The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-12

you'll not break her heart and mine.
I've loved you, as God is my witness,
as never father loved son. I've staked
my honor on yours and you've got to
make good"
Fitzgerald seated himself on the
corner of the table with an assumption
of his old carelessness.
Just as you say, Riordan. Only I
think it's hard on the girl A disin-
herited Rounger son, with a record
none too nice at %; but if you like
Riordan's jaws snapped hard.
Il do like. You'll marry her Easter
Monday, when Father Murphy will be
comm TO camp"
Fitzgerald glanced out of the win
dow. The sky was rosy. A whistle
blew far up the cut.
IAN right old man. Perhaps you'll
fixe it up with the Whites for me. 1
don't think they will exactly approve
of me as a brother-in-law. And while
you're about it, you might put the case
to Jennie"
And he was gone, leaving Riordan
to stare after him with unseeing eyes.
With a sodden heart Riordan pur-
sued his daily routine, and late in the
afternoon made his way to the White
cottage. The first John Alden did not
plead more eloquently than this rough
master mechanic. Jennie heard him
quietly to the end.
She raised her eyes to his honest
face.
And it would make you very hap
py?"
Very happy" answered Riordan,
bending with a grace which, if not
courtly, was at least sincere, and kiss
ing her hand. Then, without another
WORD, he walked away, leaving her
I alone in the living room, with its
homely attempts at decoration and it's
echo of baby's fretful cry from the
rear apartment.
When Riordan came to the cabin
Easter eve, he found Fitzgerald hur-
rying into his best clothes.
I'm going down the line. Don't
worry, I'll be on hand tomorrow night,
all right. I've got to get a ring and
some flowers for the bride, you know"
IF it's flowers you'll be gettin make
1t them tall white, lilies, they use in
the church Easter Sunday-that is, if
they keep 'em in Boone. Need any
money!"
Fitzgerald shook his head, and
reached for his hat.
well, I'm off, old man. See you to-
morrow night"
{ The morrow was dull indeed for
Dennis Riordan. The only suggestion
| of Easter lay in the vile egg-nog brew
| ed at the saloon. There were no duties
to distract his mind; no inattentive en-
CINE men upon whom he could vent
his vague irritability. He spent most
of the afternoon within doors brood
ing. Torn by love of the girl and love
for the boy, writhing under the sacri-
I flee, and yet eager to see Jennie hap
by with the man she loved, it seemed
to him that cOntending emotions
trate, when he heard the whistle, faint
but clear, he sprang to his feet with
a cry of relief. 1t was No. Z, the same
train that had first brought Fitzgerald
into the camp. He stood in the door,
way, watching for the 1.-the, graceful
figure to emerge from the gloom, but
instead he heard measured, careful
tramp of feet.
And so they brought Fitzgerald in
and laid him, mangled but still con-
scious, on the cot. Riordan, swaying,
leaned over the pitifully crushed figure.
| Fumes he knew rose and struck him
full in the face. Fitzgerald stirred ard
opened his eyes.
ITS all right. old man; they say
it'll be over before 1 feel the pain. I
had to take another fling! l was going
mad here-mad! The deadly same
ness of it-that's what drove me from
college-from home-from Ireland.
L
drink another drop-for your sake.
but the cocktails-at- Boone-they
got the best of me again. She's better
off without me. You've been good to
! me, old man, but-you-couldnt make
"a man out ola f"
Riordan gave a great cry that made
the quiet group standing in the
shadow shudder. and a slender, girl
ish figure leaning against the outside
OF the door shivered and clutched for
support. Fitzgerald reached out a
hand gropingly, and died with Rior-
dams tears falling, like a last blessing,
on his lips. which turned strong and
noble in death.
She stood by Riordan's side. Her
arms were full Of fiowers-a molly
collection, but the best Fitzgerald
had been able to pick up during his
sober hours in Boone.
They were to be our wedding flow
ers," she said quietly, as Riordan took
them from her and arranged them
tenderly. He seemed unwilling that
any one else should touch the quiet
form.
They were found near the spot
where-he slipped"
Still Riordan did not speak He
sat down again, his eyes fixed on the
calm face from which every trace of
unrest and dissipation had faded.
How you loved him!" And there
was a trace of bitterness in her voice.
80 we'll that you'd have sacrificed me
to his welfare-even me-"
Riordan turned toward her sharply.
Jennie, you don't mean"
Yes, l would have saved him-for
your-sake, if 1 could, but it wasn't
my work nor yours, dear 1t was be-
yond us both. Now he understands
it all-what manner of love was
yours"
Riordan had risen and now he held
both her hands fast in his.
Il thought-Goo help me-Jennie,
girl, 1 did it for the best
You thought? % she asked wonder
ingly.
That you loved him. You'd an ed
ucation and gentle manners, and he
was a genteman-while I"
Dennis Riordan, only the angels
in heaven know what you really are"
MMA