The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-19

tilc representatives, VI mig MY govern
ment itself; Tim, for Christian; an
they tell me yed mebbe be havih' some
thin for me?"
The girl handed him letter bearing
the Chicago postmark, stamped in one
Of its bottom corners, and carrying its
address thence right up to the top of
the envelope. Tim bore it tenderly TO
the door and carefully inspected it,
then took it back to the counter.
Whose countersign might that be,
miss, if we please?" he asked, and
placed his thumb over the postmark
Iiumbly he asked; CURLY he was an
swared.
Chicago" said Tim. cay, ay! I'm
obliged to We. miss-I'm obliged TO ye
May the Lord be good to We an send
We duke for husband! Good day to
We, MISS" said he, then stepped out
into the street with his hand deep in
his pocket and the letter in his hand,
and went off in search of Nan.
Its from Padecn," he kept thinking
to himself, and he walked joyfully
along, his feet Gathering loosely on the
pavement, his old face turning here
and there, watching for his wife; its
from Padeen, sure dis ever was!" Aw!
but he was glad. Aw! but Nan would
be glad. So long it was, ages and ages
ago, since they heard from him
"Twasn't Padeen's hand-write - nawl
but sure it might have altered; every
thing altered in the big country. Ayl
twas only poor ould Ireland that kept
the same-never any worse, never any
better. But where was Nan? Sure,
she ought to be in the shops. He was
dying to find her. Up and down he
went; at last he found her, still bobbing
heads at the top of Bridge street with
her friend Mrs. Brady.
"Aw, it's here We are, Nam" he said,
coming up, AN Inc huntin' the town
for We. It's yourself is well, Mrs.
brady, I'm hopin'? That's right, that's
right"
His voice came strangely broken and
shrill; his eyes danced like child's;
still his hand gripped the letter in his
pocket.
whats the matter, Tim?" wills
pered Nan. ''Ha' We heard news?"
"Ay, ay," he said. Come away till
| tell We; come away"
lie turned and, with Nan at his heels,
set off almost at q run down-hill to-
wards the river. Aw, but his heart was
thumpin'. "Aisy, Tim," cried Nan be-
hind him; "aisy, man, or Inc breath
me breath"
Without answering or slackening his
pace. Tim went on, turning through the
butter-market gate, crossed the empty
yard, came to the furthcrmost corner
of one of the long, low sheds, and there
halted, with his face to the wall. Aw!
but his heart was thumpin'. Presently,
Nan came to him, painting and fur
red.
What is it, Tim" she asked; what
is it?"
Slowly Tim brought out his letter,
and, holding it by both hands, let his
wife look at it.
"It's-it's from Padeen!" cried she;
'it's from Padeen!"
"Yis," said Tim. Its not his hand
write. but it must be from him."
"Ah, Tim, open it quick" she painted,
open it oulck!"
"Mebbe," said Tim, "we'd better wait
tillwe get nome. The lights bad. an"
mo, no, Tim; no, no; it'd kill me to
wait
"Ay?' said Tim, then slowly drew his
knife from his pocket and tenderly cut
open the top of the envelope. His fin
gers tremDled greatly as he fumbled
with the nclosure. Mans hand went
quick to her heart
"Aw, quick, rim!" she cried. Quick,
quick
"Don't-dont flooster me, woman"
said Tim. II cant can't" The next
moment his shaking old fingers held a
sheet of notepaper, and black-edged
card on which glared out long silvern
cross, and beneath it, in large letters,
the words Patrick KERN.
Nan lell back 4 step; her fingers
| clutched at her dress over her heart.
Tins KNIFE clattered upon the stones,
and the envelope fluttercd down. For
awhile they stood there silent, dread
stricken. At last Nan spoke.
Read, Tlm," she said. Read"
"I--I can't
"Ye must, Tim; it's better. Let us
know the worst, for Gods sake!"
H. Tim began; then quickly
| opened the sheet. "It's-it's too dark
here he mumbled. Il want me
| specs"
Read what we can, Tim, an quick,
for Gods sake:"
So Tim, still with his face to the wall.
raised the letter to catch The light, and
began to read:
Chicago City, U. s. A.
| "DEAR-DEAR MISTER KERN: 1t is my
my sad duty to inform you that your son
Patrick died raw, Padeen, Padeenp] of
ty-typhus here on the I'd Of this month at
| IL O'Clock a. m. foods mercyr cried
| Mani AS his oldest friend, was with him
| at the end. He died in peace. He was
buried, at his request, in Cemetery.
II send you something toto keep. ="
Jaw, I can read no more,'' said Tim
with a grcan; 1T S too dark. can read
no more. Me poor ould Padeen!".
Nan turned and looked vacantly
across at the busy street, dry-eyed and
gray-faced. All! her poor Padeen, dead
and buried away among ;he strangers