The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-17
signed paper which committed his little


factors.
Jacks curiosity WAS awakened to find
ont what Kind Of q man Mary's father
was, and SO he started out one night 10
search for him. He spent three nights
after working hours in the search, and
found him at last in miserably squalid
room on the top floor OF tenement house
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 ND with him late into the night. A
feeble kerosene lamp burned on the man
tel and the corners Of the room We're filed
with shadows. Mr.. Rogers fell into an
uneasy slumbcr toward midnight and
muitered in his dreams about the good
things he had 10 eat when his wife was
alive. IN his incoherent remarks he men.
toned roast beef and gravy. Then he
awokc.
II WAS dr'amin iv III foine leedin' ]
had aforc Mollic died. Aye, by. but she
could cook tn grub. An tn pancakes
she could bake was like honey in yer
mouth ] wisht ! had some Of them cakes
now, so do. think they'd he putin
life Until me"
Next morning when Jack went TO get
his breakfast, rs usual, he asked the pro-
proprietor TO permit him to have an inter
view with Mary She came, huttering
and paling, into the back part Of the res
taurant.
Miss Rogers said Jack, all Of a
tremble. because his love was 50 nea-, II
saw YOUR father last night
My father" gasped Mary in alarm.
Where was he:"
"In back room on the top noor OF
tenement in Pearl street"
WAS he wellN' whispered Mary, not
daring to look Jack in the face, but drop
ping her eyes upon her snowy apron and
absent mindedly smoothing ont wrinkle.
"No. he was ill., He spoke about the
pancakes your mother used to make, and
said that if he could have some equally as
good he thought he might feel better and
perhaps recover his health II you are
willing to make them for him | will see
that he gets them
How good Of you," replied Mary,
looking at him with Il glance of admira-
ton. But how can we keep them
warm
~ 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 will go down and take him
some But perhaps you are afraid to go
with me, as | am Il stranger to your
Mary looked sbyly al him and hesitated
for moment Then she said:
"But have seen son in the restaurant,
haven't /? And | think You can be
trusted You don't look like n very bad
man You bring the oil Stove around to-
night at 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 10 herself in anticipation or
the meeting Sometimes, however, she
became grave when she thought OF her
father But her recollection of him was
very indisiinct and associated only with
oaths and blows. A. o'clock the restau-
rant was closed and Mary stepped out
upon the walk with II tin pal in her hand
containing batter. a small grddle wrapped
in paper under her arm. and nice piece
of salt pork TO grease the griddle in her
pocket
Jack was already there with small oil
stove. lie was walking up and down Tie
sidewalk impatiently They went across
TO Center street and from thence 10 Pearl
They said very little, aud were content 10
know that each WAS near 10 the other.
On reaching the tenement they fcli rat her
than saw their way up the dark stairway.
Mary was frightened at the dismal look
of her fathers room, bat Jack Cheelcd
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 pas, weakness and
promises foT the future. When lac turned
and came 10 the bedside he saw two wet
faces, one softenei ard repentant, the
other hopeful and shining.
DO you think you could eat some pan
cakes, father said Mary
"Oh, dear, | could av l had some " yer
mothers maxim, Mary. m feelin' bet
ter already since yc KEN" and he raised
himself on his pillow to show his strength.
But, father ! can maze You some,
and I'll warrant mother never made bet
ter" said Mary, looking arehly at Jack.
And so the pancakes were made. Jack
liz the wick i'll the stove and creased the
griddlc, while Mary poured out the bat
ter. and the sayory SMOKE arose Ike in
cense in the dismal room and made Mr..
Rogers sniff checrily
lie sat up in bed, bolstered by pillows,
and ate two of the cakes. All the time
his ewes followed the trim form OF his
daughter as she tidied up the room. The
lovers remained With him until late into
the night. Then Jack took Mary to her
boarding house, and the wicked young
man actually kissed her at the door. She
ran up stairs and looked in the glass to
see if his lips had left a mark on her
cheek. The next morning she ran down
TO 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 a few weeks was about again. He
did not return TO his old habits, and for
sock the tenement for two rooms in a
more pretentous locality, where Mary
went with him 10 keep house. The other
day there was quiet wedding, at which
Mary and Jack were the principals and
few choice friends the spectators. The
chief dish at the wedding feast was u big
plate Of pancakes bakei by the bride.
Now the many persons who pass the
restaurant daily look in the window, but