The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-04-05


for was not Mary anxious to see how
he enjoyed them, and did not she mako
an excuse to leave her post and 60 to
the other end Of the restaurant to get
q new piece of pork to grease the grid
die. so that she might steal a glance as
she went byp And when Jack had
eaten his cakes and had fingered twice
as long as usual over his coffee, 80 that
he could feast his eyes as we'll as his
palate, he arose to go and their eyes
met for just one tleeting glance. Jack
flushed and said to himself that it was
caused by the coffee. Mary's face was
tlnged with crimson, but Of course it
was due to the heat OF the grlddle.
And so the days came and went. Each
was attracted to the other by the load
stone OF love. Each one fearful to
make overtures to the other for fear
that the Illusion would be dispelled.
But the mysterious alchemist was busy
mixing the sweet potion which each
OF these young hearts drank. The po-
tion in Mary's heart conjured up vi
sions Of what glorious man Jack
must be as she lay awake at night in
the dark with her eyes wide open.
Then she closed her eyes tight, and
thought Of him as q mailed knight
clanking into tho restaurant to refresh
himself with plato Of pancakes and a
cup Of coffee ere he started out in
search Of his hearts desire. "But I'm
afraid he didn't care for me-" thought
Mary, opening her eyes again in fear.
II saw him smile at Miss Bellows to-
day." And so between her hopes and
her fears Mary fell asleep and dreamed
Of pancakes and her favorite customer,
and only awoke when the sun was
shining in tho window, and she hur-
rled down to the restaurant so that she
might SEQ her knight,as soon as possi-
ble and catch a glance from his dark
eyes.
In the meantime Jack had not been
idle. he had cultivated the acquaint-
ance Of the proprietor Of the restaur-
ant. BY careful questioning he had
learned that Mary was one Of the
many girls who had been rescued by
the Five Points mission when she was
mere child. Mary's mother had died
In a tenement in Baker street from
consumption, brought on by the ne
gleot and unkindness Of her husband.
Since her death tho husband had gone
on from bad to worse, only saved from
killing himself by his excuses by being
sent to Blackwell's Island at various
intervals for at least eight months in
each year. During one Of his sprees
he had signed a paper which commit
ted his little daughter to the care Of
the mission. And 80 Mary had grown
up to be an exemplary young woman
and the pride OF her benefactors.
Jacks curiosity was awakened to
find out what kind Of man Mary's
fathcr was and so he started out one
night to search for him. He spent
three nights after working hours in
the search, and found him at last in
miserably squalld 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 we're very poor. SO Jack sat
up with him late into the night. A
feeble kerosene lamp burned on the
mantle and corners Of the room were
filed with shadows Mr.. Rogers fell
into an uneasy slumber toward mid
night and mnttered in his dreams
about the good things he had to eat
when his wife was alive. In his inco.
herent remarks he mentioned roast
beef and gravy. Then ne awoke.
II was dr'amin' iv th' foine feedin'
| had afore Mollie died. Aye. by, but
she could cook th' grub. AM th'
pancakes she could bake was like
honey In yer mouth. I wlsht I had
some Of them cakes now, so I do. I
think they'd be putin life Until me-"
Next morning when Jack went to
get his breakfast, as usual, he asked
the proprietor to permit him to have
an interview with Mary. She came,
huttering and paling. into the back
part Of the restaurant.
miss Rodgers said Jack, all of a
tremble, because his love was so near,
II saw your father last night.''
"My father,' gasped Mary In
alarm, s'Where was hc?n
sin n back room on the top floor Of
tenement in Pearl street.o
WAS he wellp" whispered Mary,
not daring to look Jack in the face,
but dropping her eyes upon her snowy
apron and absent mindedly smoothing
out a wrinkle.