St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-05-09

"Nhose countersigE might that be.
miss, If We please?" he asked. and
placed his thumb over the postmark.
IIumbly he asked; curtly he wns an
swered.
'Chicago?" said Tim. "Ay, ay! Tn
obliged to ye. miss-I'm obliged to ye.
May the Lord be good to yc an send
ye . duke for husband! Good day to
We. miss" said he, then stepped out
into the street with his hand deep in
hi- pocket and the litter 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 as 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 - nav!
hut sure it might have altered; every.
thing altered in the big country. Ayl
twas only poor ould Ireland that kept
the samc-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, Nan?" he said,
coming up. "An' me huntin' the town
for yc. It's yourself is well. Mrs.
l;rady. I'm hopin'? That's right. that's
right"
Ills voice came strangely broken and
shrill; his eyes danced like a child's;
still his hand gripped the letter in his
pocket.
whats the matter, Tim?" whis.
pered Nan. ':Ha' We heard news?"
"Ay, ay," he said. 'Come away till
I 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'! "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
If one of the long, low sheds, and there
halted, with his face to the wall. Awi
but his heart was thumpin'. Presently,
Nan came to him, painting and fur.
ried.
"What is it, TIM" sheasked; "what
is it?"
Slowly Tim brought out his letter
and, holding it by both hands, let hia
wife look at it.
"Its-it's from Padcen!" cried she;
'is's from Padeen!"
"Yis," said Tim. Its not his hand.
write, but it must he frc.n him."
"Ah, Tim, oren it quick" she painted;
"open it qulck!"
'Mebbe." said Tim, "we'd better wait
till we get home. The lights bad. an"
NO, no, Tim; no, no; it'd kill me te
wait"
"Ay?" said Tim, then slowly drew his
knife from his pocket and tenderly cut
open the top Of the envelope. His fin
gers trcmbled greatly as he fumhied
with the lnclosure. Mans hand went
quick to her heart
.Aw. quick, Tint" she cried. "Quick,
quick!"
"Don't-don fiooster me, woman,
said Tim. Il can't can't" The next
moment his shaking old fingers he:t' q
sheet of notepaper, and black-edged
card on which glared out long silvern
cross, and beneath it, in large letters
the words Patrick Kerin.
Nan fell back a step; her fingers
clutched at her dress over her heart
Tins knife clattered upon the stones
and the envelope flutterec down. For
awhile they stood there silent, drs adj
stricken. At last Nan spoke.
"Read, T,m," she said. "Read!.
I'll can't
"Ye must. Tim; it's better. Let NJ
know the worst, for Gods sake!"
IL 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. 8. A.
'DEAR-DEAR MISTER KERN: 1t IL my
my sad duty to inform you that your sou
Patrick died ['Aw. Padecn. Padeen!1 Of
ty-typhus here on the I'd of this month al
u O'Clock a. m. foods mercy- cried
Mani. As his oldest friend. was with him
ut the end. He died in peace. He VIII
buried. at his request, in - Cemetery
IL send you something toto keep......'
law, ! can read no more,' said iim
with a grcan; Its tho dark. lean read
no more. Me poor ould Fadeen!"
Nan turned and looked vacantly
ACROSS at the busy street, dry-eyed sn6
gray-faced. All! her poor Padeen, dead
and buried away among :he strangers
dead and b.lrie.. and never. never would
she see him again, never hear his voice
never grip his hand! Dead. dead! hel
big, handsome, noble Eon.
She turned 10 Tim and caught him 10y
the sleeve.
Come away. Tim." she said. "Coms
AWAY wi me-"
"Aw! Nan. Man," ne said. as the big
tears sprang to his eyes. "Nan. ;ns
+! girl, but it's hard!"
Jaw. yis.- she said, and lifted hel
basket; 'but como away. Tim. come
away. Homes the best place for U.S.
"Yis,'' said I'm. WIRING his eyes with
his hand. ''Yis. Man," then Nan lead
ing the way, and Tim shufiling after
the two old people (mourners now In
real earnestly crossed the yard. AMI a
the gate Nan halted.
81 think" said she, as Tim CAM mp
81 think We can manage this weel
wi'out the bits o groceries. Sure
they're only luxuries. anyway. I'll s.
an see if Mr.. Murphy can find me BIT
o Grape for me bonnet"
"Do," said Tim. do, Nsn; an wher
you're about il, !" he said, taking his sig
pence from his pocket and handing Il
to her. 'yc may as well get me bit Jol
me hat. Ay! sure can do wi'out ms
tabaccy for ono week. Aw, yis! Away
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