The Press., 1893-10-19

| bers of the dread organization, but she remembered only too viyidly how the husband of her first cousin had years ago received just such warning as this, and one day be had gone as usual to his work and had never come home again.
 Ever since she had had the letters in her possession she had felt as if the angel of death were lowering over the house. As she stood at Pats side and saw him read the words of warning she began to cry.
 sFo' God sague, Meester Pad. wad you ees-a been do?' she moaned. Put laughed.
 ..Well, ma'am," said he, 'at the pres tpnt moment I'm jist afther second visit to yer yung frind, Socola. We're that thick ye'd think we were twins-or thriplets mebbc. an l was two an he only wan--the way he does bow an schrape right an left to me-
 ''Socola"
 If Pat had said he had just returned from visit to his satanic majesty, she she would not have been much more startled. ''Socolal You ees-a been see Socolal Fo' God sague, how you ees-a |
 | fin 'im?''
 'sFind i'm! Faith an he's as well as cud be expected afther havin fine by a-Sunda' night. Ye see, it does be very dangerous whin 8 first by is borrn to an ould man. It does fly to his head an set i'm ravin crazy. l b'lave the doc thors do call it puerile faver. Did ye niver heer av ut?"
 The woman was too much concerned even to realize that he was testing. l "Wad e sayce to you?" she asked eagerly.
 ssSure an he sez he wants to name the I yungshter afther me, but I'm that proud l won't allow ut. Ye see, the shtyle ay beauty in the Rooney family has been preserved through thick an thin wud l great pains, an I'd niver consint to I take risk on Socola's fatures wud nc l promise av relafe from her loyal accind I ency the madam. Ye see, proud mar must protect his name as will as his fame."
 This bantering, really only ruse te gain time to reflect 8 little on the situa ticn, was becoming very trying to the signora. Pat became suddenly conscious that there were genuine tears in hel eyes.
 'Niver mind now, niver mind, he said with real feeling. Don't fret yersilf be- cause a couple O cranks do sind me g valentine. Faith. there's northin in ut but mebbe 8 thrick O the shoe thrade te dthrive me out O the competition"
 He then briefly reviewed his two visits to the old Sicilian. emitting the occasion of his going and laying special stress or all the pleasant features of their meet ings.
 But she was not to be so easily ap peased. She lowered her voice almost te whisper when she spoke again:
 ''Tell-a you thrue, Meester Pad, me al Carlo ees-a been hear sometheen."
 "Heerd something. did ye? An whut was ut?"
 ''Plenny young mans ees-a tell me ar Carlo you ees-a say sometheen 'boud-s Clotta an Signor Socola. Ala peoples ees-a talxin 'boud."
 "They are, are they? An whut if did An whut did ye say?"
 ''Me? Of 8 coze sayce ees-a no true Socola ees-a neva was-a lova-a C'lotta." l U u1u,uAO y .! All WuOt ulu CA Ad ther say?'
 "Carlo sayce you ees-a just 8 mague-s Hill fun. z no true."
 Pat scratched his head. An betune the two av yez ye've made me out { bloomin iur now, haven't yez?"
 "'F lnague you oud lie. 1 magut you just-a partners fo' myselve. Flo God sague, lis'n ad me, Meester Pad. 2 no time fo' talk 'boud lie. Z-a time fo business. You muz-a go just-a so quiz as you cana go an tell all-a doze young mans you was-a just-a play'n."
 Even the strong friendship evinced by her intense anxiety failed to palliate the affront of her proposition in Pats eyes He looked at her, bit his lip and without word turned on his heel and left her.
 As he passed out of the door the sound of sob reached his ear. He was back in moment.
 ''Fo' the love O shad, ma'am, don't don't fret. Niver mind now, I tell ye If ye cry anither dthrop, I'll howl out a high tenor mesilf to match ye. Sure it'll be all right now, I'll promise ye. I'll shtep out by an by till I do find the crowd, an I'll make bit av spache that1l silence thim, an they'll niver lay hand on me. I'll promise ye that. Come out now"
 "Ten m ees-a no true Meester Pad. Say you was just-a mague fun. An any how b'liefees-a bedder you go way"
 She sobbed again.
 ''Well, l declare, ma'am, I'm that ashamed av ye! Ye're frettin yersilf about northin, an Socola an me like two peas-a green wan an a dthry wan in wan pod. Come on out now. Sure the crowd around the shteps are all half ashlape, an they'll have no fun till ye do come an wake thim up wud good laugh. Come now. The royal consorrt an all yer majesty's loyal subjects'l not dare open parliament till the queen does arrive"
 With comical bobbing courtesy he made way for her to pass out. Shifting and wiping her eyes, she escaped to her own room for a moment, but it was not long before she joined the circle on the banquette.
 | It was sultry summer afternoon, and the scene about the doors was drowsy enough indeed. The little father .Di Carlo nodded on his barrel. The baby, a mosquito netting stretched over her face, lay sleeping in her willow cradle at his side. Several men lounged on the benches talking lazily in Italian and fighting the flies with their red cotton kerchiefs.
 Within the shop the boy Pasquale stood languidly opening oysters for a black girl, who. leaning with half her tall length spread over the counter, indo- lently chewed cud of gum as she wait ed with bovine patience while her bucket was slowly filling.
 Half way down the block chattering group of neighborhood children, among whom was generous sprinkling of Di Carlos, were playing in the doubtful shade of tallow tree. Some sat with their laps piled high with china blossoms, | which thav Sfr11np on throadc into f,,o