The suburban citizen., 1902-02-08

at night after a Thursday out. "'Tis
most like it's taken sick she was at the
Bogans, where she was calm in. She
was always free to come and go 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 l both refrained from
criticism, Nora because of. perplexity
| and modification, and l because l 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 l was not surprised when
Nora informed me that Bridget in
tended to leave. l was glad, but l
pitied Nora's evident distress.
whats the matter?" l 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 so into the factory les
a young thing she is, an 'tisn't strange
she's afther young company" she
added, still faithful to her crumbling
idol
So Bridget dropped out OF the house
hold ana l dare say she should not be
! blamed for preferring association with
her own Kind to the restraining society
Of plain, mdde-aged woman, whose
! conversation was tirelessly reminiscent
OF the affairs of the Flahertys and the
O'Toolcs OF preceding generation.
Brdget's place was satisfa ctOrily
filed by a stolid Swedc, whose knowl-
edge Of English did not include IA
mlliarity with the irish brogue. Brid-
get came but seldom to visit her aunt,
and Nora. in accordance with well-di-
rec,ed hints, refrained from obtruding
upon the society Of the factory, and
mcomplaingly 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 bristlng forolock which she
called her bang in at crack of my
chamber door with the startling an
nouncement:
"Irene's sickw Giu
"lreneT" 1 inquired vaguely.
Nora looked embarrassed Bridget.
| mean," she explained, following the
bang with the rest OF her person
trembling with excitement. "Irenes
the name she goes by at the factory,
Bridget bein' so queer an old-fash-
ioned. you know"
/ repressed a smile at the affected
| change OF name so chara cterist.c of
the shallow nature, and soon became
interested in Morals story. Her niece
had become suddenly i'll at the factory.
presumably from OyerwOrk, and had
been taken to the hospital, where she
lay critically i'll OF typhoid fever.
Nora was loud in her self-accusa tions
and expressions of sympathy.
The swate lambw she cried. "To
think Of her workin' herself to the
point an me takin' no note! 'Tis true
for you, I'm a wicked womanr'
The warm and tender heart had
| opened again, and Bridget's desertion
and neglect were all forgotten. It
seemed to me that l could see cause
other than devotion to her duties for
the girls collapse, but l made no com
ment and gave Nora the desired per-
mission to go to the hospital.
Then came q time when Brdget's
life hung in the balance, and Nora. her
heart bursting with grief and anxiety.
yibrated between the girls bedside
and her own household duties, with
much detriment TO the latter.
During this period she served up to
us the most incredible and mysterious
dishes, and went about with eyes so
dimmed with tears that the kitchen
floor was paved with broken china,
grease spots and impromptu omelets.
Every comfort and luxury she Law
ished on the sick girl, and in time
Bridget was out Of danger. It is safe
to say that the happiest day OF Nora's
life was the one upon which she
learned This fact.
Brldgets cOnNalescence was slow
and tedious, however. and during it
she boarded with the Bogans' her ex.
penses naturally being met from Nora's
pocket, for her own earnings had gone
long ago for Gnery
When she was able. she came TO the
house to see her aunt, and 10 get
money for an expensive tonic.
Her face, still pretty in spite OF its
pallor was thin and drawn. and Il did
not require n physicians eyes TO see
that her health was shattered; her
frail constitution had been weakened
as much by late hours as by disease.
One morning Nora again interviewed
me in my room. This time she told
me that she herself was going to
leave.
Your cried in astonlshment, while