they'll rub out. It's the
prettiest one me aunt gave me. an 1
put 1t on tonight-because-l thought
you-that Is. some one might come herel
tonight At least l hoped he would |
an ye've Conner Suddenly she broke
out passionately: "Oh, ye must takel
me! Ye must! haven't had bit
Of pleasure since I've been here. 1t |
will be wonderful. Besides, would |
not rest all night with you dancin' over
there an me prisoner over here"
snow. Peg he tried to begin.
ITS no use. tell ye. We've got to
take me. Are you ashamed OF me be-
cause I'm ignOrantI Are yep
mot Bit" replied Jerry heartily.
II was just the same ut your age.
used to scamp at school and shirk at
college until ! found myself so far be-
hind fellows l despised that I was
ashamed. Then | went after them
tooth and nail until | caught them up
and passed them"
did yer" cried Peg eagerly. II WILL
too" she said.
Twill your
She nodded vigorously
Il wtIl-indade l will. From now on
III do everything they tell the an learn
everything they teach me ii 1t Kills
mel"
Il wish you would" he said seriously
AN when l pass everybody else an
know more than any one ever knew
will ye bc very proud OF meY"
"Yes. Peg. Even more than l am
now"
Are We nOw?"
II am proud to think you are my
friend"
"Ye'd ha' won yer wager. We are
friends. aren't weT
II am yours"
"Sure I'm yours all right"
She looked ut him, laughed shyly
and pressed her cheeks. He was
watching her closely.
what are you laughing att" he
asked.
"Do We know what Tom Moore wrote
about friendship"
mo. Tell the"
Peg sat ut the piano and played very
softly the prelude to IN old Irish song.
Jerry said surprisedly. "Oh. so You
play?"
"Aftber n fashion. Me father taught
me. Me aunt can't hear it. An the
teachcr in the house said 1t was
dhreadfuI an that l must play scales
for two years more before thry
tune. She said Ind no ear"
Jerry laughed rs he replied. II think
they're very pretty"
DO ye? Well. watch them an
mcbbe We won't mind me singin' so
much. An. afther all. ye're only
farmer. aren't yep
Hardly that" And Jerry laughed
again.
"This is called "A Temple to Friend.
Ship" she explained.
"lndccd?"
AN it's about girl who built
shrine an she thought she wanted to
put Friendship into 1t. She thought
she wanted Friendship. Afther awhile
she found out her mistake. Listen"
And Peg sang. in pure. tremulous lit
tie voice that vibrated with feeling,
the following:
"a temple to Friendship. said Laura en-
chanted,
I'll build In this garden-the thought is
diviner
Her temple was built, and she now only
wanted
An image of Friendship to place on the
shrine.
She few to sculptor. who set down b.
fore her
A Friendship. the fairest his art could
invent!
But SO cold and so dull that the youthful
Saw plainly this was not the idol she
meant
"'Oh. never she cried. could l think Of
enshrining
An image whose looks are 80 joyless
and dim.
But yon little god tcupid) upon roses re-
clining.
Wen make. II you please. sir. Friend.
ship Of him.
$50 the bargain was struck: with the lit
tie god laden
She joyfully flew to her shrine In the
grove.
Farewell said the sculptor: you're no.