Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-16

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half a dozen new shirts in the old fash
Toned way, and perhaps f-l-F'--
Here ne colored up again. and Mary
came to the rescue with
"Of course, you like TO wear the shirts
because your mother made them ii
tell You how you can fix it Bring the
shirts down to the store tomorrow and
I'll get poor woman to fix button holes
in the shirt SO that you can use collar
buttons.
He stammered out his THANKS and,
bewildered by the glamour Of the bright
ewes which beamed so kindly upon him,
he bought a So red velvet album. for
which he had no use and which sug-
gested each time he looked at il as II lay
Ia his bedroom the dainty hands which
had wrapped 1t so deity in the paper
parcel, the string and the paper OF which
he had hidden away in his valise.
Mary was not aware of il. but that
night when she boarded Madison ave-
nue. car to go home, a tall. swarthy
Young man. with bundle under his
arm, stood by the driver on the front
platform. When she alighted at 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 fiuttered
had she known that when she lit the
night lamp in her chamber its CLEAN
was watched by pair of dark eyes in
the street below, and that only when
puff Of breath from her rosy lips put out
the shimmering flame did lingering foot
steps die away upon the 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 even bold enough to
ask Mary to go to supper with him. But
he had not courage enough TO ask II he
could accompany her home.
Did Mary send the shirts to the poor
woman whom she had spoken OF? Oh, |
no: as tired as she was on arriving at |
home she sat up until 80 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 the delirium Of love.
Those were pleasant days for Mary. |
Her eyes took on a new luster. her cheek
assumed a more roseate hue. The elixir
of love had animated her with new life.
All day she hummed under her breath:
just a little sunshine.
just little rain:
Jut little happiness
Just a little pain
At last, one night just before the fair
closed. Buttons" mustered up enough
to ask If 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
iows and the sidewalks shining in the
light it was necessary to walk close To-
gether because the crowd was so great
and the umbrella was small
Ii 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 her-and she
listened carefully fearful that she might
ose word--how he had come to the
,ity from Otsego county and was fortu-
nate enough 10 secure a job as black
ninth in a railroad car shop. His name
vas Tom Murphy. He had good trade. !
md one of these days he intended to get /.
married. If he found a girl who was viii
ing to take homely fellow like him.
Here Mary arelly said:
"Why. don't think you're homely."
Tom gave her hand squeeze. just a
title one. and then they walked in ST.
ence for awhile and at last arrived in
ront of her fathers house
IL can't ask you 10 60 in. she said. in
deprecating manner, because it's too
ate. But can't you come around some
ther night?r
Could bel Could the stars shine!
'ould a duck swimi Well, he should
ather guess he couldl But there was
title matter he wanted to mention.
Iere he became strangely silent, and
ED her hand while the rain fell with a
low drip on the umbrella.
"What is it, she said, palpitating like
frightened rabbit.
A big lump came up in Toms throat
nd mist swan before his ewes. He
lrned pale as he placed his hand be-
cath her chin and raised her dropping
cad so that he could look into her eyes.
Il was wondering" he continued. in
n unsteady voice. 'if you would be
'illing To give up selling buttons and
evote your whole time to sewing but
1ns on my clothingt'
"Oh. Tom" she said, struggling to get
way But he held her fast and for an
lstant the Irish frieze overcoat and the
'aterproof were pressed close together
y sturdy blacksmith's arm. 4 gust of
ind came around the corner and car
ed the answer away, but it must have
cen favorable to his wishes. for Tom as
,nished the Italian chestnut vender on -
lie corner by buying out his whole stock
nd otherwise acting like good natured
matte. New York Evening Sun.
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