El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-16
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THOSE OLD DAYS
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gan
'Did you bring him on board, sir?'
"He came with me-"
'You should have let me know. Mr..
Cregan."
''Sorry, captain. 1 didn't know you
liked dogs"
81 don't like 'em on my ship. Some
peopled throw him overheard, Mr.. Gre
gan
"Ah, would they? There'd be the devil
and all to pay if they did. A lot depends
on that dog, Captain Hammond. I'll
stand for his keep and lodging. That's
fair" Punch shook hands all around,
and Captain Hammond was appeased-
The dog naturally became the most
popular parsonage on the ship. Most Of
his time he devoted to Cregan- The rest
was punctiliously divided between officers
and men.
At Rio de Janeiro John Cregan disem-
barked with Punch and his few belong
ings. No one on board had succeeded in
discovering his business, not even the
captain, who had done his best to draw
him.
When Cregan landed, he put up at the
most moderate hotel he could find and
looked about him for a family named
Doyle. He found families called Doyle
in every conceivable condition of life, but
from all of them he turned away unsat-
isfed. Wherever Cregan went Punch
went too. He was alert as fox.
"Come, Punch, Wen take a turn" said
Cregan one cool evening.
The main thoroughfares were crowded;
lighted saloons, not too choice, shone up
on the street; the people of Rio were
making merry in characteristic fashion.
Cregan turned into darker and narrower
ways, bordering deeply the strange
fortune that brought him so far on to so
poor a chance of success. Suddenly Punch
started forward. nose ground. Cregan
saw a figure pass into a squalid looking
house.
Back, dog" he called. Punch came
to heel all quivering with excitement.
els it true find, 1 wonder? he
thought, drawing back into the shadow
with his hand on the dogs collar.
In half an hour the figure came out. 1t
was a woman in the dress of a nurse.
Punch strained to free himself.N
"Quieti Not now. This isn't the right
place to interview a lady. You should
know that, Punch"
Cregan was more excited than the dog.
He could have danced for joy. When
the woman was out Of sight, he went up
to the house which she had left and
knocked. A draggled child came to the
door.
"Who was the lady who just left?"
"Sure, twas Sister NORA"
"Where does she Gve?"
GLOW could know, sorr?"
Twill she be here tomorrow"
'Sbe will. sorr.''
Cregan scrubbed his address on a piece
Of paper and slipped it and a coin into
the child's hand.
'Give her the paper tomorrow and tell
her to come at once. Spend the money
dacent now, avick."
He hurried back to the hotel and tried |
to sleep, but the morning found him with |
heavy eyes and aching head. ALI day he |
sat at his window with the dog, watching |
for the woman in a nurses dress.
At last she came. 1t was toward even
ing, and the cool wind was blowing up |
again. She was shown into an empty |
room, according to his instructions, and
he and the dog went down to meet her.
When the door was opened, Punch
sprang to her joyfully. With a little star
tied cry she drew away; then she fell on
her knees and buried her face against his
shoulder.
Punch, Punch" she cried. els it
you?"
''Ive brought him to you, Moira," said
Cregan. "'Twas he who found you"
'And you too! Oh, Johnr'
He took her hand and held it for a
long time in silence, gazing into her eyes.
Then he let it fall. with sigh that show
ed what WEAKNESS had been lifted from
him.
L write, ne SAID, because
name would be nothing but trouble to
you. a reminder of bitter days"
Never thatr' she cried.
1T was through my father that you
were made poor" he went on firmly;
otherwise you would never have left
home. Let me speak, MORA. 1 have had
enough good fortune to be able to repay
Mr.. Doyle every penny. Here it isl
He took draft from his pocketbook
and laid it on the table.
"Don'tw she cried.
"You must take it to him.
John, he died a year ago."
"Then I'm too late!'
Not too late, for your goodness was In
the thought. 1 never can forget that"
Cregan sat staring at the draft, which
was drawn to the order of a dead man
His head swan.
Then it's yours now. You're alone
and need it. The things been hanging
around my neck like a milestone. Take
it, Moira.'
For the sake of the old days." she
said, don't ask me-"
Its for their sake 1 do ask Dear
God, the old days!'
"When are you going back?'
"Never. I shall stay here to redeem
my fathers name"
"John, are you ill?'
"Only little feverish.''
She felt his pulse and passed a cool
hand across his forehead.
''The old days! MORA, if only we could
bring them back, if only dared''-
"Yes?''
''Tell you"-
She knelt beside him and gazed up into
his face with eyes full of mingled joy and
fear.
"Tell mer' she said
81 have loved you alwaysv'
Her head sank and rested against his
knee.
"John," she said, 81 was always yours.