The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-04-24
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with an empty brier between his teeth,
was standing at his shoulder, looking
on.
you'll be done with IL before light
goes" said O'Keefe.
"Tll be done with II in an hour" re-
piled O'Gorman, "and an hour later III
be in possession of ten sterling guineas,
English money"
II wish I'd the tenth Of it," said
O'Keefe.
II wish We had" replied O'Gorman.
"Well," O'Keefe began, In the tone
a man used on the edge OF request,
'I'll tell ye what brings me here. We
were chums in a way in the old Dub
lin days"
II may tell We, O'Keefe," said O'Gor-
man, busily mixing tint upon his
palette and not pauslng to look at his
companion, that l don't like the news
I'm hearing OF you. There's none OF
the money going in your direction"
I'm not asking IT," returned O'Keefe
"It's years since ] had ye In my
thoughts till this afternoon, but I'm
Just after meeting O'Reilly, and he
tells me you're wanting n housemaid.
According TO O'Reilly, ye'd like her
ugly and ye'd like her Irish. There's
poor widow woman that lived, 80 she
tells me, on your fathers land In Derry
before you were born. She came to me
in distress the day before yesterday,
and all she wants is work for her
hands. 'Tis little enough l can do TO
help anybody, circumstanced as l am,
but when / heard from OReilly that
you were wanting maid, l began to
wonder whether widow wouldn't
serve your turn, and thought I'd drop
I'm and put II to We. anyway"
Its my grandfather she's thinking
Of" said O'Gorman. my fathers
property in Derry would have gone
into her eye without hurting her.
What's her name"
"Tis Malone" said O'Keefe. They'd
little holding under your own people
on the Clinkilty road"
I'm not recalling the name" O'Gor-
man replied, renectively. But I'm
wanting some kind Of woman about
the house, and If she can cook and
scrub she's welcome to a place as n
candidate. What's her age:"
she's about forty, / should say"
said O'Keefe, "may be day or two
older"
"And she's uglyr
"As sinv said O'Keefe with en-
phasls. 1--WE known some kinds OF sin
that were prettier to look at by mile"
That's a point in her favor" said
OGorman, "for I'll not have my char
acter besmirched In my own house"
"Tll be telling her to call this even.
ing" asked O'Keefe.
"At 8 O'clock" returned O'Gorman,
and went on with his painting so reso
lutely that his companion, after linger-
Ing for minute or two, offered an en-
barrassed goodby, and faded from the
room. OGorman listened till the front
door closed behind him, and peered
through the studio window into the
street. along which. with disconsolate
eye on the empty brier, he was slowly
walking away. Then the artist laid
down his palette and brushes and
went to a little cupboard. from which
he drew tobacco jar, bottle of
Dublin tipple, a glass and n decanter
Of water When he had helped himself
to a drink and had filed and lit his
pipe he sat down In smiling content
ment, and slipped and smoked at ease
I'D never have got rid of the blagyard
at all IL I'd let him smell these" he
said TO himself. "O'Keefe? It's like
his cheek to be coming into a decent
house at all with the record that's
behind him. I'm not the man TO be
bard on an old friend that's little
down at the heel, but | draw the line
at the Old Bailey"
He sat smoking and looking at his
work from time to time with the salts.
faction of workman who has come
near to his own purpose. and he was
thus TRANQUILITY engaged when twilight
fell. Then he went downstairs and
ate chop and fioury potato or two
which had been sent round from a
neighboring tavern. and just as the
clock on the dining-room mantclpiece
pointed to the hour of s knock
sounded at the front door, and O'Gor.
man himself answering the summons
found n respectablelooking person in
black dress. black beaded mantle
black bonnet and black gloves, who
courtesied to him reverently. and In
very mellifluous brogue announced
herself as Mrs. Malone.
Come in," said O'Gorman. holding
the door aside, and the respectable per
son. after executing another courtesy
obeyed. She waited while the master
of the little house closed the door ant
then followed him into the dining
room. where she lifted her veil folded
her black gloved hands. and stood a,
IL eXpectant OF cross examination
OGorman regarded her for n moment
I'll not be charged with dallance witt
this young person." he said. inwardly
and indeed the candidate was plail
enough to look at. with her bold ant
harsh features and very decided cas-
In the eye. IL suppose" he said aloud
"ye'll be able to give me characte
from your last placer"
Mrs. Malone explained that she ha
not been in domestic service for som
years. Her late husband had been
steward aboard ship. and she rs stew
ardess had served on the same vesse
She could do plain cooking and a
necessary housework She had exec
lent testimonials. and in immediat
confirmation of this statement she pr,
duced number of orderly papers froi