Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-12-18
A Romance Of Cole Alley.
BY ERNEST A. YOUNG.

w IL IL d-tluttls '"Nt'g1 tiiat liS
should a happened along Jest as he did,
and picked me up when fell on that
crossin', and come nigh being run over
wild the trucks and carts ? Want it a
queer, daddyI'
"Yes, yes, it was a-queer, Judy and
the old man laughed in his childish, hys-
terical fashion.
"And want it odd, too, persisted
Judy, in her eagerness to arouse the GRIP
pie to more enthusiastic demonstration,
"that he should a-took sech shine to
me the fust thing, and fetched me
home in a hack, and not aXed me cent
for doin' of it! Want it real romantic,
daddyp
"Yes, Judy, it was a-queer," and the
cripple laughed again. Then, under
fash of intelligence which was as bill
liant as it was rare to the weakminded
old man, Daddy Grimes added -
"But it wouldn't done no good for
him to aXed ye for pay for bringin' of
ye, long as ye didn't have no money to
pay him wild, Judy"
This remark was not so gratifying to
the young lady's vanity as she could have
wished. To have the we'll dressed driver
of an Armstrong hack show her so much
attention, and treat her with such un-
deniable Difference, was an episode of
more than ordinary moment in the exist
ence of Judith Grim s. She had always
felt vague yearning for higher sphere
of society than that afforded by Cole
Alley, where she lived.
"IIe didn't know but had a-plenty of
money, daddy" said Judy. with faint
flash of resentment in her small, pale
eyes.
''Most folks as lives here amt very
rich," returned the perverse old man,
not so much to oppose Judy, because he
did not dream how the words cut into
her ambitious and senitive soul, as to
make some response to what she was
saying. 1t was long time since Daddy
Grimes had felt any real discomfort with
the surroundings and denizens of the
obscure alley.
''He took me for lady, so he did"
cried Judith, unable longer to restrain
her indignation. ''Ie aXed me if lived
close by, he did, and there we was right
on Park street, he a-comin' down and me
a-goin' up. Like enough he thought |
was lady's maid in one of the big bug
houses on Beacon street or thereabout.
Don't | wish | wasp
And Judy rolled up her pale eyes in
the ecstacy of contemplation.
81 doesn't know nothin' about Beacon
street, nor none Of them places. Cole
Alley is high-toncd enough for me, -
said Daddy Grimes.
The discussion was stopped at this
point by the unceremonious entrance of
tall young man with wooden leg, and u
broad scar across one cheek.
''liey, Daddy! gooo mornin', Judy, !"
was his double salutation, and he added
interest to the last half Off by bestowing
hearty kiss upon the young lady's
freckled cheek
She drew away from him little scorn-
fully.
81 didn't say ye might, Dan Vokcs ~
she exclaimed. He gave her keen
glance to see if her tone was feigned or
genuine.
"Youd "a been oflish enough if Ia
passed ye by with jest howde-do," he
returned.
81 could "a stood it we'll enough if We
hadn't come a-stumpin' in here, 'thout
knockin' nor nothin'. Gentlemens never
call on ladies 'thout knockin' afore they
come imp
Dan Vokes stared at Judy as though
he doubted the evidence of his own
senses. Never had she spoken like that
to him. She got impatient with Daddy
sometimes and who would not-but to
him, her afiianced husband, she had ever
been as affectionate and gentle as heart
could wish.
Dan was rough fellow, but he was a
trile sensitive, after all. Judy's recep-
tion cut him more kccnly than his limit
ed resources of language could express.
Whats come over ye, Judyi" he eX-
claimed, going up to her and taking one
of her large, red hands in both of his
own, which were proportionally larger
still.
'Nothin' has come over me, as | knows
on, ," was her sullen answer.
"Ihen what makes ye so offish?"
"Gou couldn't understand a lady's
feeln's if told ye."
"Wall, I've got to go to work, and
mabbe ye'll feel more good natured when
l git back ter-night." s"
Dan turned to go; but at the door he
was brought to pause by judy sudden
ly coming toward him and saying
'You needn't trouble yourself to call
ter-night, nor to-morrer Mr.. Vokes. I'm
agoin' to choose my compny in future.
l don't cal'late to stay in Cole Alley all
my days, anyhow"
This was delivered with rapidity that
sounded almost like anger, and Dan,
mystiiied, cut to the quick by the un-
merired rebuff, gave her single re-
proachful glance and then went out with.
out word.
Judy covered her face with her hands
and sobbed hysterically for few mo
mcnts after he was gone, and then. hast
lily wiping away her tears, went to her
corner of the single dlngy apartment,
which was curtained off from the rest by
means of sheet and some ragged cast
oil clothing suspended from pole. The
principal part of the room was kitchen,
parlor and bedroom for Daddy Grimes all
in one. 1t was something iii Cole Alley
to have a sleeping apartment partitioned
off from the living room, even though
the division was somewhat frail in ma.
tcrial.
In half an hour Judy came out
dressed for the street. She hastily
gave Daddy very weak BROTH with
few crackers, for his breakfast; ant
then hurried to restaurant on the ad
jacent street, where she was engaged foi
the day as scrub-glrl. She was SUP.
piled with food by her temporary EN-.
ployer, and received fifty cents for hci
work besides. Evening found hcl