, 1890-10-25
urpgn a seuTTgRNe LAMp.
It Needs No shining Moon when Real
Romance Is In Question.

II Needs No whining Moon when Real
Romance 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 IL shut off its rays
entirely, save for a dull red glow that
made ugly shadow beyond the house
stoops and awnings.
"Faithi' exclaimed Mrs. Flanagan,
"phwat bedivilment is It / dunno in the
Light tn night. It's been aisy enough now
for a week. Phwy dom it burn or shut
up an be lone wild itf"
"A little lights better'n none, Mrs. Elan
agan, on such a night" replied Kate,
when the moon must be wearin' her eyes
out lukin' for the earth. the clouds be so
heavy"
"Ay, ay," assented the elder woman,
that's Xix ye; yous'd be Andin' some good
in It II bot the sun an the moor should
get lost altogether an niver show us their
faces again, so ye 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 drays and trucks and scattered over
with refuse was silent save for the low
rumbling of the machines in the bakery
opposite, where white capped Germans
were making bread for the city.
TITS 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 ye may say, Mrs. Flanagan, " re-
sponded Kate, with trembling lip. but
sure it's much harder for the children to
be without her when they need a mother
most" and she rose to put the baby in bed,
hoping hat sleep had become so sound
that the hot. close air of the tenement
would not again rouse her before morning.
LAY, ay," muttered Mrs. Flanagan, ''al-
ways a workin' an thinkin' for somebody
else, an divil a bit of comfort to be takin'
for herself" and she, too, rose to seek the
black room up three flights Of stairs where
she slept.
When Kate came down a 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 a
young nan with a white apron and flour
stained clothes peered a%nxiously across the
street. He crossed over and sat below
Kate on the steps.
at vas oful warn gu nacht, Katie" he
said, laying his cap beside him.
Yes, Karl" she replied; sit must be
terrible in there by the ovens"
so It vas" assented Karl, ''but of dot 1
tink not. vas tinkin' of you, Katie"
Mel" 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 breadp'
"Nein, Katiel" responded Karl. with the
equanimity of a man whose mind is set
upon a definite policy; mo; dere's some
ting more, more as all dot. 1t vas you,
Katie, all Of 1t. You know me. Katie, a
goot many years, already. Vat you tinksf"
The lamp at the corner sputtered furi
ously. shook its fame angrily and went
out.
"Barl." began Kate tremulously, as she
rose to her feet.
Yah, Katie, I lofe you a long time al
ready. l hat my pay tonight raiset. L
tink you lofe me, Katie; better as dot, I
know It'll"
Karl had risen and they stood close to-
gether. The lamp at the corner drowned
In a vigorous hiss whatever happened be-
tween Kate and Karl's lips, and when in
the next instant the street was aglow with
light a young mar was plodding across the
way to look after his dough and a young
woman was making her way upstairs with
a lighter heart than she had ever known.
New York Sun