The Portland daily press., 1892-09-19
4 FAIR BLOCKADE BREAKER.
ByyT. C. De Leon.


clouds. From any visions he was
aroused by the quiet query:
'Wud ye be afther mindin' cup O.
itay, now, wild a bite O. shopper? Or
lwud We rather wait fur that shrimp,
Willie Mckay, to COON"
J; "Why, Mary, how dare you The
devil Is that you, Willie?" Carroll
cried, as he turned. ''Why man, what
is the matter? You look as grave as
ghoss for all your nonsense"
cit was not nonsense; only serious
practice" the younger man returned.
eff can fool you, think I may risk
the blue-eoats. Carroll, you can trust
Mary implicit1y?"
T Gas I can myself, with a secret. or
treasure was the reply. ''But what
do you mean?"
'sonly to play the Dronios with her,
for one night only" Mckee answered,
looking at hisawatch. 'sBy Jove! nearly
twelve! Ring forrher, before she goes
to bed"
Fifteen minutes later, the leader of
the german stood before the great mir
ror In Merediths bedroom, side by side
with the Irish serving woman, peering
ikeenly into it's depths at her face, while
his def hand appkedunguent, pigment
and paint. 10 his own. Perfect master
IL the art of make up" the youths
fair round face rapidly tookon the COM
Iplezion of ruddy age. His features,
too, quickly changed hape, apparently,
as quick touch of the pencil set lines
and deepened shadows in a second,for
which times. slower, bz1tsurer. handde-
'mandedtyears and the aid ofstroubles,
thought andexperience. Meanwhile, q
lively4running dialogue, did not impede
the work finland.
eyes,. IFS a grand lark, MARY" Mckee
said, naturally, "a-fancy bali, where I
cannot use mask. Doyouthink they'll
recognize me?"
''Sorra wan g 'emr' Mrs Clonan
started at her double self reffectedin
the glass ..Shure 'twou1d bother tn
rnither awe to know her child. A ball,
is it, Misther WHIP"
Every likely; perhaps several" Nc
Kee replied, lightly. There, that line
across turns up the end of the nose.
Anyway, Mary, It will be q regular-sur-
prise party. Think I'll dor"
IF do be thinhn' they've betther eyes
than common, eff it don't" the woman
answered, adding, with a meaning look:
''Sorra a bit O. my fgger We have, tho.
An IN tn night they'll look more at tn
figger than tn face. Shure, it's no made
addin' to tn risk, bad luckto 'emr'
She's spoke gravely; and the earnest
CLEAN of her eyes into his own told the
man that she more than suspected his
excuse for the disguise. $50 you think
it is not ball, Mary?' he asked her, alb
ruptly.
s'Shure it's not to be ttinkin' I'm
paid, sor," the woman answered. ''Me
aunt use to say thot tn shet mouth
caught no flies. But, WHITTIER 1t do be
fight, a frolic or foot race, ye'd best
kape the fgger up to tn face. Wait
bit, Misther Will"
She left Mckee to polish his COM
plexion with hare's-foot, standing In
most composite attire. A heavy, low
necked hunting shirt terminated in
three pairs of dark tights, drawn on for
warmth; and over these depended an
ample skeleton skirt of the day draped
with dark balmoral and massive pan
Ter of stiff crinoline. Selecting heavy
gray wig of woman's hair, he quickly
adjusted it, combing the bands low
over his forehead and twisting the ends
in a tight knot.
As hesstepped back for final view, the
woman reentered with her ample Sum
day gown, and a poke bonnet Of UNI
usual depth and fragrant in decoration
of green and yellow flowers. Besides,
she carried ponderous pair Of corsets,
with ample waist.
'Mither of Lowell but ye do be fine
copyl" she cried, admiringly. eyer
bids darlin' knot an all; but thin
Igs an that waist shpoils the sim
nithry! There" she added, adjusting
the corset, ''shlip( under a few towels
to fill out tn waisth, sori Look at him,
nowi"
Mckee, selecting massive pair Of
pads, was deity fixing them in place
with safety pins.
seNow ship tn driss over yer hid"
"Wait a bit. I must secure my figure
first" he answered, struggling into a
tight net shirt, and pulling 1t down
snugly so as to round his artificial
amplitude into natural curves. Then
the dress slipped on, the hooks fastened
and the poke bonnet in place-the
masquerader strobe heavily into the
sitting room.
cam Pm afther thinkin' 1t do be
time for bid, Masther Carroll" he said,
with deep but laborious courtesy.
"Great!' cried Meredith, glancing
from counterfeit to reality. "Mary's
very self! Willie, that would be tri-
umph for burlesque."
''Bedad, Mary shrnells rat; and I'm
thinkin' it do be safe to thrust tn shpat
av her!-Mary,"-he turned gravely to
her-"if I'm going to a ball or funeral
it makes no difference; but want you
to keep closelysin the house until re-
turn your clothes. I know I can trust
you, and am truly grateful for your
trouble and willing help"
He extended his hand, and Mrs.
Clonan shook it warmly, but with dep
recating shake of her head. When her