The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-28

way 10 the railroad station.
The Shrimp's account of Mrs. O'Bri-
ems outburst was a faithful narration
OF what had occurred. Her mothers
heart, pining for Nora, had led her to
worry and into a frame of mind in
which 1t needed only such a combina-
ton Of dire omens as the hooting owl
and the stocking turned inside out to
cause her to harbor forebodings of a
most alarming and depressing charac-
ter. Mayhap also that intuition, which
In some natures at times attains the
degree Of psychological phenomenon,
especially in the case of loved one
absent upon whom thought is constant
~ concentrated, warned her that dan
ger Of some kind menaced the girl
There was nothing in the letters from
New York calculated to occasion the
slightest uneasiness, and the sisters
had assured her repeatedly in answer
to her inquiries that all was very we'll
with them. Yet her mind was not
tranquil, and her moping and fears
gave both O'Brien and Mallory serious
concern.
1t was about three months after the
departure Of the Duke that an offer to
purchase Lady Belle came to Mallory
His partner. Crawford. had not re-
turned to Maple Grove after his first
visit. Mallory was not exactly an
adept in the art Of letter writing. He
decided that it would be advisable for
him to continue the negotiations with
McGovern in New York. where also he
could have the benefit of ready counsel
with Crawford. This course seemed
the more advantageous in that it would
afford him the yearned for opportunity
of spending few hours with Patsy
He argued, further, that if he gave the
old people treat by taking them with
him Mrs. O'Brien, being able to see
with her own eyes and hear with her
own ears that everything was all
right, would regain at once her cheer
fulness and her health, which had be-
gun to suffer.
| The joy of the old woman when at
the supper table he announced his plan
and extended his invitation was rich
recompense for the sacrifice Of expense
it involved, for Mallory was very fond
Of her. O'Brien's satisfaction was
scarcely less than that of his wife.
Doubts and fears were dispelled as
though by magic. Mrs. O'Brien recov-
cred there and then her old time ener-
~. A proposal by Mallory that they
fshould keep the news Of their coming
from the girls and take them by sur
prise was adopted with almost childish
enthusiasm.
The few days Of preparation were
busy and lively ones. O'Brien was so
glad to see his wife herself again that
he enjoyed the ordering about, admon-
ishing and snubbing that seemed to be
part and parcel Of all extraordinary &C.
casions and from which for several
weeks he had been absolved, his spouse
having been too apathetic to take an
interest in things. The trip was an
event of no small Importance to both
Of them. They had not been to New
York in many long year and had
been able to judge of the transforma.
ton the city had undergone during that
period only from the descriptions Civ.
en- by Patsy when she came home for
the holidays and from the pictorial
postcards the girls sent to them from
time to time. Such an overhauling of
long hidden and carefully preserved
treasures of the wardrobe the journey
necessitated had never occurred in the
household.
At last the great day when the trio
found themselves amid the towering
buildings Of Manhattan arrived. 1t
was early evening when, little tired
from their long journey, but buoyed
by excitement and expectancy, they
reached the metropolis and put up at q
hotel near Times square, where Mrs.
O'Brien arrayed herself in her gala
attire. and Mallory telephoned to
Crawford's residence and to McGovern,
the prospective purchaser of Lady
Belle, who promptly followed this call
with a visit. Then after refreshing
themselves with substantial meal
they set off for the theater, the old
couple gleeful at the thought of the
glad surprise they had reserved for
the girls and prepared to enjoy the
H..
1t was with much ceremony and a
proud consciousness of the attention
she was attracting that Mrs. O'Brien
took her seat in the orchestra with her
husband and Mallory. But soon after
she had settled down and looked about
her she was much vexed to discover
that she had ne fan. This was an aw-
full oversight. How could any one sit
in q theater in a black silk dress and
lack a fan!
"Pat," she demanded in stage whis-
per, didn't OF have a fan wanstY
O'Brien, with very dim recollection
that at some remote period she had
possessed this coquettish article, re-
FLIED:
'4Oi believe yez did"
Thin phwy didn't We think to bring
it," she wanted to know.
"O disremimbered that yez had such
q thing" he answered apologetically.
did yez foind it among the clothes?"
"Ye're the most contrariest man."
she said, ignoring the question. Eye
nivir think av anything when it's for
NE. do behave ye'd forgit yir head If
it wasn't screwed on"
Cant yez use yir handkerchief or
yir Programmey' he suggested.
Patrick O'Brien," she exclaimed.
'Oi'm ashamed Of ye. Wheriver did
yez learn such manners?"