Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-06-16


would have died In the city, the
Brownsville doctor said, had this ILL
ness overtaken her there her mother,
who would need the fresh, bracing.
balsRn air Of the mountains for many
q long day, and all the comforts that
her fathers good wages could buy.
For her mothers sake and for her
fathers sake she must go on. o
God, keep me awake u was the fer
vent prayer that went up in the frosty
air.
A shout from below, q rattle OF
chains, and again came the elevator,
creeping up the chimney like some
gigantic beetle. Mary went TO work
with new eRthusiasm. Between trips,
she sat outside and suffered with the
cold. But such suffering was positive
Joy, after the deadly numbness she
had fought within.
The worst hours-from one 30 three
were past. The moon set and tho
stars began to pale. A faint pink
light spread through the east. Lights
appeared here and there in the houses
below. The men OF the day force"
were being reused and the women
were preparing the morning meal.
| One moe load was dumped. 1t
1 y
but she was not sure. She might
have lost count once or twice. Yes,
she had. for there was the hell clang-
ing below her.
IL lacked five minutes or being six,
and jim Brennan the other day bop
man, would come IN five minutes.
"Father, get up!" Mary called, in
q clear whisper, as she shook his
shoulder. Father, do you hear ?'
| Would he move OF had her awful
nights work been In vain?
Why, Mary, have l oversight ?"
said he rising suddenly and leaning
on bis elbow.
Then like lightning flash the truth
fell upon him.
The liquor drank in the woods the
afternoon before: his return to his
home To supper; his difficulty going
up the ladder, at which Jim Brennan
had unsuspectingly laughed; the first
few hours which he fought the stupor
that was coming on this he remem-
bered, but what had followed +?
Hush, father, don't speak word.
Jim Brennan is coming up the lad
der. The furnace is all right. Jim
will think have just come to tell you
how mother is. No one need ever
know, father dear"
John Cronin was on his feet in an
instant sobered for life. He took
Mary's hand, grimy for her work
"Open TIE door," he said, huskily,
cor I'll choke -
Jim Brennan's face appeared above
the platform.
"Well, mate, how goes 10? Hello,
Mary! blessed II you didn't scare me.
'Gainst the rules, you know, TO be in
the top-house, but 1 guess the boss
won { mind as long as there's sick
mother in the case. Had q hard
night Of it, did.you, young 'un? You
look all beat out. There, go long,
John, put the child to bed; I'll tend
to this load, though it amt mine"
Thank you, JIM" said Cronin.
"Come, Mary. you must be tired"
Not a word was spoken between
the pair as they went down the ladder
and hurried down the hill. The fur
mace men were lounging on the floor
OF the furnace-room.
Blessed if here amt CYonin and
his gal. Hope the missus amt 20
worse" said one.
"Shes probably been up all night
with her. Never seen such a plucky
little woman as that gal in all my
life," said another.
Back over the red bridge Mary
went, with her hand tightly clasped
in her fathers. She gave his hand a
little squeeze once, when she felt q
hot tear drop on her own. There was
smile on her tired. pale face, and
a great content in her heart. Father,
mother, friends and reputation-all
saved!
When they had passed the group Of
houses that clustered near the bridge,
and the woods we're before them, her
father said: Mary, does mother
know ?"
mo. Don't let's tell her. She will
think went to meet you, IL she is
awake"
IF you'd not followed me last
night, Mary, do you know what might
have happened ?"
Mary nodded her head vigorously.
She could not speak.
:" Mary, you have saved my life
you have saved the works. AS God
hears me, will never drink another
drop" And he never broke the VOW
he made.
Mary cried with Joy on her fathers
neck. All the terror, loneliness and
labor Of the night were over, like a
bad dream. Best Of all, the burden
OF ceaseless anxiety, which had
weighed on her and her mother, was
laid down forever. Never again
would she listen to his step, In the
fear that it might be uncertain, or
walk with tired feet seeking him
through the slums Of city.
They softly opened the door and
found the mother still sleeping. Mary
opened the hampers of the Star OF
the East" and soon good breakfast
was in preparation.
John Cronin told his wife of his
resolution, as he sat by her bedside,
after Mary had gone to bed, but he
did not tell her then at what fearful
cost of suffering TO their child 1t had
been bought.
His intelligence and perseverance
won him the position OF foreman, and
to-day Mary and her mother, who
has recovered her health and gaiety
in Katahdin Woods, rejoice in their
new house, which exceeds Mary's
day-dreams.
That's fine man, that Cronin,"
said some one in authority, the other
day. He and his daughter are
studying chemistry together, and he
has some hrst-rate notions about
1 shouldn't be surprised IL we had a
rare find in him"
THE girl is pretty and lady.like |
one. too" said another. THE whole |
settlement seems to be fond of her."
John Cronin, passing on the other |
side OF the red bridge, himself unseen,
he lie nd