Wichita eagle., 1888-03-24

room Oh the top floor OF tenement mouse
in Pearl street. He was far gone on the
road to the grave. The neighbors did
what they could for him, which was not
much, for they were very poor. So Jack
sat up with him late into the night. A
feeble kerosene lamp burned on the man
tel and the corners of the room were filled
with shadows. Mr.. Rogers fell into an
uneasy slumber toward midnight and
muttered in his dreams about the good
things he had to eat when his wife was
alive. In his incoherent remarks he men
toned roast beef and gravy. Then be
awoke.
II was dr'amin' iv tn foine feedin' l
had afore Mollie died. Aye, by, but she
could cook tn grub. An tn pancakes
she could bake was like honey in yer
mouth. l wisht had some of them cakes
now, so do. think they'd be putin
lie Until me-"
Next morning when Jack went to get
his breakfast, as usual, he asked the pro-
proprietor to permit him to have an inter-
view with Mary. She came, futtering
and paling, into the back part of the res.
taurant.
Miss Rogers" said Jack, all of q
" o.
saw your father last night
My father" gasped Mary in alarm.
"Where was hep
''In back room on the top floor of q
tenement in Pearl street,
WAS he well"' whispered Mary, not
daring to look Jack in the face, but drop
ping her eyes upon her snowy apron and
absent mindedly smoothing out wrinkle.
mo, he was i'll. He spoke about the
pancakes your mother used to make, and
said that il he could have some equally rs
good he thought he might feel better. and
perhaps recover his health. If you are
willing to make them for him / will see
that he gets them"
Glow good of you," replied Mary,
looking at him with glance of admira-
ton. But how can we keep them
warms'
81 hadn't thought Of that, but, come to
think. can borrow little oil stove, you
furnish the batter and the frying pan, and
tonight we viii go down and take him
some. But perhaps you are afraid to 90
with me, as ! am stranger to your"
Mary looked shyly at him and hesitated
for moment. Then she said:
''But have seen you in the restaurant,
haven't /? And l think you can be
trusted. You don't look like very bad
man. You bring the Oil stove around to-
night at 6 o'clock when the restaurant
closes, and / will have the batter and the
griddle ready.
All day long Mary sang at her work
and smiled TO herself in anticipation Of
tie meeting. Sonnet. mes, however, she
became grave when she thought of her
father But her recollection of him was
very iEdistinct and associated only with
oaths and blows. At 6 O'Clock the restau-
rant was closed and Mary stepped out
upon the walk with tin pail in her hand
batter. small griddle wrapped
in paper under her arm, and a nice piece
Of salt pork to grease the griddle in her
pocket.
Jack was already there with small oil
stove. He was walking up and down the
impatiently. They went across
to Center street and from thence to Pearl
They said very little, and were content to
know that each was near to the other.
On reaching the tenement they felt rather
than saw their way up the dark stairway.
Mary was frightened at the dismal look
Of her fathers room, but Jack cheered
her. Mr.. Rogers was awakened by the
opening OF the door. Jack turned his
back on the meeting between Mary and
her father, but he heard feeble and broken
acknowledgements of past weakness and
promises for the future. When he turned
and came to the bedside he saw two wet
faces, one softened and repentant, the
,ther hopeful and shining.
Do you think you could eat some pam
lakes, fathers'' said Mary
"Oh, dear, could av l had some ~ yer
maxim, Mary. I'm feelin' bet
ter already since ye kem," and he raised
himself on his pillow to show his strength.
''But, father, l can make you some,
and I'll warrant mother never made bet
ter" said Mary, looking archly at Jack.
And so the pancakes were made. Jack
lit the wick in the stove and creased the
yriddle, while Mary poured out the bat
Ter, and the savory smoke arose like in
;ense in the dismal room and made Mr..
Rogers sniff cheerily.
He sat up in bed, bolstered by pillows,
and ate two OF the cakes. All the time
MS eyes followed the trim form of his
laughter as she tidied up the room. The
overs remained with him until late into
.he night. Then Jack took Mary to her
house, and the wicked young
man actually kissed her at the door. She
IAN up stairs and looked in the glass to
see if his lips had left mark on her
heck. The next morning she ran down
20 see her father and make him comfort
able for the day.
Under the watchful care of Jack and
Mary the old man slowly became stronger,
and in few weeks was about again. He
lid not return to his old habits, and for
'ook the tenement for two rooms in
more pretentious locality, where Mary
vent with him to keep house. The other
lay there was q quiet wedding, at which
Mary and Jack were the principals and a
ew choice friends the spectators. The
,hief dish at the wedding feast was big
plate of pancakes baked by the bride.
Now the many persons who pass the
restaurant daily look in the window, but
hey look in vain for the fair cook She
S baking pancakes for only two of the
hungry persons in this big town.-New
York Evening Sun.
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