The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-03-13
then took it back to the counter.


swared.
'Chicago?" said Tim. "Ay, ayl I'm
obliged to We. miss-I'm obliged TO We.
May the Lord be good to We an send
We duke for husbandi Good day to
Ee, 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 Padeen," he kept thinking
to himself, and he walked ioyfully
along, his feet Gathering loosely on the
pavement, his old face turning here
and there, watching for his wife; Its
from Padeen, sure as ever was!" Anvil
but he was glad. Aw! but Nan would
lie glad. So long it was. ages and ages
ago, since they heard from him.
"Twasn't Padeen's hand-write = nawi
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.
Jaw, it's here We are, Nan?" he said,
coming up. An me huntin' the town
for yc. 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?" whis-
pcred 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 a run down-hill to-
wards the river. Aw, but his heart was
thumpin'l "Aisy, Tim," cried Nan be.
hind him; "aisy. man, or me 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 furthermost corner
of one of the long, low sheds, and there
halted, with his face to the wall. Avn
but his heart was thumpin'. Presently,
Nan came to him, painting and fur
ried.
What is it, Tim?" she asked; what
is q"
Slowly Tim brought out his letter,
and, holding it by both hands, let his
wife look at it.
''1t's-it's from Padeenl" cried she;
tits from Padeen!"
'Yis," said Tim. Its not his hand7
write, but it must be from him."
"Ah, Tim, open it quick" she painted,
''open it quIck!"
"Mebbe," said Tim, 1--WE d better wait
tillwe get home. The lights bad, an"
mo, no. Tim; no. no; it'd kill me to
watt
'Ay?" said Tim, then slowly drew his
knife from his pocket and tenderly cut
open the top of the envelope. His fin
gers tremb.ed greatly as he fumbled
quick to her heart
saw, quick. Tim!" she cried. Quick,
quick!"
"Don't-dont flooster me, woman"
said Tim. 81 can't can't" The next
moment his shaking old fingers held
sheet of notepaper, and n black-edged
card on which glared out a long silvern
cross, and beneath it, in large letters,
the words Patrick KERN.
Nan fell back a step; her fingers
clutched at her dress over her heart.
Tins knlie clattered upon the stones,
and the envelope fiuttered down. For
awhile they stood there silent, dread
stricken. At last Nan spoke.
''Read, Tlm," she said. "Read!"
Il can't
'Ye must, Tim; it's better. Let us
know the worst. for Gods sake!"
Il Tim began; then quickly
opened the sheet. 'It's-it's too dark
here he mumbled "I-l 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, Padeen!l Of
ty-typhus here on the I'd of this month at
IL o'clock a m. Foods mercy! cried
Mani. AS his oldest friend, was with him
at the end. He died in peace. He was
buried, at his request, in - Cemetery
IL send you something toto keep. :"
Jaw, l can read no more,'' said Tim
with groan; tits 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 the strangers,
dead and buried, and never, never would
she see him again, never hear his voice.
never grip his handT Dead, deadl her
big, handsome, noble son.
She turned TO Tim and caught him by
the sleeve.
Come away, Tim," she said. ''Come
away wi me-
saw! Nan, Man," ne said, as the big
tears sprang to his eyes. "Nan. me
girl, but It's hard!"
Nan plucked at his sleeve.
"Come away home, Tim" she said,
"come away" And at the word ! iIn
| raised his head, dried his eyes, and set
| off slowly after Nan up the long. dusty
road that YEARLY led towards hone.-
The Sketch.
A Strange Logical Process.
at is a wonder to me-" said willie