The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-06
CONTINUED from Third page. }

locked up all the duplicate keys. i
"An the saints only know whin
Mike'll be back av a Sunday" she con
cluded cheerfuly, after history Of
Mikes pecularities Gle be afther
havin supper wild friends"
"The medicine" said Sister Ursula,
looking at the inscription on the bottle,
sit must begin at twenty minutes past
five. There are only ten minutes now.
There must-oh' there must be a
way"
"Give him double dose next time.
The docther won't know the differ"
The convent of Sister Ursula is not
modelled after Irish ideals, and the
present duty beforeits nun was to return
to the locked room with the medicine.
Meanwhile the minutes flew bridleless,
and Sister Ursula's eyes were full of
tears.
81 must get to the ROOM" she in
sisted ooh, surely there is a way
any way"
"There's wan way" said the care
takers wife, stung to profitable thought |
by the others distress "And that's the |
way the tenants would go in case av fire. |
To be sure now | might send the little |
boy"
at would brighten him to death. He
must not see strangers. What is the
wayp
"If we whit into the cellar an out
into the area, we'll find the ground end
av the fire eschapes that take to all the
rooms. Go aisy, dear"
Sister Ursula had gone down the
basement steps through the cellar into
the area, and, with clenChed teeth, was
looking up the monstrous sheer of red
brick wall, cut into long strips by the
lessening perspective of perpendicular
iron ladders. Under each window
each ladder opened out into little-a
very litte-balcony. The rest was
stralghter than ships mast
The caretakers wife followed, pant
ing, came out into the sunshine, and,
shading her eyes, took stock of the
ground.
Hell be No. AZ on the fifth. Thin
this ladder goes up to it, Bad luck to
thin, they've the eshCapes front an
back, spoilin' the look av fine house ;
but its all paid for in the rint. Glory
be to God, the avenues empty, all but
but it should ha' been the back, it
should ha' been the back"
Two children were playing in the
gutter. But for these the avenue was
deserted, and the hush of Sabbath
afternoon hung over it all. Sister
Ursula put the medicine bottle care
fully into the pocket of her gown. Her
face was as white as her colt.
"'Tis not for me-" said the care
takers wife, shaking her head sadly.
"I'm SOS to be round, or I'd go wild We.
Those ladders do be runnn' powerful
straight up an down. IT'S scandalous
to think, but in a fire, an runnin wild
their night clothes they'd not stop to
think Go away, ye two little imps,
there The bottles in your pocket
You'll not lose good hold OF the irons.
What is ut-Oh?
Sister Ursula retreated into the cellar
dropped on her knees and was praying,
praying as Lady Godiva prayed before
she mounted her paltrey. The care
takers wife had barely time to cross
herself and follow her example, when
she was on her feet again, and her feet
were on the lowest rungs of the ladder
"Hold tight" said the caretakers
wife. "Oh, darlint, wait till Mike
comes! Come down, now-the good
angels be wild you. There should
have been a way at the back. Walk
tinderly and hold tight. Heaven above
sind therell be no wind Oh, why
wasn't his ugly rooms at the back,
where It's only yards an bedroom
windows
The voice grew fainter and stopped.
Sister Ursula was at the level of the
first floor windows when the two chill
dren caught sight of her, raising to-
gether a shrill shout. The devil that
delights in torturing good nuns inspired
them next to separate and run, the one
up and the other down the avenue,
yelling, ooh, OH there's nun up or
the fire escape! A nun on the fire
escaped And since one word at leas
was tamllldr, SCOIe Vi uCdSlS CdtllC u
windows in the avenue and were much
interested.
In spite of her prayers, Sister
Ursula was not happy. The medicine
bottle banged and bumped in he'
pocket as she gripped the iron bar
hand over hand and toiled aloft. Il
is for the sake of life" she painted tc
herself. cit is a good work. He
might die if | did not come. All il
is terrible" A flake of rust from the
long disused irons had fallen on hel
nose. The rungs were chafing hel
hands and the minutes we're flying
The round red face of the caretaker':
wife grew smaller and smaller below
her. and there was a rumbling of wheels
in the avenue. An idle coachman
drawn by the shouts of the children
had turned the corner to see what wa:
10 be seen. And Sister Ursula climbed
in agony of spirit the heelless blacl
cloth shoes that nuns wear slipping or
the rungs of the ladder, and all eartl
reaIin0 n hundred thousand feet below