The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-06-09

said to himself.
His gentle persistence had its reward,
and after awhile they had become so
far friends that Brannigan hazarded a
new departure.
"Do you iver go out Sunday avenins?"
he inquired one fine Saturday.
SUNDAY afternoons l do" Alma
amended.
"'Tis great out in the park"
"I've heard 1t was nice"
'T'd be proud If ye'd ride out there
with me tomorry?"
Alma's delicate color deepened. She
gazed fixedly at the handle of the door.
Lets say three o'clock"
"Pm not through my work till four"
1t was the same thing as an assent.
"I'll call for ye at fourl" He went off
beaming, but her voice made him turn
back in sudden panic.
"Don't call for me-" she said, in low,
hesitating tone; you'd rather you
wouldn't. Maybe I'll be at the corner
at four"
The ride out on the open car was very
pleasant. Alma enjoyed every bit of it,
though she asked herself frequently
what was she about.
Brannigan was not introspective; be-
| sides, he knew what he was about per-
fectly. He paid Alma's fares with an
authority she dared not gainsay, and
sat with his arm on the back of The
seat behind her.
| His heart swelled; he almost wished
some man would do something for
which he could knock him down. He
had the primitive instincts of the tribal
] lover; he wanted to show his strength
her know that strength would always
stand between her and danger.
This feeling increased as time went
on, and he saw more and more clearly
that Alma was unhappy at home. Her
eyes were often red. She complained Of
headache, and on being pressed con-
fessed that "the boys were tiresome."
One afternoon strange man came
with the ice.
Tim Brannigan's hurt" he ex-
planned. It appeared that Brannigan
had been at fire, and rushing out of
the burning tenement with forgotten
baby, had broken his leg. He was in the
city hospital.
The next day Alma dressed herself
with care in the blue gown Brannigan
liked, and the Sunday hat withits soar
ing plumes and outspreading ribbons
and started for the hospital.
When Brannigan saw Alma enter the
ward his face was irradiated with Joy
And yet, when she reached the bedside
he was lying very still, with closed eyes
or, with eyes that seemed to be closed
"Ah, an is it your" he asked, family
feigning q languid awakening. "'Ti!
good of ye to come, but I'm that walk
can scarcely take it in!"
80, but you'll soon be better, Mr.
Brannigan!" she said, struggling no
to cry.
"Ah, an do ye think SOP" he asked
feebly.
Alma looked down at his splendis
proportions in perfect seriousness.
do you feel pain anywhere?" sh
asked, fearfully.
"Ahful, just here!" said Brannigan
laying a muscular hand upon the car
diac region.
j. Not muscle of her face changed, a
he saw through his half-shut eyes.
ripple of laughter passed over him, an
he bit his lips under the long, tawn.
mustache. And while he laughed, b
could have fallen at her feet-she wa
so adorably innocent!
Alma saw and wholly misinterprete'
the tremor which shook him.
"Are you cold?" she inquired, anx
iously. She knew that it was a ba,
sign to feel cold in serious illness.
"Froze out!" said Brannigan, in
choked voice, another and more violen
: tremor convulsing him.
"Don't they give you anything for
chill?" she asked.
: "They can't give me nothin'," h
whispered, 'twouldn't do no good!"
Poor Alma began to cry. She did nc
, know people never died of a broke
: leg; and with Brannigan's youn
strength and health it was inexplicabl'
+ But, certainly. he was near his enc
, Reckless of observation, she bent he
face to his and kissed him.
And then a strange thing happened
p for the helpless sufferer revived, IT
+ turned her farewell salute with intel
est, and held the girl close in a clasp {
astonishing vigor.
80, my! Mr. Brannigan, aren't 70
ashamed? And me thinking you. tha
I'LL" gasped Alma.
p ST niver told ye there was anythin
= | Uronp wild me armsi" he cried "Al
I was just sufferin' for kiss, deal
d Ye've niver let me have one till now! Il
n repaid himself for the deprivation). A
q Alma, darlin', say ven GO to the prize
wild me when Pm out o here! I've
+ tidy bit in the bank, an niver Sol
v dependin' on me, an I'd make ye I
happy ye'd not know yerself-"
d He became aware of the severely-di
l. approving regard of middle-age
h nurse on the other side of the bed, ar
= let Alma go. Then he winked with glf
effrontery at the intruder.
3 "Tis ali right!" he assured he
k "kssin' amt agin the rules whin it's
is mans own gyurl he's goin' to marry
Is it, now? An ye're goin' to marry n
r the minute I'm out, aren't ye, Alma, n
e dear?"
10 Alma was torn with a variety of EN-
tions; but she loved Brannigan.
E. "Yes," she said.-Boston Globe.
ID The Good-Natured Business Man
g, Blessings on the head of the GOO
natured business man. He does mo