The National tribune., 1903-06-11

form on the slack wre. In the interim
the Ferris wheel claimed attention.
Honor Splann stood as near to II as the
crowd would permit, Patsy and Aathleeh
clinging to her hands. .
That's our seat" she whispered. I'VE
do be sitting up there fine and brave.
Now we come down-down-dow How
nice to fall whin we don't light! Sure,
Patsy
But Patsy, literal minded, pulled at her
dress.
Were not in it at all, at all!' he re-
monstrated. Let us. Tell the man 70
stop, Honor
He'd be slow to stop widout the dime.
We've no dime, Patsy. But if we play
we're up there, why its up there weIi oe'
acushia Dye mind what Father Ryan
said about the town pump!
Patsy didn't remember. He was long
ing for place on the big wheel, from
whose summit he might view the crowd,
or fall without shock or injury. But
Honor was in full possession of the Ferris
wheel. Not revolution was lost. When
two school girl laughingly took the place
she had claimed, the prettier one instantly
became Honor Splann. No prettier was
she than the real Honor, with the eyes OF
soft, bright, Irish blue fixed so admlrlnsly
on her dainty frock and floating ribbons.
How brave we are!' she laughed,
squeezing Kathleen's hand. "Once more
there nowhere"
A shadow fell across the brightness OF
the upIifted face. Were getting out
now, dears, and indeed it is time for us
We're forgetting the time entirely-lts
been that lovely here! "Mother-
A hand touched her chin, turning her
face upward. 1t was the big, kind hand
of their family doctor, and his face wore
a big, kind smile.
Everybody on the streets, even Honor
and her brood! Should you like to, really
and truly? Then you shall, pom honor
Won shail-and no pun intended. I've
brought you trouble, sister, so 1t Is falr l
should treat. Here you are-now let S
see if you are afraid!'
Afraid! 1t was mountins-fying-
realizing an ideal. When the guard re-
leased them her usually pale little face
was bright as the face of morning. :,
ITS good you are. DIR. Moore" she
said shyly. I'VE tank you, sir
The Doctors eyes were very kind.
"Little sister," he said, "go home now.
Go home quietly, and be good to mother,
and look after the children. Be woman
this night-as you always are! l told you
had brought you new burden. When
you say your beads you can ask lnterces-
sion and grace for another soul. Goodby,
my dears." -,
Wondering much, and Fastening the
children reached the cabin in Dobart
Block. and would have burst thereinto
pell-mell but for Honor's restraining hand.
A conception of what she was to ind
made her heart swell. She was not sur
prised when Mary Kelly met them at the
door with her Hist, darlints! It's bye,
foine red-hidded bye! Phat do yeZ think
o. that, all along wi the street fair:
Didn't We see the baby booth at all, at
ALP Her land came down merrily on
the girls shoulder. Come on, aisy, now
Your mother does be askin' for ye-the
poor soHr'
Honor was already at her mothers bed
side, and had slipped to her knees, kissing
and fondling the outstretched hand.
"He. said it was trouble he had fetched
us, mother" she said, a sob in her voice
-..How should he know, good man! Let
me see him. mother-Just leave me nave
him onct, little brother.'
The request was readily granted. She
took careful position in their one rocker
''Mothers chair'-and proud as queen
received the red-fannel bundle. Patsy
and Kathleen pressed closely, and theil
father, pipe in mouth, 5camed satisfac
ton. 1t was only when Mary Kelly sug
gested supper his high spirits failed q
little.
'Oh, it's supper, is it?- he sighed. "Gt
make the stir-about, colleen. Sure, there.
another mouth now-the saints be VIC
him,-and niver break i the clouds, bu
wan black shadow, ivver and always!"
Kathleen-the big Kathleen-answere(
his doubling. "D'ye mind what Himself
said onct, Tommy? Forbid them not,
with His hands on their heads in blessin'
Wan black shadow, is it? 1t will be pass
ing now, wild the coming O the swee
IL h,t
enough for to-night-and nivver can W
ate to-morrow's bread to-dav."
'Thrue for ye, darlintv he answered
his brow clearing. Its yourself has tn
good word whin all the skies are glOomin
It's joy he'll bring US, and not sorrow
piaze Godr'
Lets be naming him. Tommy" tn
mother said, softly, in the pause. "Y
shall name him--phat'll ye have? Speal
up. thin"
Big Tommy shook his head, smil
starting in his eyes and flowing throug
the merry wrinkles of his face.
by me faith, It's yourself shall do thi
same! Phat will ye like, Kathleen"
Honor, hugging, her mothers han
whispered softly, stephen, mother-fo
St. Stephens face was like the face of a
angel, and sure isn't he an angel thi
blessed minute, the darlint!"
"Mikey!' Kathleen petitioned. Mikey
for our friend gone to sea-" and Pats
thought Jamie" best of all. Big Ton
looking askance at the smiling mother, aG
mitted his brother Tim would be tina
proud Of the honor, if Timothy woul
do-which, Indeed, he doubted.
Kathleen, tie mother, dwelt on her II
nocent with tender eyes. How dear b
was-how sweet!
LET it be Stephen" she said at lengtl
very softly. Father Ryan tOlt me one
Stephen meant a crown'-and isn't th
same baby a crown to us this day
Stephen Timothy, if it PLACES the who
av ye."
So, with the priests touch Of hol
water, baby became Stephen Timoth
Splann-little Stevie, who contrived to
the big heart of his big father with loy
the like of which he had never know
before.
1t was Of little Stevie he thought
more than Of all the rest-as day by da
he trudged the streets, knocking at evel
door of labor, always to receive the san
answer: Hands enough and to spare
1t was for little Stevie he bent the KIN
Of supplication, pleading intercession
all good saints, to send them-to send Il
tie Stevie-the daily bread. But whi
little Stevie grew, day by day the o.
black shadow-the shadow Of the u
employed-grew also, darkening, darke
ing.
They were very frugal, trying to Ike
out of debt-debt was horrible to them
i IL.