The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-02-05

NAHA6R H.
Gaspino, She Pushed Alan From Her.
bourne OF shame Pix Suddenly re-
VOTED.
Gasping. she pushed Alan from her,
Their eyes met. Els were burning,
hers were frightened She moved slow
" backward to the door and with her
hand behind her opened the latch.
Alan did not move. He knew that II
he could not bold her with his eyes he
could not hold her Mt all. Tie train
started. Alix passed through the door
aud rushed to the platform. The por-
ter was about to drop the trap on the
steps. Alix slipped 10y him. With all
her force she pushed open the door
and jumped. The train was moving
very slowly but Alix reelcd and would
have fallen had it not been for Il pass
ing baggageman. He caught her and
still In his arms, Alix looked back
Alan's white face was ut the window.
He looked steadily ut her.
EYE almost whit with him, Miss"
brogue and u twinkling eye.
How did you know" said Alix,
dazed.
At the strange question the baggage
mans longer upper lip drew down to
gravity. Where dye think l was
whln We stipt off the thrain into me
arms?" he asked solemnly.
"That's right" snid Alix as she fol-
lowed his lead to a cab. She got in
and then shook hands with her escort.
He looked ut the dollar bill her grasp
left behind.
"That wasn't called for, MsA. 1t
was enough for me to have saved We
from fall"
You didn't save me-" said Alix with
bcwildering smile. II saved my.
SELF"
She left him scratching his head
over this fresh enigma.
Alix was tired and hungry when
she got back home but excitement kept
her up. She felt that she stood on the
threshold Of new effort and a new life,
After oil. she thought. 1t was she that
had made her dear old Gerry into q
time server. She could have made him
Into anything else IL she had tried.
She longed to tell him so. Perhaps lie
would catch her and crush her in his
arms AS Alan had done. She laughed
at herself for wanting him to. She
rang for the butler. "Whcrc's your
master, Joln?"
II don't know. ma'am Mr.. Gerry
hasn't come back since he went out
this morning." TO John. MIR. Lansing
was II person who had been dead for
some time. His present overlortls were
Mr. and Mrs. Gerry and Mrs. Lansing
when she was In town.
"'relephone to the club and II he ID
there tell him want to see him."
said Alix and turned to her welcome
tea. The sandwiches seemed unusual
ly small to her ravenous appetite
Gerry was not at the club AK
dressed resplcndently for dinner.
Never had she dressed for any other
man with the care that she dressed
for Gerry that night. Bnt Gerry did
not come. At half-past nine AK or.
dered the table cleared. "I'll not dine
tonight" she said to John. when
your master comes, show him in here"
She sat on in the library listening
for Gcrry's step in the hall.
From time to time John came into
the room to replenlsh the fire. On one
Of these occasions Alix told him lie
might 80 to bed but an hour later he
returned and stood In the door. Alix
looked Very small, curlcd up in great
leathcrn chair by the fire.
ITS after one o'clock, ma'am," said
John. "Mr. Gerry won't be coming
in tonight" Alix made no answer.
John held his ground. ITS time for
you to go to bed, ma'am. Shall l
call the mnid?"
1t was long time since John had
taken any apparent interest in his mis-
tress. Alix had avoided him. She
had felt that the old servant disnp-
proved OF her. More than once she
had thought of discharging him but
he had never given her grounds that
would justify her before Gerry. Now
he was ordering her to bed and in.
stead Of being angry she was soothed.
She wondered how she could ever have
thought Of dlscharging him. He seemed
strong and restful. more like part Of
the old house than a servant. AK
got up. mo. don't call the maid. I
won't need her." she said. Then she
added, Goodnight, john" as she
passed out.
John held wide the door and bowed
with Difference that was touch more
sincere than usual. He answered,
"Good-night," as IL he meant It,
Alix was exhausted but 1t was long
before she fell asleep. She cried soft
ly. She wanted to be comforted. She
had dressed so beautifully-she had
been 80 beautiful-and Gerry had not
onnoo homo M or{a6 hor dSoov.