The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-01-05
Eyes. there is Maum Liza" said Mr.

Eyes, there is Maum Liza" said Mr.
Falkner.
He was 81 utterly miserable that he did
not even wonder at the Colonels strange
question s:But money can't buy her. She
was my children's nurse, and she's first
rate housekeeper."
:.Well, then, I'll tell you what I'll do,' IN
his cold, deliberate voice Il have more
money already than can spend, and don't
want yours. You say you are ruined, ana
to meet your debts you will probably be
forced to sell your slaves, Maum Liza among
them Now see here. I will put up all
have won from you tonight, at least twenty
thousand dollars, against your house
keeper"
Mt Falkner poured out a goblet OF bran
dy and swallowed it. he was ruined, and
he knew it; and he knew, too, that bis wife
would sacrifice all her possessions to pay
his debts-and oh, such debts he had won
few games that night, and why should he
not, at one lucky stroke, retrieve his losses!
A braip heated by liquor aud excitement Is
| incapable of reasonable thought, and No
cried out:
Ozone! Maum Liza against your win
ningsi"
.:Oh, nv blessed nawstersp ' nuttered
Jerry, jumping up in his excitement. Ell
he hain't pat up Maum Liza, and she wild
her husbin and her chilluns, and Mis-
Marg'ret tinkin' as much oh her as ct she
wor her own kin! It's gwine ter be me-
| nex'," and the poor fellow shivered and
ciasped his hands.
With starting eyes he watched, not the
game, but the players. FIe knew nothing
| of cards, but in his masters face he read as
in an open book, the hope, the fear, and the
abject despair with which he played his last
card.
"Done for, by Jovel'' he Cried In tren2-
bling voice, and covered his face with his
hand He had drank q great deal, but not
enough to stifle the sharp pain with which
! he realized that he had been guilty Of the
vilest aud uleanest act Of his life.
! In memory he saw his children in the arms
Of AIaum Liza, their bright heads pillowed
on her breast, aud her loving voice soothing
their infant woes. Such ., good. faithful
servant! Never weary in her ministrations
at the sick bed, and so cheerful and smil~
| ingi he was reused by Colonel Lowry's
voice.
| .:Look here, Falkner, you must not worry
about your losses. You can take your own
time to pay them, and if it's not convenient,
you needn't think Of them for years and
years. I suppose you would feel insulted If
I proposed to cancel the debt altogether.
But The house-Eeeper mast have, and just
as soon as possible By the way, lis broad
daylight, and presume the woman is up
and about. Suppose you send Jerry for her.
I'D like to see herr
"Tell Maum Liza 70 come here, jerry
Mr. Falizner said, in cholzed voice.
"Well, believe won't wait" Colonel
/ Lowry said, utter q pause. 1.-THE woman
will be apt to make scene, suppose
they always do--though she'll be queen and
more in MY household. I don't like scenes
81 s. fuss Send her to me to-day, if posi-
Bile Good-morning.'
Mr.. Falhnor sat stunned, holding his ach'
Ing head in his hands. If he could only die
ther, ;sna there and get out of it all! A full,
neloitious voice reused him;
"Jerry says you sont for nae, nawsuer'
Does you want any thing, sila'
"Dla not cry tell you2n stanrAarcd hel
master,
uNo. sig; he jest Flowed you wanted me .
Her voice was getting tresnujous with Tear
"lyeu, YOU see, I've been losing every
thing as cards ''-heW stiff his lips We're
sAColooel Lowry wants {. honseAcetier, ana
my good Liza, you must go to HIM for :aNniio
Ga, ii; have YOU back, Of course, IN very
few months, a very few, if ii takes every
cert have. You see, its % debt OF honor,
slnd have TO let you go for short time"
IS Mawster, did you play me off at 81 game
81 ofsros!7' she asked, stra NICELY 4ulet'
swell, yess, that's about it. Don't a1aAs
. fuss, nv good Liza, aud disturb ycur niis
tress. I'm ruined, tell yon, and yEo1ald
have had to sell you. anyway, and perhaps
not to as kind master as Colonel lowry
ssYou played me Oft" she went OF, in the
same monotouous voice, '1ne Hot has tended
yer babies in. sickness ana in health and
nussed dem at dis breast. Ne Wot has
watched yer wife IN illness and took no rest
Tor sleep till she got we'll. You played me
OF like was q stone or d stick, and YOU
tears me from husbin and chilluns dat
loves as you loves yer OWE Q blessed
Lordp' har voice rising in passionate agen!
and her hands uplifted, ''jedge 'twst me
aud dis man, my mawsSer. l has worked
FUR him early and late, has given my
strength and my heart to serbs him and
his, and he tears me- from nay fambly-sells
mel sells me! sells nep
Her voice rose to shrill shrek, and Mrs
! HelEner, ArOuSau auu toTGAA5Oi 1<sn law WAX
room in her night-dress.
"Nhat is the matter, joint" she cried
"What is the matter with Maum Liza9"
THE woman had fallen on her knees, he'
wild eyes raised to Heaven.
| "He's done lost the at cards, honey" shs
said, with shrill. wild laugh more terrible
than tears. "I'se to be sont away from yos
all, from my Peter, and my little chilluns,
to Cunne! Lowry's, and I'll nebber come
back no more"
Then, as if the words envoked some mem
| ory in her poor crazed brain, she sang aloui
In her beautiful, pathetic voice:
"rll nebber come back,
| Iii ncbber come back,
TIL nebber come back no more,
| He's tuck my cross, my crown is won.
| And I'll uebber como back no more
"She does not know what she says; she
Ia crazyi' Mrs Falkner exclaimed. "John
speak, it is not truea"
| He bent his head in the deepest hun,lia
! tiOn.