The Irish standard., 1920-05-22

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what to say. where to turn. His one
eoosolattoa was that the miracle
which had been performed upon him
Aad given him q mask Of impenetrable
calm. At least he didn't have to wear
~ forebodings On his countenance.
And Jet. almost the nrst words Car
q said to him were: Something's
6eabltng you. Mr.. Hilliard."
as was momentarily demoralixed.
ana came near showing it-tried to
pese It or with q laugh.
Did I make It as plain ~ Ill thatr'
No. she said. "it wasn't plain at
an.
Hls laugh was remarkably hollow,
bat he persisted in It
why. how did you think Of It.
then9"
"Just from your eyes" she told him.
What's the matter1 Anything could
help straighten out for youl Or
couldn't I listen1 That helps q lot,
Sometimes" She dropped her eyes.
and the color deepened in her cheeks
Isn't there anything can dot" she
said. "Or.. that father could1 You
6iEhten me. :"
I'm sorry. No, please don't
think Of it. I ought to be shot II I've
made you unhappy"
The bitterness In his voice was
acute; and by paradox. it was caused
mainly by her sweet concern for him,
Rnd h1o rools~o<1o, - h.- ,,AA,> = y.
deserved it.
you always seem to be pushing the
world away from you," she said, at
ter pause. ''Why do you. Mr.. Hill
liard?"
Il didn't know that I do" he said
dispiritedly. "And it would be q
queer thing for me to do deliberately,
when I want your friendship more
than anything else can possibly i'm
agfne- it,"
"But woman" said Carol slowly,
almost always has to be q confidante
before she becomes friend. !"
They sat without stirring while the
clock licked of dozen seconds. Hill
lizard. scarcely knowing what he did
and. If he knew, indifferent-had put
both hands to his forehead. as though
to calm the vicious throbbing within.
Presently, and so quietly that he
never heard her, Carol was gone-she
had slipped across the room. to the
A breath Of music. light. dreamy,
caressing.
And there, on the sofa where Dicky
Morgan had sat, and smoked, and
taken his happiness with the utmost
nonchalance. sat Hilliard, in tensest
desperation Of soul, strained to the
tenuous melody which floated across
to him, an echo Of youth and gladness
which Knocked him. derided him, in.
olcted him translation Of
the unutterable sadness which welled
up in his throat and choked him.
She was playing the "Liebe-
straum."
His shoulders went up convulsive.
". and he was chilled to the heart
Liebestrauml It was a taunt. q saw
age cynictsm, challenge to his in
ward self. The waves Of 1t battered
his unresisting conscience; the pierc-
ing tenderness of 1t damned him.
while 1t awoke his dormant passion.
and set his will to vibrating. Liebe-
straum-and the dream Of his love
was a phantasm which his brain reel
cd to contemplated The lump In his
throat came near to strangling him.
1t seemed to Hilliard. that hours
must have elapsed before he had the
strength to rise, and cross the room.
His brain was buhfeted by wildly giddy
passions; he was only partly aware
that Carol, trying to rise from the
bench, was wide-eyed and intuitive ap-
prehension. Volition had gone from
him; he was acting without reserve,
without premeditation.
"Tell me!'' he said thickly. "Have I
got chance? One in a hundred?
One in thousand? But chance?"
ooh! Mr.. Hilliard" Her
plea was to his chivalry, and had to be.
"Tell me. would have i.
If I should share everything you"
One hand was pressed close to her
breast; the other was outstretched, de-
fensive.
"Don't! Don'tl Don't spoil what
was"
you'll have to answer me. I
can't wait any longer. I'm not worth
your little finger and I know It. /.
but want chance just fight
ing chance. >. you've got to an
swer me, Carol :"
She was trembling within reach of
him, but it never occurred to him to
touch her, and If it had, he would
have refrained, out Of sheer conscious
ness Of his lack Of right. His face,
working tragically, awed her.
"Yes." she said, hardly above a
whisper. There's one chance
In a thousand. There's 4. that
much, anyway"
His arms went out to her-stayed-
dropped. He stepped backward, out
Of the danger zone.