The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05

His gentle persistence had its reward and
after while, they had become so far
friends that Brannigan hazarded a new
departure.
DO ye liver go out Sunday avenins?"
he inquired one fine Sunday.
Sunday afternoon l do" Alma
amended.
IT'S great out TO the park"
I've heard it was nice"
IAN illigant ride of a warm day on the
open cars!"
Yes, l suppose It must be-
Brannigan's face assumed winning ex-
preston of entreaty.
I'D be proud If ye'd ride out there with
me to-morry?"
gazed flXedly at the handle of the door
A more sensitive admirer than hers might
have suspected hint of dismissal In the
direction of her gaze; but Brannigan was
not sensitive. He came a step nearer.
"Ah! Say now, won't We go?"
Alma was silent stan.
lets say o'clock!"
I'm not through my work TIL A.
II was the same thing as an assent.
"Ill call for ye at Az He went off
beaming, but her voice made him turn
back in sudden panic.
Don't can for me" she said in low
hesitating tone; you'd rather you
al A."
The maybe" had no terrors for Bran
nigan, who read capitulation IN every
word, and every line of the dropping fig
ure with its back kept turned away. He
marched forth radiant.
~
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 interpretive: be-
sides, he knew what he was about per-
fectly. He paid Alma's fares with an
authority she dared not galnsay. and sat
with his arm on the back of the seat be-
hind her his eyes travelling delightedly
from her Sunday hat, with its impossi-
Bile decora lions, to her sweetly embar-
raised face and back again. He felt the
end In view.
She's my gyurlw he was saying to
himself proudly, IAN IL she don't know it
yet, she's goin' tor
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 TO the
woman ne desired, and to have 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 head
ache, and on being pressed confessed that
"the boys were tresome."
Brannigan once heard one of them speak
rudely to her and promptly lifted the
young cub by the scrun Of the neck, de-
handing II he knew what they did to
bad boys back in the West. Tommy
whined a denial, and Brannigan thunder
ed OUT
"WelI. If liver hear We open your
head 10 your sister that way again, I'll
shew YET
But At only made things harder for Alma
TO have a champion. The step-father
dropped insinuations which made her face
burn. and the boys jeered her about her
sweetheart"
"Say" Brannigan announced one Sun
day. III that stepfather of yours don't be-
have himself, IN be SEWN a button on him
one of these days!
Alma dreaded some such issue: she
changed the subject.
One afternoon strange man called with
the ice.
"Tim Brannigan's hurt" he explained.
II appeared that Brannigan had been at a
fire, and rushing out Of the burning tene-
ment with a forgotten baby, had fallen and
broken his Feg. He was in the city hos
ptal.
The next day Alma dressed herself with
care In the blue gown Brannlgan liked,
and the Sunday hat with It's soaring plumes
and outspreading ribbons, and started for
the hospital The boys saw her before she
gained the corner, and screamed imbert-
nences after her, but she never turned her
head.
When Brannlgan saw Alma enter the
ward. his face was irradiated with Joy. He
wanted to jump up and run TO meet her.
And vet, when she reached the bedside, he
was lying very still with closed eyes-or,
with eyes that seemed to be closed.
"Ah, an Is II your he asked family,
feigning a languid awakening Its good
Of we to come. but I'm that wake l can
scarcely take it I'M!
A great lump rose In Alma's throat. She
had not thought to find him so low.
"Oh. but you'll soon be better, Mr. Bran
niganw she said, struggling not 10 cry.
"Ah, an de We think SOP he asked fee
bly,.
Yes, indeed; you don't look 50 very sick
now, really you don'tr''
Looks is desavin'r ne sighed; "me
mother was always afeared she'd niver