, 1888-04-12
.,yneo n paper which committed his vt

so Mary had grown upto be an exemplary
young woman and the pride of her bene'
factors.
jacks curiosity was awakened to find
out " hat kind of man Mary's father
was, and so he started out one night "
search For him. lie spent three nights
after working hours In the search, aud
found him ut last in miscrably sqrAld
room on the top floor OF tenement house
in Pearl street. lie was far gone on the
road to the grave. The ne ghbors diC
what they could for him, which was nv
much, for they were very poor So Jack
sat up with him late into the night. =
feeble kerosene lamp burned on the man
tel and the corners of tho room were filled
with shadows Mr.. Rogers fell into an
uneasy slumbcr toward midnight aud
muttercd In his dreams about the good
things he had TO eat when his wife was
alive. In his incohcreut remarks he men
toned roast beef and gravy. Then he
awUlic.
II was dramin' iv ,h' foine fcedn'
had aforc Mollic died. Aye, by hut 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 be 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, ilutteling
and pallng into the buck part OF the res
nnrant.
Miss Rogers" said Jack, all Of n
trcmbc because his love was so nea-, II
saw your father last night"
MY father, gasped Mary In alarm.
"Whcrc was bc'"
"ln back room on the top door of
tenement in Pearl street"
WAS he wcll:' whispered Mary, not
daring to look Jack in the face, but drop
ping her eyes upon her snowy apron and
absent mindedly smoothing out II wrinkle,
mo. he was i'll. lie spoke about the
pancakes your mother used to make, and
said that IL hc could have some equally ns
good lie thoughi lac might feel better, and
perhaps recover his heath. IL you are
willing to make them for him i will see
that he gets them.'
"How good Of you,' replied Mary,
looking mt him with 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 nrc afraid to 90
with me, as am II stranger to your"
Mary looked shylyc him and hesitated
lot u fnOuenI. linen stlc shlu:
"But have seen you in the restaurant,
haven't II And l think YOU can be
trusted. You don't lock like II 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
grddle ready.
All day long Mary sang at her work
and smiled To herself In anticipation Of
the meeting Sometimes, however, she
l. 81.
father. But her recollection of him was
very indistnct and associated only with
oaths and blows. At O o'clock the restau-
rant was closed and Mary stepped out
upon tho walk with n tin pal in her hand
containing batter n small Eriddle 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. He was walking up and down the
sidewalk impaticntly They went ncross
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 fel, rather
than saw their way up the dark stairway.
Mary was frightened ut the dismal look
of her fathers room, but Jack chcercd
her Mr.. Rogers was awakened by the
opening of the door, Jack turned his
bncl on the meeting between Mary and
her father, but he heard feeble aLl broken
acknowledgements of past weakness and
promises for the future When lie turned
and came to the bedside he saw two wet
faces, one sOftcned and repeatant, the
o,her hopeful and shining.
DO you think you could cat some pam
cakes, father?' said Mary.
"Oh, dear, | could av had some iv yer
mothers maxim, Mary. I'm fcelin' bet
ter already since yo kcm,' and he raised
himself on his pillow to show his strength.
But, father, ] can make you some,
and I'll warrant mother never made bet
ter" snid Mary, looking archly vt Jack,
And so the pancakes were made. Jack
lit the wick in the stove and creased TIE
griddlc, while Mary poured out the bat
ter, and the savory smoke arose like in
ccn,c in the dismal room and made Mr..
Rogers sniff cheerily.
lie sat up in bed, bolstered by pillows,
and ate two OF the cakes. All tho time
his eyes followed the trim form of his
daughter rs she titied 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 mt the door. She
ran up stairs and looked in the glass to
see if his lips had left n mark ON her
check. The next morning she ran down
to see her father and make him comfort
able for tho day.
Under the watchful care Of Jack and
Mary the old man slowly became stronger,
and in few weeks was about again. He
did not return TO his old habits. and for
sock the tenement for two rooms in
more pretcntous locality, where Mary
went with him to keep house. The other
day there was Guiet wedding, Mt which
larry and Jack Were the principals and q
sew choice friends the spectators. The
chief dish at the wedding feast was u big
plate of pancakes bake by the bride.
Now the many persons who pass the
restaurant daily look in the window, but