The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-09-29

no one now always ready TO give a nu-
morous turn to commonplace things-to
raise playful breeze over the dull mo-
notony of everyday life. Whether the
baby bumped her head or customer
quarreled over his bill, the occurrence,
served up with Pats piquant wit, had
always become delightful joke
1t is possible that not even Carlotta
missed him more than did the signora.
And the little family toes missed himl
Dainty pink buttons that had not been
allowed to see light came all the way
out, as if to inquire for the absent Pat,
and grew familiar with the floor and the
banquette, like other little dago chill
dren's toes. And yet the signora vowed
that she had done nothing but pay out
money for shoe patching ever since Mr..
Pat went away.
In the evenings the young men and
boys still came and laughed and talked
with Carlotta.
At first there had been occasional ex-
! pressions of surprise, with inquisitive
/ g1ances, at Socola's marriage to the
other, but the mothers flat and surprised
denial of her Carlotta's ever having been
thought of in SO absurd a connection
soon silenced oil concern about the mat
ter.
Pat came usually on Saturday night
or Sunday, and was ways an honored
guest. ''The madam never tired of re-
hearsing to him the events of the week
or exhibiting the baby's last tooth or
promising gums, nor did she ever fail to
hold out for his inspection ''the mos'-a
easy-walzin PAL shoes ess-a ever was-a
wear"
And so weeks Tapped over weeks I'M
til months had passed and folded like
wise one upon the other.
Carlotta was still to her fond old lover
a dainty little saint within q high niche,
and when he said his ''Hail Mary at
night, as he had tried to do ever since he
had confessed himself in love, he kept
seeing her picture sitting in the garnet
window in the moonlight and wonder
ing how far his piety was at fault. Even
irreligious men say prayers when they
are honestly and purely in love. Pat
was only unreligious.
He still told himself, as he told her,
that she was free and must listen I'M
trammeled TO any story of love that
should please her. And yet when he laid
elbow purity it'll shtuff out 'er little
pockutbook!" or, 81 wondher wulI she
lave ut in dhry goods shop or hide ut
in an ould shtockun! But savin or
shpindin, sure she'll be handlin 'er own,
God bless hery'
He expected to find young men sitting
around the shop in the evenings when he
came home, and the sound of an accor-
dion or flute or tambourine or familiar
laughter reaching him as he approached
the house served but to identify the
crowd
It was only when the accordion be-
came his invariable greeting, when, even
descending upon the family in the mid
die of the week, he found it still there,
that he began tc consider that Carlotta
had never told him about this young mu-
stefan except to give his name in answer
to question.
1t seemed absurd to think seriously OF
so trivial a matter, and yet when a lone
time passed and the accordion, long wind
ed or short of breath, according to thu
players mood, sent its voice out painting
or trilling to meet him he began to hate
the sound of it and to wish that Carlotts
would sometimes talk upon the subject
She had told him how young Alessan
dro Soconnetti, who won a prize In the
lottery, had wanted her, and how joe
yucca, the peanut vender, had vainly In.
sisted on her love, and even of her cousin
Angelo, who had tried to coax her to for.
get his kinship. Why had she forgotten
to mention this strange boy who played
the accordion2
Pat seldom saw her alone now. except
ing when occasionally on Sunday after.
moons he would take her with the chill
dren for ride up to the park, as had
been his habit for years. While the little
ones played under the oaks or braided
clover wreaths near, he would sit at hel
feet on the gnarled roots of the old trees
and tell her about his life at 1.-The Dutch.
mans, and sometimes, thoughnot often.
he would speak of how hehad missed tel
out of his daily life.
He avoided this as much as possible.
however. It was so hard not to be little
tender when in his Irish heart was smol-
dering fire that at the ightest breath
would flare into flame.
He had promised himself and her t.
wait until she should pass her eight
CCASA JCcl4 DC1O4O d44OWA1S9 44C4 W O444G
herself by solemn promise.
She knew that he loved her; that he
was working early and late, living with
people who were in touch with him only
In their determination to make money.
and that it was all for her.
Sometimes growing weary of his 81
1ence she would invite a declaration by
some naive question put IN monosyllar
bles. as when she said one Sunday as
they rose to start home:
You like me yet, Woonag'
Like ye yeti Arrah, musha, an whut
re ye sayin, darlint9 Like We? Sure ]
love ye from the crown av yer purity
little black head to the sole av yer two
feet, an all the way back. wud lap
overI An why dye ask me that?s
But instead of answering him she only
eolored like rose and said:
s'Fm glad.
And Pat. lifting the children into the
car, felt like kicking his wooden leg &c
the winds and flying, but he only said
as he sat beside her:
.,Bsgad an I'm glad ye're glad, ma
yourneen. Sure sorrow'n dim my day