Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-12
UNDER A Suffering LAMP.
1t Needs No Moon When Real Romance
Is In Question.

Is In Question.
There was something the matter with
the big electric lamp ON top of the high
pole at the corner. 1t kept suffering and
kissing its discomfort with whatever allied
it, and now and again it shut out its rays
entirely, save for dull red glow that
made ugly shadows beyond the house
stoops and awnings.
"Faithw exclaimed Mrs. Flanagan,
"phwat bediyilment is it dunno in the light
tn night? It's been aisy enough now for
week, PLY don't it burn or shut up an
be done wild it?7
"a little lights better'n none, Mrs. Elan
agan, on such night" replied Kate,
when the moon must be wearin' her ewes
out lukin for the earth, the clouds be so
heavy"
cay, ay,H assented the elder woman,
"thats like We; yous'd be 6ndin' some good
in it if bot the sun an the moon should get
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
there might be in the late hours of the
evening. The narrow streets lined with
upturned drays and trucks, and scattered
over with refuse, was silent save for the
low rumbling of the machines in the bak-
cry opposite, where white-capped Germans
were making bread for the city.
"It's 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-
sponded Kate with trembling lip, "but
sure it is much harder for the children to
be without her when they need mother
most" and she rose to put the baby in
bed, hoping that sleep had become so
sound that the hot, close air of the tene-
ment would not again rouse her before
morning.
GAY, ay," muttered Mrs. Flanagan, "al-
ways workin' an thinkin' for somebody
else, an divil bit of comfort to be takin'
for herself" and she, too, rose to seek the
back 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 dull
sounds from the bakery. Presently the
trap door to the stairs leading down to the
underground workshop opened, and head,
White-capped, appeared. Slowly it rose,
and young man with white apron and
Aour-stained clothes peered anxiously
across the street. He crossed over and sat
below Kate on the steps.
at vas oful warm zu nacht, Katie" he
said, laying his cap beside him.
Eyes, Karl" she replied; at must be
terrible in there by the ovens"
$50 it vas" assented Karl, shut of dot l
tink not. vas thinking of you, Katie"
"Me?" she exclaimed, in mock derision,
faith, haven't ye enough to think of with
yourself, what with your dough, and your
yeast and your long shovels for reaching
after the bread ~
"Nein, Katie responded Karl, with the
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 furi-
ously, shook its flame angrily, and went
out.
"Karl," began Kate TREMENDOUSLY, as she
rose to her feet.
"Yah, Katie, lofe you long time al
ready. l hat my pay tonight raiset. 1
tink you lofe me, Katie; better as dot, l
know it."
Karl had risen, and they stood close to-
gether. The lamp at the corner drowned
in q viporOus hiss whatavar bappouod ha
tween Katie and Karps lips, and when in
the next instant the street was aglow with
light young man was plodding across the
way to look after his dough, and young
woman was making her way up stairs with
a lighter heart than she had ever known.
New York Sun.