The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-25

luilt HelSnDOTll00d. ...5f.t
Pm thinking" he said. blushing to
his hair, that wan av these'd shute We
fine. just choose wan, Maggie"
An, we're too good, Mister Riordan.
what q L do wild the like av thatT'
wear 1t, sure. They're ovid stock,
he added, diffidently, IAN anyway
somethin IL be saved if We take it.
Well not be here much longer
Are you goin' to leave the shop?"
"Ay, that's it. We've ended the part
nership."
Thin mustn't j come back?"
Il think it's goodby, Maggie, whin we
go. But We'll see later
He laid the shawl aside. ''I'll parcel
it mp for ye," Ghe said.
Before Maggie could answer her UNI
cle's voice called to her from the little
parlor behind the counting house. Pow
or was leaning with his elbows ON the
table, where the breakfast things still
remained.
'.Sit down, Maggie he said. She
obeyed him. He lifted cup as though
to drink, then put it down again. and
moistened his lips with his tongue.
Sim hard driven" he said, ''an' it's
you can help me-"
How can IIhelpT
Hard driven" he repeated. "An' me
gettin' an ovid man. l meant no harm.
but the luck was dead agin me. / niver
had chanst-a poor mans always KEEP
down.
Il thought we We're rich, uncleT'
"Rich! I'm not worth the price of me
funeral, and PRISONS starin' ME in the
face"
But we've done nothin' wrong. They
can't put We away for bein' poor."
But they can for stealin', child, an
that's what l was drove to, God help
me! Ay, this mint ] might be took!
He shivered and drew hand across
his moist face.
You are a thief" t
That's the word, an We may throw
it at me-" he walled. Maggie, there's
only wan can save me, an that's YOU
1--WE only this" she said, and put the
packet Riordan had given her ON the
table.
That's NO good" he cried. Its you,
an not money. It's me partner, john
Riodan, I've robbed, an You can save
me name. If ye'd marry him he'd for
give me, an not say word"
II can't" said Maggie, HE asked me
last night an l said No. for there's
another / belong to-"
''Ye said Mop God save u.s. where's
yer sinse? Let the other wan go.
II can'tn'
"Ye must, for the sake of the name!
Would We have yer own mothers broth
err put in jail?'
Mister Riordan II not be hard" She
said.
Would We be that ongrateful?" cried
Power, his tense nerves giving way to
the press of anger. Didn't l take ye
from the dirt an feed We like me own
child? Did 1 do it all for nothin'? An
who's the other We fancy! The boy /
saw ye wild wan night at Ballyclogher?
P'raps he'll be the wan as sint We
letther that I'd the sinse to stop?'
"Ye did that?" she cried, her face
flaming. 'Ye dared to do that? Ooh,
We coward An We brought me here to
kape we out av jain? God forgive we for
black-hearted man.
''I'm beside meself wild SORROW" he
whined. That's a hard word ye spoke,
Maggie
WAS it too hard? A dogd be
ashamed to do the like-an' You mani"
Her eyes swept him with scorn. do
We think" she went ON, that Mister
Riordan would take me from me own
boy? He's too good for that! Arrah,
We'll see!
She disregarded Powers restraining
gesture. and ran into the shop. Rior
dan had just finished wrapping UP the
shawl.
mister Riordan. come in here min
it," she said. He followed her. When
the door was closed she turned and
faced him.
IF j said I'd marry ye," she cried.
would We have me, KNOWN well that l
loved another MANI
NO." he said, ''for yer an honest
girl am l wish ye mo shame"
''God bless We for the word! Me uncle
there wants to save himself, an 1t was
by that he Thought to do it. Mister
Riordan, will We let i'm goi"
'1He's done his worst for both av us,
Maggie. Let the poor divvel go, an
welcome There take ven money an
go, too. child. Don't leave it there for
the ovid hawk."
She took the packet from the table
and said goodby. Riordan kissed her for.
the first and last time. For Frank Pow
er she could Summon neither word nor
gesture of farewell.
She went straight to the station, and
found that train left for the south in
half an hour. To buy her ticket the
packet had to be opened. She found, in
addition to the money which Power had
withheld, a five pound note. AT the
last moment she remembered that she had
left the shawl behind.
When she reached Car1nore twilight
was falling. The sight of the familiar
white town and the long upthill stretch
of the Ballyclogher road brought back
to her in full flood the long-lost sense
of freedom. AS she walked, her hurried
breath almost broae into happy sob
bing; the only pause she made was bv
the wayside.
She had been too distressed in the
morning to think of sending any notice
of her coming, so that when ste neared
the cottage, no one was peering out to get
the first sight of her. AT the door she
paused and listened. A single child's
voice reached her--it was Barney, say
ing his prayers. A moment later she
was overwhelmed with welcomes, the
center of chaos of laughter and tears.
When things had quieted down, and
She was sitting with COnn's arm round