Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-24


up, as it were, with her foot and her ell
bow. She kept her aunt for a while. hut
the tenement rocked with their fisticuffs
and nearly smoked with their oaths and
when "Meery" was at the end of her vo-
eabulary one day, and could think of
nothing more superlative, she put Ann
into the street.
Shortly after this expulsion an old Ger
man from Philadelphia turned up, and
he laughed as if he would have fit when
he heard the story of AIMS destitution.
" Dat ole vooman--shee's reetch," he pro-
tested, IAN ain'd shee schInard-heh?'
And he told Il marvellous tale of Louis
lana lottery ticket that Pete Moynihan
had drawn. Pete having had no spiritual
resources Of celebration, had promptly
drunk himself to death on coming into
his wealth, and Ann must now be in pos
session of the residue of the fortune,
In competency, something big-"Beek,
Beck"
\ Mary Mccarthy was furious. She in
stituted an eager search for her aunt, and
in the course of time she found Ann
''squatting' on the Madison Avenue farm.
She flew Mt her, bursting with indignation,
and wanting to know where she'd found
money to buy cow, and to live in style
unwarranted considering her arrears in
board bills. At the same time she incon-
sistently jeered at the shanty, and with
a sarcastic fling at Dennis, said he had a
right" to see him mother better housed,
"and him an ash man." When cornered,
Ann did not deny that she had some
means, and the grudgingly paid over her
board money, induced somewhat, no doubt
by Mary's assurance that she'd have the
law of her if she didn't. Mary took the
money and went home with the tale of
wonder. After this the McCarthys some
times Dragged of rich relation, Aunt
that lives on Madison Avenyer," and they
limited at prospects, and once they sounded
| Ann as to their possible inheritance. But
Ann said stoutly:
''Ye're not in it! livery clint I've got
goes to me boy Dinnis-do We mind2"
AN afther Dinnis-it's ourselves is the
mkt nv kin--ain.t it, aunt?"
we're welcome to what Dinnis doan't
| git--that's straight" and Ann grinned
| wickedly.
1t wasn't likely that strapping young
Dennis was going to drop out and make
room for the McCarthys Most people
laughed at the story of AIMS riches But
Mrs. Mhndelbaum, who kept the cast
side diary where Ann sold milk, used to
point the old woman out and tattle about
the miser, as she called her.
| Matters standing thus, the excitement
of the McCarthys may be imagined when
one day a rumor reached them that Den.
mis- iMoynihan was ill-very bad with
pneumonia. Ann. weeping in maudlil
condition, explained her theory that the
ashes had got into his troat" Maybe
they had. AT all events the poor fellow
the pride of his mother, was in Il bad
way, and he didn't stay SO long-for he
died.
Ann had the wake in her shanty, and
the McCarthys turned out en- masse tc
attend. They bemuddled themselves
A with spirits which they pronounced, with
many knowing winks nj each other, while
they were still in a sufficiently early stag,
of intoXieation to be critical, to be of /,
rare good brand for the occasion. Ant
the candles We're fine wax, and it was M
elegant wake. McCarthys were in /;
fever of excitement. Dennis couldn'
carry his riches to Paradise-that wa,
sure-and Ann was rapidly drinking her
self into the grave.
They chung to their aunt with bare
faced attentions. 1t was:. Twill get il
the cow fer yees fer the nightly or, "Sure
yen he wantin' yer poipe filled-will
fetch the tobacco, dear auntT
To all of which Ann invariably replied
Don't be throublin' yerselves.''
BY and by the McCarthys went away
agreeing that there was no use in hang
ing around any longer for the time being
and having already had several stron,
hints that their absence would be appreci
, ated. ~
II was week since Dennis death; hi
body was temporarily deposited in TIN
vault of a neighboring church until hi
mother could decide upon the place TO
his burial.
, As soon as the McCarthys went out
the house, Ann wound herself up in he
shawl, which she put on with as mucl
vigor as If it were a bandage, and which
perhaps, did screw her flabby muscles u
to action. She had several frayed layer
of dragging petticoat, and her bonnet wa
i curiously inappropriate confectio
which Dennis had fished out of the ash
, can OF fashionable quarter Ann CAV
it dust-off with her arm and wor
, 1t now and then when she didn't use tn
/ shawl for head-gear as well. When tn
McCarthys We're gone she tried the bon
1 net on ana went out
j. She walked several blocks down Mad
| son Avenue and then turned east into
: side street Where she had in mind Their
i was stone-cntter's yard. The place wa
!, conspicuous from afar, with its gray an
Z white slabs exhibited in the small iron
o yard, ready-made blank memorials pre-
4 vided with confidence in mortality a
: well grounded as the bakers daily fait
i In appetites. A man was Just comm
: down the walk through this uninscribe
i graveyard, as Ann neared the place. TIL
o old Irish woman hove up alongsid,
t. hooked one arm over the fence by wa
e Of anchorage, and looked in for leisurel
n inspection. The proprietor eyed he
r Something in tombstones? hei said /
J. open up, and not quite sure whether sh
d was sober. AIMS mouth began to wor
Q in a senile fashion, and she swayc
i against the fence. Words never cam
n quickly with her.
h Better move along, l guess" suggeste
v the man.
But she had collected herself and fun
IS an arm out
Il whats the price av' thim?" she que
n ied.
81 "Oh, they come different prices" sal
e the man leniently, II could-well, / coul
o fix you up n little slab like this for thirt,
d five dollars. Marbles expensive, yo
+? know. Why, l could let you have som
l. thing like this one on the instalment pla
1t If you could give me security"
70 Ann worked ZIP another query. 81