Evening star., 1901-03-02

figures on the platform and naturally ones
eyes followed them as they went. Dan
beside me- grunted eXpressively, pulled ms
soft hat over his eyes, and leaning ms
chin upon the parapet, watched theiii
kecnly.
DO Won know them?' said l.
Il do came back. Keep an eye their
way" .- -, 60
1t wanted yet some ten minutes or SO
u,inutes are of small account on lrlsh rd1I
yrays, of the up trains time; and discover
ing This bv means of the station CLOCK the
two put down bundle and basket ana slooI
waiting by the book stall, the man win
his hack toward us. the woman racing us
il, ths lamplight Distinctly now one hau
view Of them and of all their dolngs
The man was a tall. upright fellow OF the
farming class. dressed IN tWeeus, Pat'ita ~
nytrcoat. peaked cap and heavy boots, ms
trousers heavy with mud. his back splash-
ed TO the collar, a clay pipe IN ms ihou.n m
and a switch in his hand bis lace olie
could not STE. but the woman $ stoou gu.
clear below her flmsy hat-and the sign.
a. il was not inspiriting. 1t was pare anu
drawn with a bruise showing upon oise
cheek overfiowing with grlef or suiielIns.
rhe eyes heavy as with weeping. the nps
tight and quivering. In the sunsniile' my
M il had been winsome; now IN the siootn
and glare it looked tragic. her Wiioie 90, 49,
ing was listless and weary, sne seeneu
stricken OF hupelessness ana she rothe
,t,is v-av and that. as if huShing the chliu
with the ceaseleSs monotony OF one ieai ihs
desuair She seldom spoke, haruiy oie .
looked her companion IN the Ia.e' ia
waiting and suff ffering. she seemed 10 stahu,
listening and watching, counting precious
minutes of time. But the man stoo1 I'M
massive before her; stolid. you mlShl thihA'
as OK. .,-.ora n Sio
Nj dronned heavily. the station master III
his silk hat and braided coat, stalheu out on
the platform; TWO car drivers poltei ana ana
a noliceman strolled into the gloom anu
Ivifh that the woman stepped nearer 10 lhe
man 50 that her arms touched MS, anu
IooEed up in his face. She was crying ons
could see; speaking pasSionatelS' Une eoe 1.ae :
guess What was she saying? Nhy was
She weeping? What had she done. or whal
was in store. that she should act So shouio
pI.ad 50. should strip the shawl from hei
child and passionately kiss its face, snouio
waste her tears on that OK OF yohei
Hastily and touched with mucn pity
turned TO Dan, questioning MN edseliy-
Who was she? / asked What hao she
Gcnr? What was going to happen! AND 1or
answer came the thunder of the tram De-
low at our feet and the grinding OF II uI
along the platform.
All was now confusion down there for &
little while the porter calling, the ponce-
man stalking the car drivers shouting, q
passenger two hurrying in and out, ana
clearly above the hiss of steam and tramp
OF feet one heard the sound OF waillng. ina
hitter sound which gees up so often among
Irish hills. .'Ah. goodbye. James, came
the voice, clear and broken, plteous ana
stricken. Goodbye. goodbye fe forgive
me don't We? All, say ye dop Through the
gloom one had sight OF the two-the man
standing with his bundle by an open car
riage door. the woman clinging to him with
one arm and holding her child with the
other. James she cried, Il may never
see We again. All say ye do! Her voice
came pleading and wailing. From the win,
dOWs curious faces looked toward her, ana
a little group behind her whispered and
nodded. But the man stood impassive. one
foot raised. hand on the carriage door
his head bent-then, even as the guard
raised his whistle flung in his bundle. turn
cd and spread his arms.
''Ah. goodbye. James. God bless ye-Got
bless ye,'
Goodbye Mary: goodbye!'
Just n moment they stood silent; then q
bang and shrek. frantic wave of th'
hand and a sheut from the window, AM
Mary stood alone in the gloom.
For a while Dan and l were silent upoi
the parapet. Then said 1. carelessly, as
might:
AN emigrant. / SUPPOSE
mo a reservist-
"Oh, off to Join his regiment. Poor fel
low" said /: and with the words Da'
turned quickly.
Poor fellow, Arrah. what about him
Dye imagine L care a button for his feel
ms? Not mot l. It's herself, said Oar
nodding toward the lonely figure that stf
stood looking through the mists. "Ah Go
help her. l pity her WI all my heart He
forget soon enough The worst that ca
never forget. and it's the pains of deaf
she'll suffer every day. Think Of wha
she'll endure from this minute on and or
waitin' an watchin'. dreadin' and hopin
torturin herself with thousand fancie.
seein' him drowned on the sea, or killed /
the war. or lynn weunded in foreign landi
Think of what she's endured this last weei
ever since word came to James. Think c
what she did to keep him" Da
paused. stood while in thought the
beckoned me toward the refreshment rooms
a -
till tell ye.
"Over there" said Dan. ~ we sat smot