The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-08-14

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i lied the truth.
ssIs any man that - that's thsvsd
from meY he asked. Boys Is any man
that bad
And some one answered: mo doubt
Of II, Rooney; it's stole
Then Rooney put his head down on
his hands and wept. 1t seemed more
than he could bear--to hay8 Nora and
the child pat months away from him
again.
But when he went to work that day II
seemed to all who saw him that he had
picked up new determination; his
hands were never idle. At noon he
scratched out letter, blotted and very
strangely scrawled. telling Nora what
had happened; and the men noticed
that he had no meat with his dinner.
4
bread, potatoes and cold watef and
worked as few men ever worked before;
1t grew to be tho talk of the shop. and
every one wanted TO help Rooney. Jobs
were thrown In his way; kind words
| and friendly wishes helped him might
lily; but no power could make him share
the food or drink of any other workman;
that seemed a sort OF charity to him.
Still, he was helped along. present
from Mr.. Camp At payday set Nora, as
he. said. "a week nearsr,,ssTs he ffttie
hoard grew faster than the first. At
last before he hoped it, he was able to
say: I'm going TO bring them over"
ard to show his handkerchief, in which,
as before, he tied up his earnings this
time, however, only to hfs friends
Cautious among strangers, he hid his
treasure and kept his vest buttoned
over 1t night and day until the tickets
were bought and sent. Then every
man, woman and child capable OF hear
| ing or understanding knew that Nora
| and the baby we're coming.
The days&ew by and brought at last
. letter from his wife. "She would
start as he desired, and she was we'll
and SO was the boy, and might the Lord
| bring them safe to each others arms and
bless those who had been SO kind to
him." That was the substance Of the
epistle that Rooney proudly assured the
men that Nora wrote herself. She had
| lived at service as girl with certain
| good old lady who had given her an ed
ucation the items of which Rooney told
| nponZhis fingers: "The radin', that's
one; and the writin', that's three; and
| moreover she knows all o woman can
Then he looked at the men and asked:
| do ye wondther the time seems long
| between me an her, boys~
| So it was Nora al. the dawn Of day,
Nora at noon and Nora at might, until
| the news came that the Kathleen had
come to port. 1t happened on holiday
afternoon, and half dozen men were
| ready to go with Rooney to the steamer
and give his wife welcome. Her little
home was ready; Mr. Camps own serv-
ant had put it in order.
s'She hadn't the loike of that in the
Guild eeunthry,n said Rooney, when all
was arranged; "bnt she'll know how to
kape it tidy"
At last the dock was reached; crowd
! OF vehicles blockaded the street; troop
of emigrants came thronging up; fine
cabin. passengers were stepping into
f cabs; drivers and porters were shouting
in the usual manner@--Nora would wait
on board for her hus band-he knew that.
| The little group made their way into
the vessel, and Rooney searched for the
two so dear to him, patiently at first,
but by and by growing anxious and ex-
cited. =
f4--ssSN fy=don' t~-y ou ask the captafn?'f
suggested. one, and Rooney jumped at
| the thought. In few-moments he
stood before a portly, rubicund man,
who nodded to him kindly.
"Tm looking for me wife, yer honor"
said Rooney, and / can't find her; l babe
her wait for me. /"
"Women don't always do as they are
bid, you know" said the captain.
Mora would" said Rooney "but may
be she didn't come
At the name of Nora-the captain
started In a moment he asked: "What
is your name?"
mike Rooney. sir"
"And your wife's was Nora?"
That's her name, and the boy with
| her is Jamesy, yer honor"
The captain looked at Rooney and
| thensaid: .ssSit down, my man; Eve got
something to tell you"
-"She's left behind2" asked Rooney.
| She sailed with us, said the captain.
my man, we all have our trials; God
sends them. Yes, Nora started with us, +"
| Rooney said nothing. He was looking
at the captain, now white to the lips.
"Its been sickly season. we had ill
ness on board-the cholera" said the
captain. MANY died many children.
When we were halfway here your boy
was taken sick" 49,
'Jamesy!" gasped Rooney
His mother watched him night and
day." the captain went on, ''and we did
all we could but at last he died, only
one of many There were five buried
that day"
Rooney groaned.
keep up if you can, my man." said
the captain. THAT night Nora was
taken i'll also, very suddenly; she grew
worse fast In the morning she called
me to her and said: Tell Rooney died
thinking OF him, and tell him to meet
me. And, my man, she never said any
thing more; in an hour she was gone. y
| Rooney had risen; he stood up trying
to steady himself, looking at the cap
tain with dry eyes; then, turning to his
friends, he said: Boys, I've got me
DEATH" and dropped to the deck like a
log.
They raised him and bore him away.
They carried him to thelittle bed which
had been made ready for Nora, wearied
with her long journey There at last
he opened his eyes. Mr.. Camp bent
/ over him, and the room was full of
Rooney's fellow-workmen.
Better, 7Roohey2n asked Mr-Gamp.@
"A dale betther,n said Rooney; Tits
easy now. I'll be with her soon. And
look ye, Masther, I've learnt one thing
Gods good. He wouldn't let me bring
] Nora over, but He's taking'm me over to
her-and Jamesy-oyer the river. Don't