The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-07-18
The Bitterness Of De:ih.
BY r. PEYToN.

| Copyright. 1901. by Daily Story PUB. Col
Down on Bloom Street Is much dirt
and some happiness-more OF the lat
ter. perhaps. than the neighborhood
seems to warrant. For on Bloom
Street in one short block seven sa-
looms and a vinegar factory unite to
faint the air, at one end lies mesh
| Of railway tracks, while just beyond
runs Jones' Falls, turbulent with gray
water. The houses, whose lower
rooms are costly situate below the
sidewalk, contrive to drain tts cutters
instead Of being drained by ti-sn,. The
passing trains sift veil OF cinders
over all.
Yet time was when Michael Hag-
gerty lived very happily there. You
might see him, stumping on his
wooden leg in and out OF his watch
box all day long, to warn the traffic
with his dingy flag of some approach
ing engine. He lived sooty, hard
existence, did Michael Haggerty;
every night found the little bunk in
his Matchbox more welcome to him.
Had it not been for Jimmy he would
have given up the struggle long ago,
and become that which he most dread.
ed, and to which all his tendencies
led-a wait, idle, useless, an animal
without will. But Jimmy was to be
a fine man some day, and for that 1t
was necessary that he, Michael Hag-
gerty, should flag a crossing, il not to
the end OF all time at least nearly that
long-till the pale, little lad should be
old enough to feel his fathers hope
as his own, and to make fight for It..
A short time he had every day in
which to strengthen his purpose. That
was when Jimmy, TIM, sG1alid Zig
ure, with a tin pail, brought the
father his lunch. All regulations
forbade that Jimmy should stay, but
that was what he did. The father
would take him on one knee, and the
bucket on the other, and talk, -four
ishing his wedge Of bread meanwhile
in energetic explanation.
"Jim," he would say, I'm gettin'
old,'-that was the regular COM
mencement of their chat.
mo, pa" little Jimmy used to an
swer bravely, smuggling curly head
against the rough shoulder. And then
old Michael would lead on into tell
ing what an honest, true man he
wanted Jimmy to be, and how some
day he might come to such a high
position as the great president of the
road, and Jimmy would answer back
how he didn't like to play with Mic
Finney or any o. those boys down the
street. And old Michael would point
longingly to the slant Of streets up
on the other side of the Falls, with
the great brown spire in the midst,
and then-"Boy," he would say. bit
terly, "the jail's right near on this
side"
The lad wondered why his pas
face grew so stern when he said that.
But he was only eight years old, and
knew so few things. Then train
would come along, and tie father
stumped out with his flag, and the
little boy trudged the half block
back to where he boarded with Q
Jolly, much-be-childered Irish family.
For some complication OF causes
once in a while freight wasn't moved
SO much, and old Michael got of for
half a day. In suit Of rusty black
he would go to fetch Jimmy, a-d the
two in perfect understanding strolied
of to the park together.
One Of these happy times when
Michael looked into the crowded
front room of the house en Loom
Street, some one else sat there besides
Jimmy and the Irish family. Her
back lay towards him, but he knew
her at once, and felt a strange, dizzy
faintness bout the heart. No need
for the Irish woman to call his atten-
ton "Haggerty, here's one as says
she knows YER
The newcomer slowed her chain
round, but did not get up. Jimmy.
watching over in a corner, wondered
uhy sha smiled 40 OlIeerly She WAS