The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-02-20
The Home Circle
By Celia Hord KENNY
THE TRUTHFUL PARTY.
Written Especially for the Irish Stan.
dard, by Celia Hord Kenny.

odro, py Celia Hord Kenny.
How shall I do it?"
The question might have been easier
If the young man had not asked it OF
himself. But he could not easily ask
1t OF anyone else as he was all alone
in the most solitary of circumstances
sitting in q train with fellow passen
gers all entire strangers to him. His
only companion was dead one-that
is. 1t was a book written by a de-
ceased author, though its subject mat
ter was supposed to be living, for the
book was full of love poems by Mrs
Browning, and he had really thought
when buying it just before his jour.
ney, that it would supply his need of
heart c0mmuning. But he found, in.
stead, that in his case love poems
were coal brought to Newcastle. He
was himself so surcharged with form.
less. unpoemed love that what he
needed was an escape valve and not
an intensifier He therefore concluded
that his best relief would be in pro.
posal Of marriage to the young lady of
his choice at the very first opportu-
nifty. He had already paved the way
with gifts and compliments. So many
OF these in fact that he feared to Of
fend her by overloaded attention, and
he would not send her even valen-
tine, though this was the day before
the delivery of romantic lace missives,
lest she should think him mere pratt
tier. And really all that he had need
ed was an opportune moment for a
declaration. Nothing had ever hap
pened, when with her, to precipitate
the commonplace into the dramatic.
The crystallized moment had never
occurred.
And now that the train was bearing
him forward, the only purpose that his
accompanying book served was to do
duty for Orlando's tree wherein to set
the name of his hearts desired, scrib-
bling her name out in full on the out
side paper cover that concealed the
binding. 1t was an alliterative name,
Helen Hale. He had more than once
reflected that the alliterative initials
tailed with those of his own name,
Herbert Hunt. He had even been
bold enough to surmise that we'd
ding announcement would employ an
unusual number of HIS. And then, just
to see how it looked, he opened the
cover of the book and wrote the form
of such an announcement on the blank
f1yleaf. He liked the effect. He liked
everything about it except the uncer-
tainty of it and he expressed this in a
question mark, an Interrogation point
drawn under the written form.
Fate has the most disagreeable way
of ushering in the kindest things.
She could not let Herbert Hunt en-
Joy the slightest moment of gloating
on his written day-dream. No sooner
had he drawn his psychologically in
spired question mark or Interrogation
point than his reverie was rudely
shaken by bawling negro train por-
ter announcing the stoppage of the
train at the very place that Herbert
Hunt was bound for He dismounted
with hasty previous dash into his
overcoat and hat and quick grasp of
his suit CASE
Lady, you are forgetting this book"
said the negro porter at the next sta
ton to departing passenger.
mo, that book isn't mine," said the
lady, "but know who the young lady
is whose name is written on it, there
outside, Miss Helen Hale. Her fam
lily is very prominent socially. 1 live
in the same town." and she named
this, continuing, there, take this quar-
ter and wrap up the book and send it
to her and keep the change" and
while she was descending from the
train she was rehearsing how she
might establish acquaintance with the
Hales on the strength of the incident.
post.
February, the twenty-second, in
baronial-like country mansion with
guests arriving in automobiles, quite
too modern style of vehicle for the
revolutionary period costumes of their
occupants assembling for a colonial
ball.
Within the house the host and hos
tess as George and Martha Washing
ton stood not far from the CHEEKY open
fireplace receiving their represented
contemporaries. When all were ar
rived the host raised his voice in a
short hearty address to the beautifully
gowned and picturesque assembly. He
babe everybody welcome in last GEN.
tury speech and then veered suddenly
into present day English when he
said, "As we have come together in
honor Of George Washington I'm 60
ing to enjoin very Washingtonian
observance which l shall insist that
all present shall strictly carry out.
In the observance of hackable cherry
tree we shall have to tell the truth
without it. No fancy compliments, no
conventional exaggerations. This is a
truthful party. People must tell each
other just exactly what they mean.