St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-15
UNDER A SUFFERING LAMP.
It Needs No Shining Moon When Rsn'
Romance Is in Question.

kOmaEco AS IN IuSstioA'
There was something the matter with
the big electric lamp on top OF the high
pole at the corner. 1t kept suffering ana
Kissing it's discomfort with whatever alec
it, and now and again it shut Off Its rays
entirely, save for dull red glow thao
made ugly shadows beyond the mouse
stoops and awnings.
"Faithr" exclaimed Mrs. Flanagan,
"phwat bedivilment is it dunno IN the
light tn night. It's been aisy enough now
for a week. Phwy don't 1t burn or shu'
no an be done wild it?"
"a little lights better'n none, Mrs. Elan
aran. on such q night" replied Kate,
..when the moon must be wearin her eyes
ont lukin' for the earth, the clouds be so
heavy"
"Av. ay," assented the elder woman.
that's likeye; yous'd be fndin' some good
in it if bot the sun an the moon should
ret lost altogether an niver show us their
faces again, SO we would
Kate laughed and looked tenderly down
at the wee face resting on her arm. They
were sitting on the steps getting what cool
their might be in the late hours of the
evening. The narrow street lined with up
turned draws and trucks and scattered over
with refuse was silent save for the 10"
rumbling of the machines in the bakery
opposite, where white capped German
were making bread for the city.
| Its a hard time ye're havin' since the
mother died. Kate" said Mrs Flanagan,
dropping the bantering tone with which
she had scored the suffering lamp.
Hard We may say, Mrs. Flanagan" re
spouded Kate, with trembling lip but
SUI. it's much harder for the children to
be without her when they need n4> Their
most" and she rose to put the baby in oed,
hoping that sleep had become 80 sound
that the hot, close air of the tenement
would not again rouse her before morning
"Av, av," muttered Mrs. Flanagan, al
WAYS workin an thinkin' for somebody
else an Givil bit Of comfort to be taHln
for herself and she, too, rose to seek the
black room up three flights OF stairs where
she slept
When Kate came down few minutes
later and found the steps deserted she sat
with her face in her hands, trying to ban
ish her thoughts in listening to the duli
sounds from the bakery. Presently the
trap door to the stairs leading down to the
underground workshop opened, ana
Young man with white apron and flour
stained clothes peered anxiously across the
street. He crossed over and sat belo"
Kate on the steps
1T vas oful warn zu nacht, Katie, be
said, laying his cap beside him
Eyes, Karl" she replied; ''it must bs
terrible in there by the ovens"
$50 it vas" assented Karl, but OF cot
tink not. | vas tinkin' Of you, Katie"
''Me?" she exclaimed in mock derision
faith, haven't We enough to think of with
yourself, what with your dough and YOU
Yeast and your long shovels for reaching
after the hread?"
"Nein, Katie" responded Karl. with the
equanimity Of a man whose mind Is SCI
upon definite policy; mo: dere's some
ting more, more as all dot. 1t vas you
Katie, all of it. You know me, Katie,
goot many years, already. Vat you thinks"
The lamp at the corner sputtered turl
ously, shook its flame anErily and wen
out
"Karl." began Kate TREMENDOUSLY, as sh
rose to her feet.
"Yah, Katie, I lofe you long time al
ready hat my pay tonight raiset.
tink Won lOfe me, Katie; better as dot,
know itr'
Karl ha! risen and they stood close to
gether. The lamp at the corner drowned
in vigorous hiss whatever happened be
tween Kate and karls lips, and when II
the next instant the street was aglow witt
light a voung man was plodding across tn
way to look after his dough and youn
woman was making her way upstairs wit
, O. lighter heart than she had ever known
New York Sun.