Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-28

isSeN nen she went cGwn stairs her IA
keher had come in from the forge and
was sitting. clean dNuncamsortable,
near the hearth. Mrs. Coyle sat oppo-
| site to him; the nine children were
perchcd on two wooden benches that
ran along the wall. They made way
for her with many signals and sup.
pressed gigglcs.
"Whisht! BE shtill, there! Yer uncle
is not used to the like av that!n
GOD help him them" said Conn.
can why God help him? Sure, every
man can't marry, an it's well they
don't"
"llare yer way. have yer way" said
Conn. I'm thinkin' Frank Powers q
sad man, that's ALL"
Faith, thin, It's the money does it."
yell harp an that shtrlng till ii
breaks"
"Arrah, Conn, we've nivcr a good
word for the man, an lin me own
brother"
"Surc, ones enough to talk nv i'm.
If q blessed saint were comm, We
couldn't have heerd more noise ay it"
A silence fell upon the party, which
was unexpectedly broken by shocl,
headed, freciile faced boy called Bar
ney. He had been gazing for a long
time at Maggics pretty feet, and the
words We're out before he remembered
the solemnity OF the occasion
Maggie, show lis the thrick wild yer
toes" 1t was about the only accom-
plishmcnt that Maggie possessed and
consisted In II curious lexibility of the
toes which enabled her to fold them
under almost as though they were fin
gers and pick up any small object from
the ground. This trick was n source
of endless delight to the children, who
practiced 1t themselves with an assidu-
lily which promised great future re-
suits
mot now, pet" said Maggie, running
her fingers through Barney's hair
"Whist! There's wheels COMM"
Mrs. Coyle was mt the door in mo-
ment, peering out into the autumn twi-
light with hands on hips and an anx-
| ious tremor at the heart. 1t was Uncle
Frank Power at last.
He was not a prepossessing man. The
little likeness to his sister that he had
was, rs it were, hidden away in odd
corners of his face, which only now
and then revealed 1t as by compulson
He was small and spare of figure; neat,
as became his position; dryly concilia-
tory in manner, rs n person who has to
please to live. His face WAS hard, save
for the mouth, which had an unexpect-
ed looseness of lips. Ills eyes We're fur
tive, shooting n sudden glance and then
turning aside as though to muse on the
impression they had taken. He was n
man who habitually masked himself
though with SO little art that close
observer saw his small soul bare under
the disguise.
The much debated meal was hardly n
social success. To begin with, Power
had no great appetite. nor did he pour
forth the congratulations which Mrs
Coyle had confidently expected
Maggie, poor girl, was as quiet as q
sitting bird. She was oppressed both
by Powers presence and the though,
that for the first time she had n secret
from her parents. Yet under the OPP
preston there was II singing current OF
Joy that made music to her heart, 4
music hardly to be listened to without
bringing the hot blood to her cheeks.
After the meal was over and the two
men had their pipes lit Maggie and hei
| mother pulled one of the benches to the
hearth, and the four sat round the fire
with folded hands. each waiting TO,
some one else to begin. 1t was thcr
that Uncle Frank Power made start