The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-03-04
to wander outs!de.">

try to think, Alan, that it is because
Glenn is there that you have not come
Well, there it is in nutshell. l bear
the mark of the beast. DO you think
l want Glen to see it?"
Alan's hands We're locked behind
him. He turned from the window
"Alix, can't see Glen yet She is
expecting me. told her that the bet
ter half Of me would look her up as
soon as got back. But what II some
body that doesn't know my better half
at all should see me riding-walking
with Glen? l can't risk that. Do you
understand"
"But oh, Alan," said Alix. "If you
could only see Glen now. She's glori-
GUS. Why it's three years-three years
since you saw her. You used to think
me beautiful"
"Used!' protested Alan, casting a
valuing glance at Alix' pale beauty.
SWELL" conceded Alix, "you think
me beautiful. Beside Glen with her
heaps Of brown hair and deep blue
eyes, l am nothing. l am worse-I
am doll. And she was born with a
strange wisdom and strength of her
own. The world has never reached
her-will never reach her. She's made
her own world and she's made it right.
And yet-the wisdom in her deep eyes.
Alan. She knows-she knows it all
and you know that she knows, only,
faith sits enthroned"
"Faith sits enthroned." repcated
Alan; that's why can't come to-
night" He looked around for his hat
and stick.
by the way" said Alix. "why j. Y.
and why Mrs. ]. Y? I've always Won
dered."
II don't know" said Alan. 1--WE
always wondered too, | suppose. But
here's the judge. He can tell you"
''Tell what?" asked the judge as he
walked in and took Alix' outstretched
hand.
why there's no Mr.. Wayne and
Mrs. Wayne-only ]. VS."
"And you don't know, Alan?" asked
the judge. "Well, I'll tell you. Mr..
Wayne and Mrs. Wayne-they were
Alan's father and his young wife.
Their life was hot flame that sud
denly smOthered itself in the clouds
of its own smoke. The memory of the
clouds passed with them but the flame
the flame burns on in the hearts of
all who knew them. 1t will burn On.
That's why j. Y. is ]. Y. and that's
why it will always be J. Y. and Mrs.
]. Y. to the HILL"
Alan said goodby in a hurried low
voice and started for the door but the
judge called to him: "Just moment,
Alan, I'm coming with you"
The judge found Alan waiting for
him on the steps rs he hurried out.
"What are you doing for the rest Of
the afternoon?" he asked.
I'm sailing for South America II
| there's connection"
The judge looked up surprised. II
didn't know you had anything urgent
on" They walked on in silence for
some minutes, then the Judge said,
hestatingly, "Alan, you're rushed, Of
course, but If you could-if you can
do one thing and put it down to my
account. Just drop in and see J. Y.
for minute. Somehow l feel that
you can't see J. Y. the way he really
is. But If you knew him, Alan, the
way l do, you'd know it's an honor
for any man to shake hands with j. Y.
Wayne. He has rare thing-an un-
tainted hand. There is tale on
Change to the effect that firm was
saved from a smash because ]. Y.
walked up to it's head and shook
hands with him on the floor"
II don't know" said Alan, that ].
Y. wants to shake hands with me-" He
spoke almost questioningly.
II don't know that he wants to, Ell
Their, my boy. But l do know this.
He's busy man, but there's never
a day that he's too rushed to think of
you"
! Alan stopped and held out his hand.
II am much obliged to you" he said.
"I'm sorry didn't think of it myself.
I'm off to his Office now, as soon as
I've telephoned Swithson."
j. Y. received his nephew with out
stretched hand. His rugged face was
lit up with the rare smile that came
to it seldom, for it was the far-fiung
ripple-thc visible expression of deep
connection.
II just dropped in, sir" said Alan,
ito say good-by. I'm off again to
South America. Africa seems to be
taking year off,
They sat and looked at each other
for moment and then ]. Y. arose
and held out his hand again. "If that's
the case" he said, II won't keep you.
Good-by and good luck"
"Good-by, SIR" said Alan.
As he reached the door J. Y. spoke
again. "Alan," he said, I'm glad you
dropped in"
II am too, sir" said Alan.
He was just leaving the scdate old
Office building, sandwiched in between
modern towers Of Babel, when cab
drew up ut the curb. The door opened
and girl stepped out. She suddenly
stood still. Alan's eyes were drawn to
her and found hers fixed on him. He
drew a quivering breath. Glen stood
before him. She saw his hesitation
and cloud came over the light in her
face. Her moist lips trembled. Their
hands met.
| "Alan!" she said and he answered.