The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-02-28
miscellaneous.
Pat O'Rouke's Handkerchief.

" Y. Sun.
"Arrah, Patsey, DEAR" said Mrs. O'Rouke
to her husband as he was about to leave the
third floor, back, in tenement in Harlem to
go to work on the subway, rye mustn't be sure
to come home airly to-noight, bekase I'm to
give little party"
"Give party p exclaimed Pat "Shure
parties are not for the likes O. ye, Bddy. Is
it thryin' to make foine Teddy of yersel ye
are? Faix the rint is due this day won wake,
and the small little tin dollars I'll be gettin'
II not more nor pay for the bit and the sup,
let alone the rint. Be REASONABLE, woman
be REASONABLE. Ye jist boil the cabbidge, and
wash the clothes, and mind the childer, and
lave the parties to Mr.. Vanderbilt and the
likes of him."
Mrs. O'Rouke placed her hands on her hips,
and looked at her husband with blazing eyes.
"Ye can keep yer wind to cool yer fists
whin the frost comes, Pat o Rouke," she said,
as scorn curled her upper lip. "If ye'd sthop
workin' the growler ye'd have more sinse and
more dollars, bad cess to ye. All wants of
you is wan dollar. have two dollars and
fifty cints ARMED meseP this wake washin'
fur Mr.. Hill as steers caar on the high rail-
road, and q nicer, mater gintleman We
wouldn't see from here to the battery. It's
not loike you he is wild yer snarlin' and"
Mrs. O'Rouke's anger found vent in tears,
and Patsey, feeling foolish and embarrassed
as men are apt to feel under such crcumstan-
ces, put his arm around his wife and COM
forted her by saying:
"Well. well, niver moind, Biddy. Don't be
breakin' yer heart over thrifes, me dear
Musha, we can have party livery day in the
wake, ma bouchal, if it gives ye delight, so
We can. There, there dry yer eyes, me dar-
lit. Faix, I'm an ould brute, so am"
Mrs. O'Rouke dropped the apron with
which she had been drying her eyes and play
fully placed her large red hand over her hus-
bands mouth in gentle remonstrance. Her
face shone with affection for her husband
and contrtion for her hasty words as she ex-
planned
"Ye see, Patsey dear, it'll be only weeny
little PARTY. Jamesey Flanagan was mar
rid lasht wake to Mrs. MacFadden's lass
Mary, and l wants to give thin little wed
din party jist to show thin that they are
sthandin' we'll in Harlem, Pat. l have the
front room brushed up as clane as fresh
egg and new coat of varnish on the chairs,
and the cigarette picture hangin' up forninst
the clock. l have apples and bananas and
candies from the Eyetalian on the corner
Everything's ready cepting the Madary wine
fur, Pat. Now, be home airly, so the COM
panyll not be disappointed"
There was sound,of oscuiation in the hall
way, and then Pat emerged from the house
on run to catch the next elevated train at
125th street. When Pat alighted from the
train at Houston street he hurried quickly
over to Broadway, where the subway was
being laid. So anxious was he to crafty his
wife in regard to the party that the day
seemed much longer than usual. He pictur-
ed to himself hundred times the gratified
look with which his wife would receive him
on his return with the coveted dollar. 1t was
Pats intention, however, to hand his wife
his weeks wages, minus only one dollar for
the purchase of tobacco and beer during the
week.
How she'll smile whin hand her the nine
dollars, when she thinks shell get only war"
muttered Pat to himself as he walked away
with his shovel.
And so, when o'clock came and Pat re-
ceived his money, he started on quick walk
for the station. Before he had covered half
The distance it occurred to him that he was
thirsty and he dropped in at saloon on the
way. Here he met friend in the person OF
John Mulcahy, whom he had not seen for a
year. .....,
Leave it there, Null" said Pat, extending
his hand, which was shaken heartily by his
friend. "Faix, didn't see ye for month O.
Sundays. How's times wild yer"
well, they might be betther and they
might be worse" replied Mulcahy with q
resigned air. But have the price ofa drink.
Will We have something to take the dust out
of your throat p
"Well, seem it's you, I don't moind if l
do" replied Pat.
While the bartender was placing the glasses
and bottles on the bar, Pat took from his
pocket an old and battered bandanns hand
kerchief. The rag had seen long and faith
full service. ...... ~
aye ought to throw that Handkerchief away.
Pat" said Mulcahy. Faith, if liver saw a
relic of ould dacency, that's wan"
"It's the best have" replied Pat proceed
to tie up SO of his money in the handker-
chief and slowing it carefully away in his
breast pocket.
The brogues of the two men became loosened
after the first drink. and Pat ordered another.
After this process Pats tenth dollar was al
most gone. He had forgotten all about the
party, and, in fact, was not in condition to
remember anything when he parted with
Mulcahy at the saloon door. The sense of
Saturday nights wealth which is the prero-
gative of laborer also suffused him. Several
times on the way home he took the bandanna
containing the SO from his pocket, and look
ed at it with contempt, saying as he did so
'Begorra, that rags disgrace to dacent
man like mew
Pat arrived at home an hour late. The
windows of his apartments shone with light.
Laughter came through the door as Pat lin
gered in the hallway. His wife greeted him
with the smile of an angel only wanting
wings as she drew him secretely into the
kitchen and exclaimed: 81
"Quick, Pat, give me the dollar fur the
Madary wine and cake. The company 3
waitin' p ~
With a maudlin smile on his good-humor-
ed face Pat plunged his hand into his pocket
and produced twenty-five cent piece. =,
is that all ye have?" cried O'Rouke.
"Don't disthress yerser, Biddy, me darlint,"
said Pat Il have 50 tied up in me Guild
handkerchief. Feel in my coat pocket, Bid
dy" 81.
Biddy did as she was directed, and discov-
cred nothing but an old pipe.
The light that sometimes surprises the
Christian on his way through this vale of
tears came to Pat. His jaw dropped and he
fell against the wall. "'
"Fwhat's the matther, Patsey, dear2" cried
his wife, in alarm.
"Arrah, God forgive me, Biddy," gasped
Pat; "but whin was comm home on the
high caars took me handkerchief from me
pocket, and twas so full O. holes l threw it