Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-02-20

my Iatner, gasiea siary IN alarm.
"Where was heN'
'In back room on the top floor OF
tenement in Pearl street"
WAS he we lg'' whispered Mary, not
daring TO look Jack in the face, but drop
png her eyes upon her snowy apron aud
absent mindedly smoothing ont n wrinkle.
NO. he was III. lie spoke about the
pancakes your mother used 10 make, and
said that IL he could have some equally a.
good he thought he might feel better, and
perhaps recover his health. II you are
willing TO make them for him / will see
that he gets them"
How good Of you," replied Mary,
looking at him with glance of admira-
tinn. But how can we keep them
warlnY'
81 hadn't thought OF that, but, come TO
think, can borrow little oil stove, you
furnish the batter and the frying pan, and
tonight we will go down and take him
some. But perhaps you are afraid TO go
with me, rs am Il stranger to youH'
Mary looked shyly at him and hesitated
for a moment. Then she said
''But have seen sou in the restaurant,
haven't II And l think you can be
trusted. You don't look like very bad
man. You bring the Oil stove around to-
night ut q o'clock when the restaurant
closes, and / will have the batter and the
griddle ready.
All day long Mary sang at her work
aud smiled 10 herself in anticipation of
the meeting. Sometimes, however, she
became grave when she thought OF her
father But her recollection of him was
very indistinct and associated only with
oaths and blows. At o'clock the Testau-
rant was closed and Mary stepped out
upon the walk with "A tin PAL in her hand
containing batter, a small griddle wrapped
in paper under her arm, and n nice piece
of salt pork to grease the griddle in her
pocket.
Jack was already there with small oil
stove. He was walking up and down the
sidewalk impatently. They went across
to Center street and from thence 10 Pearl
They said very little, and were content TO
know that each was near TO the other.
On reaching the tenement they felt rather
than saw their way up the dark stairway.
Mary was frightened at the dismal look
Of her fathers room, but Jack cheered
her. Mr.. Rogers was awakened by the
opening of the door. Jack turned his
back ON the meeting between Mary and
her father, but he heard feeble and broken
promises for the future. When he turned
and came 10 the bedside he saw two wet
faces, one softened and repentant, the
other hopeful and shining.
DO you think you could cat some pam
cakes, father" said Mary.
"Oh, dear, l could nv had some iv yer
mothers maxim, Mary. I'm feelin' bet
ter already since ye kem," and he raised
himself on his pillow to show his strength.
"But, father, l can make you some,
and I'll warrant mother never made bet
ter, !" said Mary, looking archly ut Jack.
And so the pancakes were made. Jack
liz the wick In the stove and creased the
griddle, while Mary poured out the bat
ter, and the sayory smoke arose like in
ccnsc In the dismal room aud made Mr..
Rogers sniff chcerily
He sat up in bed, bolstered by pillows,
and ate two OF the cakes. All the timc
his eyes followed the trim form of his
daughter as she tidied up the room. The
lovers remained with him until late into
the night. Then Jack took Mary to her
boarding house, and the wicked young
man actually kissed her at the door. She
ran up stairs and looked In the glass to
see if his lips had left mark on her
check. The next morning she ran down
TO see her father and make him comfort
able for the day.
Under the watchful care of Jack and
Mary the old man slowly became stronger,
and in a few weeks was about again. He
did not return TO his old habits, and for
sook the tenement for two rooms in q
more pretentious locality, where Mary
went with him TO keep house. The other
day there was a quiet wedding, at which
IN n
few choice friends the spectators. The
chief dish at the wedding feast was big
plate of pancakes bakei by the bride.
Now the many persons who pass tho
restaurant daily look in the window, but
they look In vain for the fair cook. She
b baking pancakes for only two Of the
hungry persons In this big town.-New
York Evening Sun.