The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-02-12

at night after Thursday out. It's
most like It's taken sick she was at the
Bogans, where she was callin' in. she
was always free to come and 20 before
she come over. I'll promise she'll not
be doin it again."
When Bridget returned the next
morning she was so defiant and surly
that Nora and I both refrained from
criticism, Nora because Of pcrplexity
| and modification and l because | saw
| but one outcome of the situation. and,
for Nora's sake, was patient to await
results. The crisis was not slow in
coming, and was not surprised when
Nora Informed me that Bridget in
tended to leave. l was glad. but !
pitied Nora's evident distress.
whats the matter?' | inquired
kindly. isn't she satisfied with the
wages. or is the work too hard?'
WELL tits nayther men," said Nora.
soberly inspecting her twisting fingers.
'She don't want to do nursin' any
more. The Began gurrls do be at her
all the time to go into the factory. It's
n young thing she is. an 'tisn't strange
she's afther young company" she
added still faithful to her crumblng
idol.
SO Bridget dropped out of the house.
hold. and l dare say she should not be
blamed for preferring association with
her own kind to the restraining society
of n plain, mlddle-aged woman. whose
conversation was tirelessly reminiscent
of the affairs of the Flahertys and the
O'Tooles of a preceding generation.
Brldgets place was satisfactorily
filed by stolid Swede, whose knowl-
edge of English did not include IA
miliarity with the Irish brogue. Brid-
get came but seldom to visit her aunt,
and Nora, in accordance with well-di-
rected hints, refrained from obtruding
upon the society of the factory, and
uncomplaingly fell back into the old,
duh life which had been frightened
by this brief period of Elusive mother
hood.
Another season of excitement began
for us when Nora one morning project
ed her bristling forelock which she
called her "bang' in at a crack Of my
chamber door with the startling an
nouncement:
"Irene's sick"
"Irene?" l inquired vaguely.
Nora looked embarrassed. Bridget.
| mcan,' she explained. following the
bang with the rest of her person
trembling with excitement. "Irene's
the name she goes by at the factory
Bridget bein' so queer an old-fash-
ioned, You know"
l repressed a smile at the affected
change of name so characteristic OF
the shallow nature. and soon became
interested in Nora's story. Her niece
had become suddenly i'll at the factory
presumably from overwork, and had
been taken to the hospital where she
lay critically Ill of typhoid fever.
. Nora was loud in her self-accusations
! and expressions of sympathy.
T 'The swate lamb!' she cried. "T,
think of her workin' herself to the
point an me takin' no motel 'Tis true
for you, I'm wicked womanw
| The warm and tender heart hat
t opened again, and Bridget's desertio1
Y and neglect We're all forgotten. l
p seemed to me that | could see caus,
Q other than devotion to her duties TO
+ the girls collapse, but mado no com
ment, and gave Nora the desired per
= mission to go to the hospital.
@ Then came time when Bridget
T. life hung in the balance. and Nora, he
| heart bursting with grief and anxiety
: vibrated between the girls bedsid
/. and her own household duties, witt
$ much detriment to the latter.
S During this period she served up t
us the most Incredible and mysteriou
h dishes, and went about with eyes S
II dimmed with tears that the kitcheI
S floor was paved with broken china
Y grease spots and impromptu omelets.
II Every comfort and luxury she lay
l. ished on the sick girl, and in tim
/ Bridget was out of danger. 1t is saf
> to say that the haDpiest day of Nora
l.. life was the one upon which sh
l. learned this fact.
# Brldget's convalescence was slo,
d and tedious, however. and during
n she boarded with the Bogans' her @,
l. penses naturally being met from Nora
pocket, for her own earnings had gon
lie long ago for finery.
x When she was able. she came to IL
1t house to see her aunt, and to G,
ID money for an expensive tonic.
Her face, still pretty in spite of Il
Iy pallor, was thin and drawn, and it di
10 not require physicians eyes to Sc
RI that her health was shattered; h,
" frail constitution had been weakene
e. as much by late hours as by disease.
III One morning Nora again INTERVENE
me In my room. This time she tol
m me that she herself was coin0 ,