The Irish standard., 1915-07-31

carrying SIUUUO SeVreS vase and held
1t in various positions so that the WIS.,
itor could get the full force of it's stag
gering effect Crawford affected to be
overwhelmed with admiration.
"She must be very pretty girl" he
opined.
"Oi've seen homelier," admitted
O'Brien, swelling with pride.
cts rale decaivin' thing. Whin
she's away from me OF think it's the
livin' image av her. but whin she's
alongside'-
Its the difference in the coloring,"
suggested Crawford.
Patsy says it gives her the willies."
cut in Nora, who had returned with
the small photographs.
Crawford laughed merrily and took
one that the girl extended to him.
"Ah, taken in fancy costume!"
mo; them's her wurrukin' Clothes"
said O'Brien, and as Crawford, sur
prised, looked at him interrogatively
he explained, "She's on the stage"
Il see; an actress" said Crawford
perspicaciously.
"Oh. not at all! She's queen av
burlesquc," corrected O'Brien, Will
holiness.
with the Moonlight Maids" add
ed his wife.
"Oh. yes, very fine conpany-lots
Of clever peoplev
'They pays Patsy twinty week."
went on O'Brien, becoming more and
more confidential.
And her costumes" his wife remind
ed him.
well, they don't amount to much"
remarked Crawford, examining the
scantily clad figures in the photo
graphs.
This little joke was quite lost upon
the family, and Mrs. O'Brien began Il
spirited defense of the costliness of the
costumes.
"Oi've seen few grand ladies with
foiner silks on their backs" she de-
clared.
Sure" said O'Brien, backing her up
stoutly. 1.-THE stockin's are all silk an
that long"
And he indicated with his outstretch-
ed hands prodigious length of hose.
He was preparing further to descant
upon the value and attractiveness of
bis daughters theatrical attire when
the door was flung open, and the Duke
appeared.
T-hytes-to-hintr he apollo
gized breathlessly, "but 'ere's tele-
gram-for Mrs. O'Brien."
Mrs. O'Brien turned the paper over
for an instant in blank amazement.
Then she became pale and collapsed
into chair.
'Oi have a tiligram. She's killed.
My Patsy's killed" moaned the old |
woman, while the tears streamed down
her face in veritable food.
wouldn't 1t be as we'll to open it?"
suggested Crawford dryly.
OBrien grabbed the telegram and
tore it open, but his wife snatched 1t
back Indignantly.
"Oh, is she alive?" supplicated Nora.
who had remained petrified with con-
sternation.
"Praise be. she is! It's soigned Pat
sy,'" announced her mother.
Then. while O'Brien heaved great
sigh of relief, she read aloud:
Shows on the'-on the-I can't
make 1t out. 1t looks lolke p-a.z-a-z"
THAT'S right" explained Crawford
to the sorely puzzled family. ION the
Observation-Disclosures for on the blink"
He added to make 1t perfectly clear to |
them. "She means that the show is no
good-that 1t has busted, in word"
But Mrs. O'lsrlen ut the next few
words Of the telegram sat bolt upright
Coming on the seven-six. Me for
home and mother Wake up, Patrick
OBrien! Don't stand there like the
ninny yc are. It's half past swim now
an yir poor choild's waitin' in the cold
daypo!"
She leaped to her feet
O'Brien, as the significance of it had
dawned upon him. had become wildly
excited.
Nora" he shouted. where's me
overcoat? Wolfe. where's me hat?
You'll excuse me. sor. OF must go
hitch up"
But his wife brought him up short
with n round turn and put quick. ef-
fectual damper on his zeal.
Hold yir hosscs!' she directed.
"Ye'll 60 ask Danny to meet her. It's
dyin' glad av the chance he'll be. Owe
use for yez here"
use for me here? An what'll Nora
be doin'?" he demanded.
Mora II be entertainin' Mister Craw-
ford"
O'Brien departed to deliver his mes.
sage to Mallory. and Crawford rose.
II fear ! am in the way" he OBJ
served.
"Not at all, not at all, Mister Craw-
ford" said the old woman heartily.
make yirself at home. Stop an have
a bit of chat with Nora. She'll have
a chance to say wurrud for herself
now her mothers l'avin the ROOM"
She went out, and Crawford and the
wild rose" were alone. He watched
her awhile at her work Of clearing the
table and for once In bis life was at g.,
loss what to say. She was entirely
different from the women of his class
and from the women not Of his class
with whom he associated.
| $50 it's your sister and Mallory, eh q
l shall have to congratulate him." he
ventured. feeling that he must say
something. II am going to be his part
ner, you know"
| UJun.t thok oioor, ovcio ;u,o17 tho Oirl