Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-10

= ne was III. ne spoke doOut the
pancakes your mother used to make, and
said that if he could have some equally is
good he thought he might feel better, and
perhaps recover his heath. If you are
willing to make them for him l will see
that he gets them.
How good Of you." replied Mary,
looking at him with a glance of admira-
ton. But how can we keep them
warm?n
/ ~ hadn't thought of that, but, come to
think. can borrow little oil stove, you
furnish the batter ana the frying pan, and
tonight we will 60 down and take him
some But perhaps you are afraid to 90
with me. as | am Il stranger to yOU?'
| Mary looked shyly at him and hesitated
/ for moment Then she said:
l. But have seen you in the restaurant.
haven't l. And | 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
the meeting. Sometimes, however, she
became gray" when she thought OF her
father. Blu, her recollection of him was
very irdis; met 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 palI in her hand
containing batter. II small griddle 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 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 softeued and repentant, the
other hopeful and shining.
Do you think you could eat some pam
cakes, father?' said Mary
"Oh, dear, | could av had some iv yer
mothers maxim, Mary. I'm feelin' bet
ter already since ye kep," and he raised
himself on his pillow 10 show his strength.
But. father, ] can make you some,
and I'll warrant mother never made bet
ter, - said Mary, looking archly at Jack
And so the pancakes We're made. Jars
liz the wick in the stove and creased the
GriGdle, while Mary poured out the bat
ter, and the savOry smoke arose like in
cenSc in the dismal room and made Mr..
Rogers sniff cheeri.y.
He sat up in bed, oolstered by pillows,
and ate two of the cakes. All the time
his eyes followed the trim form of his
daughter rs 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 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 few weeks was about again. He
did not return TO his old habits. and for
so0k the tenement for two rooms in u
more pretentious locality, where Mary
went with him to keep house. The other
day there was a quiet wedding, at which
Mary and Jack were the principals and
few choice friends the spectators. The
chief dish at the wedding feast was big
plate of pancakes bakel by the bride.
Now the many persons who pass the
restaurant daily look in the window, but
they look in vain for the fair cook. She
is baking pancakes for only two of the
hungry persons in this big town.-New
York Evening Sun.