The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-02-09

go to bed she opened locked drawer
and took from it box which contained
little gold baby chain, coral neck
lace, a tiny turquoise ring, china doll
with a fractured nose and a Cheerful!
expression and tintype portrait OF
Mrs. Murphy, deceased. Among these
treasures she deposited the famboy-
ant badge and then locked the box up
ngain.
! When Murphy came home from work
the next day he noticed that his sister
wore more ribbons than usual and that
Aer color became heightened when he
looked as if he noticed it.
"Expectin' company?' he asked.
There was no question about her COL
Or now.
"Mr. Rutter said he might call this
evenin'," she admitted.
"Mister who? You don't mean Lit
tie Pete?'"
"Is that what you call him? Yes;
that's who mean.''
"Well," said Murphy, with fine scorn,
81 like his gall. How'd that come? Why
didn't you tell him you was goin' to
Jump the town this mornin' an
wouldn't be back for II years?"
because wanted him to come" said
Mary, truthfully.
Brother Dan laughed. He thought it
impossible that she could be in earnest.
The next day Dan heard something
at, the foundry that made him change
his mind about stary's not being in
earnest. Still he had the good judgment
to say nothing to Mary until few days
later, when the ribbons appeared again
cherry forecasts of Peter in
a black diagonal cutaway coat too long
in the sleeves and too high in the col
lar, but sufficiently impressive and
declaratory.
Then Dan lost his temper and judg-
ment together and told Mary he was
ashamed of her.
"Why should you be, Danny, dear2"
asked Mary.
Don't Danny dear me-" said her
brother, angrily. Take up with &
skate like that and then ask me Why
lyou ought to be ashamed of yourself!
It's enough just 10 look al him. But
that's neither here nor there. l amt
going to stand for it and that's all
ABOUT it. You understand that now,
Mary, don't you? He don't come here
no more"
81 suppose that means you'll fire
him?" said Mary, meeting his look. :
THAT amt my style an you ought
TO know it," said Murphy, with some
Indignation. II think can keep any
man from coming into my house with
out making club of his job. Amt
father and mother both to you?"
81 don't think father or mother would
have objected" said Mary. But the end
Of it was that she went sadly upstairs
to her room and Dan sat out on the
steps and smoked while he waited for
Little Pete" Rutter.
Presently the little man came along,
whistiing, and opened the gate. He
looked rather abashed as he saw Dams
stony face, but he gave him cheerful
"Good evenin'."
Murphy made no pretense of civility.
"Pete," he said, curtly; 81 might just
as well tell you you ain't wanted around
here. It'll save me trouble and you
trouble if you keep away. 1 amt got
anythin' against you, understand, but
don't want you around"
Peter grew white, but he stood his
ground boldly. 81 didn't come to see
you, Mr.. Murphy" he said.
II know you didn't" returned MUIR
ply. That's the trouble. amt goin'
to beat about the bush. I know you
come to see Mary, but you can save
yourself the trouble from this on"
"She didn't say so, said Little Pete"
stoutly.
'Isay so,' shouted Murphy. SIT goes,
too-doesn't it?"
'It's your house an you've got the
right to say who comes in it," said
Peter. "That's as far as your right
goes, though"
"It's far enough" said Murphy.
"All right" said "Little Pete" walk
ing to the gate with his chin in the
air.
1t was nearly week after that that
little Pete" Rutter passing Muir
phys house saw Mary at the gate. He
raised his stiff hat awkwardly, and
was about to pass on, for he had quite
a lot of pride for small man, when
Mary called him to stop.
She was as direct as her brother.
'Did Danny tell you not to come
{, here any more?" she asked.
. EYES," answered Pete, mournfully.
: He did not look at her, but ut the hem
l. of her white apron which she WAS
twisting nervously In her fingers.
She looked at the apron, too.
II was real sorry" she said, after o
pause; II hadn't nothin' to do with
it, II wanted you to know that"
II knew it already. told him so,
too"
She blushed at that. "Danny's all
I got an I'm all he's got" she said.
Hes father an mother both to me
an has been since they died. l feel
ought to do what Danny says-ip
most things" She looked at the
little man half-appeelingU as she
spoke, but he had no comfort for her,
Maybe you had, maybe you had"
he said.
81 think 1 had better go in,," said
Mary, with little shake in her voice,
"Good-by."
"Good-by," said Peter. "But I'm GO
ing to see you again."
He kept his promise and walked
down Arbor street twice or three
times week for that especial pur
pose, but he never stopped to speak.
To- tol. !