San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-04-11

mary was nOt uWurt VI ", out tuue
night when she boarded Madison ave-
nue car to 60 home, n tall, swarthy
young man, with bundle under his
arm, stood by tho driver on tho front
platform. When she alighted nt Grand
street she was unaware that behind her,
lodging along In the shadows, came the
young man and the bundle.
How her heart would have fluttered
had she known that when she Lit the
night lamp In her chamber Its gleam
was watched by pair Of dark eyes In
tho street below, and that only when q
puff Of breath from her rosy lips put out
the shimmcring flame did lingering foot
steps die away upon tho pavement In the
direction Of the Bowery.
But the next night found Buttons" at
the fair. This time he brought the shirts
with him, and was oven bold enough to
ask Mary to go to supper with him. But
he had not courage enough to ask III he
could accompany her home.
Did Mary send the shirts to the poor
woman whom she had spoken of Oh,
no; rs tired as she was on arriving at
home she sat up until 1850 making but.
ton holes In Buttons" shirts. And
while she was shipping with her scissors,
and her needle was flying in and out, her
lover was pacing back and forth on the
opposite side Of the street, his heart on
fire with tho delirium Of love.
Those were pleasant days for Mary.
Her eyes took on new luster, her cheek
assumed moro roseate hue. Tho elixir
Of love had animated her with new life.
All day she hummed under her breath:
Just little sunshine
Just little rain;
Just little happiness,
Just little pain.
At last, one night just before the fair
closed, "Buttons" mustered up enough
courage to ask II he could accompany
her home. His excuse was that the night
was wet and she had no umbrella, and
she consented, so shyly, oh, so shyly, and
suggested that as the fair closed early
they should walk. AS they went down
/, the Bowery with Its brilliant shop win
dows and the sidewalks shining in the
light 1t was necessary to walk close to-
gether because the crowd was SO great
and the umbrella was small.
1t was curious, but neither had eyes
for the dazzling scene along the route.
Buttons" beguiled the way with the
story of his life. He told hcr-and she
listened carefully fearful that she might
lose word-how he had come to the
city from Otsego county and was fortu-
nate enough TO secure job as black
smith in railroad car shop. His name
was Tom Murphy. He had a good trade,
and one of these days he intended to get
married IL he found girl who was will
ling to take a homely fellow like him.
Here Mary archly said:
"Why, don't think you're homely."
Tom gave her hand n squeeze, just q
little one. and then they walked In 81
Ience for awhile and at last arrived In
front of her fathers house.
~ can't ask you to go in" she said, In
a deprecating manner, "because It's too
late. But can't you come around some
other night?"
Could hel Could the stars shinel
Could duck swiml Well, he should
rather guess he couldl But there was q
little matter he wanted to mention:
Here he became strangely silent, and
held her hand while tho rain fell with a
slow drip on the umbrella.
"What is it2 she said, palpitating like
frightened rabbit.
A big lump came up In Toms throat
and n mist swan before his eyes. He
turned pale Us he placed his hand be-
meath her chin and raised her dropping
head 80 that he could look into her eyes.
II was wondering" he continued, In
an unsteady voice, "if you would be
willing to give up selling buttons and
devote your whole time to sewing but
tons on my clothingp
"Oh, Toni" she said, struggling to get
away. But he held her fast and for an
instant the Irish frcze overcoat and the
waterproof were pressed close together
by sturdy blacksmith's arm. A gust OF
wind came around the corner and car
ried the answer away, but 1t must have
been favorable to his wishes, for Tom as
tonished the Italian chestnut vender on
the corner by buying out his whole stock
and otherwise acting like good natured
lunatic. New York Evening Sun.