The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-12-08
''THEGIfT0FGAB"::
THE door to the passage leading tt

denly OpeHeu anu d lOW uuul LudC udu
been audible for some time burst into
a loud clamor as Connolly, his wife and
a stout, elderly little woman in a hat
thatsuggested an old-fashioned hearse.
by reason of its thick, nodding black
plumes, came into view.
responsible for most of the noise,
which was rich in brogue and musical
in tone. She only stopped talking to
laugh, and her laugh was of that hearty
kind that constrains persons of a full
habit of body especially to slap their
knees and hold their sides. The jan
itor was maintaining his customary
seriousness of expression and his wife
was smiling pleasantly at the depart
ing visitor, who suddenly broke off a
sentence and kissed her with a re-
sounding smack.
''Don't we stir step furder, Mary,
darlin'," she said, "Connolly will see me
up to daylight, an'-well, I'll give it to
yez as we go out; sure we wudent want
to hurt Mary's feelin's. Be aisy now!
Sure it wudent be tn first time I've
kissed him, Mary. Good-by, alanna'
Mkt Wensday, reminder.
f'Yis, she's got new sittin'room car
pet" she resumed, as she came along
the passage, IAN a picture av Clancy
in his sergint's uniform-th' mortal av
hi1n-over the manly shelf, anvil
we believe me, Connolly?-a pianny
they bought on the installmint plan
He that couldn't tell tn Oramus from
Carey Owen! But Julie niver had tn
since av Kilpeera hin; ans it's shtoile
she wants anyway. But you'll see
her, Wensday.
"Tim's to be there, too. His hid has
gone down since he lost his fine city
job; twas swelled so his hair wudent
cover it a mont ago. IT'S an uncertain
business, politics. tell Phil that same
but he'll niver heed me. I tried to coax
him wild me, but he siz: Tell Connolly
I'll not waste car fare on limits tn
way he ahas-the creature. You know
his way. I'll give him an Mary pink
tay,' I siz, an he saizs: You'll not gel
Connolly over wild tay for an injuce.
nlint.''
Her voice died away as the spring
door closed behind her and her escort
The tenant, who had been filing key
put the key in his pocket, and yielding
to feeling of curiosity, crawled on
the bench to look out of the basement
window. He had just jumped down
and busted off the knees of his trousers
when the door banged again, and the
janitor descended the steps, tanning
himself with his cap, as was his wont
when agitated.
''Unbotton my vest an give me a
drink of water" he said, family, as he
sank into chair. Feel of my right
arm, an tell me if it's loose"
"What's the matter? Didn't you get
a chance to talk?" asked the tenant.
''Talk!" echoed the janitor. II don't
know whether I'm speakin' now OF
whether it's someone else. I've forgot
tn sound av my own voice. What
makes it seem so quiet here? Glory be
but that woman's conversationalist!
I've heard enough in the last hour tc
keep me thin]xin' for month o Sun.
days.
"There's wan thing I'm free from
anyway. I've my faults--wan or two
enough to keep me human, but Tn
man av few words. like to listen t.
an entertainin' conversation an now III
then edge in a word to show that Tn
payin' attention an keepin' the thread
av tn discourse, but I've not tn gift Il,
the CAB.
I'm sorry for it at times, an know
my friends regret it, but thinkin' i:
where in tn shade in summer, or il
comp'ny with hot stove in winter, al
think. 'Twould astonish you the thing.
think av. take after second cousin
av mine-th' wan I was tellin' YOU
about, has farm up in Wisconsin,. Tha
man has thoughts would burn tn world
upside down if they was known. Hell
get out in the barn-up in the haymow
where it's soft lynn, an there's nothin
to disturb him-an' study out tn prob.
Inns av existence. A man that has sc
acres av land an draws pension a,
$50 a month has a right to think, but
his wife don't seem to see it that way
She's wan av these loose-tongued, che t.
term women, forever discoursin' about
tn emptiness av her woodbox an tn
pail av swill that's been standin' all
mornin' outside the kitchen door wait.
in to be carried out to tn pigs, an
t1iflin' matters like that.
II tell Mrs. Connolly that speech was
given her to conceal her thoughts. an
to do her tn justice she's entitled to-
she niver makes my ear-drums ring til
way some women do. When we settle
down for tn evenin' she opens tn oven