The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25

lty OF the Belfast draper lie made no
references to the old times which are so
dear to the Irish heart; he said nothing
about the little old house at Kil,een.
where he and his sister had been brought
up, he appeared to have forgotten the
episode of the brown COW.
Maggie poor girl was as quiet as a sit
ting bird. She was oppressed both by
Powers presence, and the thought that,
for the first time, she had a secret from
her parents. Yet under the oppression
there was a singing current of JOY that
made music to her heart, music hardly
to be listened to without bringing the hot
blood to her cheeks
After the meal was over aud the two
men had their pipes lit, Maggie and her
mother pulled one Of the benches to tho
hearth, and the four sat round the fire
with folded hands, each waiting for some
enc else to begin. II was then that Uncle
Frank Power made start
It's long since I've seen We, Ellen an
We might think ia forgotten We, but
"twasnt so, faith"
"Av coorse not Frank She shot a
triumphant glance at Conn.
"Ive been a busy man, Ellen, an I
knew We were well placed with Conn
here"
Minds change as well as times" said
Conn. "Ye were black agin me vance,
Frank"
Power waved his pipe deprecatingly.
"Ay," he SAID. "l'd fancy for Ellen to
marry Tom, Blake
who's In gaOl this two years for. as
blagyard a thrick as liver man played, "
said Conn.
"Thrue fer We. thrue for We. Ellen did
well, an a fine family too. Yen be proud
ay Thin Conn
L am, an not wan of thin more throu-
bic than a bird in a cage"
Il sometimes wish" said Power, that
I'd some av me own, for it's well to lave
what We have to yer own blood"
Mrs. Coyles face epitomzed all the joy
full emotions, but Conn was staring hard
into the peats, and did not see.
i've bin takin' a partner" Power went
on, "an' It's our intintion to increase the
bus ness. He's a shmaIt man, wild money.
an he'll take some av the work aft me
ovid shoulders" He laughed drily glanc-
ed round the circle, and replaced the pipe
in his mouth.
ITS time sure" said Mrs. Coyle-
i've bin thinkin We might shpare me
wan av these childer av yours; not he
added hastily, "a young wan, but, say.
Maggie here"
Mel Maggie called the word out of
a dream. The dream was broken
"Hush, deaIie! said Mrs. Coyle, lean
ing forward eagerly, and trying to catch
Powers uncertain eye.
She's a fine grown girl. an d do well
In the shop. IT'S a pity to lave her here.
In time she'd be a grand help to ye In
six months. or say nine, afther she'd
learnt the business, I'd pay her some
wages, an in the meantime I'd kape her
free intirely. The thought just KEN to
me-" he added.
"Whatd we do widout Maggie at ALP
said Conn. Come here, aston"
She went to him and sat on his knee,
with her arms round his neck and her
head sunk against his shoulder
"'Tis fine Offer" said Mrs. Coyle,
vaguely.
What de We say, Maggie?" Conn whis-
pered in the girls ear.
mo no." she pleaded and again, mo
no" with a shiver that shook her throat
She clung closer. Let me shtay wild We
yet me shtay."
Conn held her to him and allowed his
pipe TO go out. He was a poor man with
many clamoring mouths to feed; he was
also a man OF strong affections; a bitter
struggle began in him. Frank Power
watched cautiously.
I'm thinkin' the north mightn't shutC
the child" said Conn. An thin there:
the young vans. Who'll see after thim?'
Sure Biddy's fourteen, and well able
for it, Would ye shtand In the girls way
Comm .
"God save us, what talk, woman
Shtand in her way! Is it me harm the
child? Ach, Maggie, We know well yer me
own hearts blood!'
Yes" whispered the girl.
II say thank We kindly, Frank Power
and God bless We for the thought av us
Wen settle what Wen do to-morrer. All
to bed wild ye. Maggie aston, and lave us
to think a bit"
She slipued from Conn's knee after an
embrace piteous with entreaty, kissed her
mother and the uncle whom she already
regarded with a kind OF terror, and went
up quietly to bed. 1t was the first night
of the girls life in which she had exper-
fenced true sorrow and the dragging
length of the dark hours. Even the many
prayers she repeated brought small com
fort, for when she had been through them
twice her mind wandered while her lips
moved A week before she would have
accepted the proposed change, not, in
deed, without sorrow, but as part Of the
necessary round of life. Now 1t seemed an
utter uprooting, terrible as the idea OF
death.
1t was decided that Maggie should go
Frank Power when he made the offer
knew 1t was inevita BILE, and congratulated
himself on the brilliant idea which had
sent him to see Enen's eldest girl. Her at
tractiyeness was beyond his hopes; even
in his eyes she was pretty, and he saw nc
more than the shell Of her, the accidents
of feature and Of health. He advanced q
meager sum towards the purchase Of the
necessary outfit, Ito be repaid, he said
when she was earning for herself
Maggie's parting from James Phelar
was a very simple matter after all. Hei
heart was too big for speech, and his il
not that, al least prompted him TO say
no more than might have been overheard
with safety by any passer-by.
Mary Cregan, as he knew, had long ears
and a longer tongue; It was well 10 be dis
Greet But Frank Power, who had a habit
of silent proving. both saw and heard
lie said nothing. but that night his lean
face looked leaner ard his crafty eyes
drew closer together under bent brows.
Conn's last words to Maggie were:
"Be good, dearle, and whin we come
back wen be proud av ye."
The change to Maggie from Ballyclogher
to Belfast was like moving from free air
to close room. Disappointment met her
on the threshold of the new life, for the
glorious shop which she had imagined
with a plate-glass front and sumptuous
display Of millinery, far finer than any