The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-30
II.-vlcARIous FILTRATION.

bosom of her family for fear Of making
herself unpopular Cinderella was the
sixth number of continuous performance
presented by an all-star cast Of Irish
cooks. The first performer stole the sill
vcr. The second drank the brandy pro-
vided for the mnce meat and retired in
IRE disorder. The third threw hat1rons
Mt the WasherWoman. The fourth broke
sixteen pieces Of valuable china In one
week. The fifth took such an interest in
the table talk that it was fairly stimulat-
Ing, and genially joined in the conversa-
ton; but SHE left in high dudgeon when
told that followers must be out Of the
house before IL o'clock. Then came Gin
derella, djsgulshed as Norah O'Toole.
To say that Norah was charming would
be speaking we'll within bounds. Two years
ty Kildare, and the two years had changed
her abode but not her face. Nancy
mother locked at the new maid askance
and phophcsied that she was too pretty
to be true. Nancy's father, being man
of discretion, said nothing about Norahs
looks. Moneys bl other openly proclaimed
the girl peach, and moved by an unset
fish desire to make others happy, brought
susceptible college chums home to dinner
with him every night. AS for Nancy her.
self, she was torn between hopeless envy
and grudgiDg admiration every time she,
looked at the dark-lashed gray eyes and
the radiant complexion Of the belle Of
kildare.
After Norah had been in the household
week the nerves Of the family
smoothed themselves out. like a long
crampcd scroll. and the angel Of peace
brooded over the fiat. The new maid could
cook. She was Clearly almost to the point
of goodness She handled china as If she
had been born with a Scvres platter in one
hsrd and a Cauldon salad bowl in the
ether. She was distracting in her wait
ress apron and cap that paterfamilias for
got his skill In carving and made havoc
of the napery. She had voice like a
birds, delicious brogue, more marked at
emotional times than at others, and the
disposition Of a cherub. Conversation in
the home circle ran in only one groove
praise Of Norah.
This state of things was too bright, too
beautiful to last. The family were fast
ttg charms for them. With Norah in the
flesh it was necessary for them to
have "a bliss to die with, dim deserted -
Probably 1t was to save their immortal
souls that they were robbed of earthly
bliss, but Nancy was unwittingly the angel
OF destruction. ..'r
1t all came about, so many things
Z have come about, thru a woman's tears
One Sunday evening, Nancy was on her
way to her own room after making an
evening alternately Elysian and Tartar
can for lovelorn young man. 1t is hard
TO forgive man for coming when one
expects another man who does not come.
A week before Nancy had made the man
who came often seriously angry. Since
then he had not come at all. AS she
passed Norah's door she saw something
that made her stop suddenly. Norah the
gay, Norah the debonair, was sitting limp
ly on the edge of the bed and forlornly
hopping tear-staned face with wet
Wad of kerchief. The faster she mopped,
the fas:er poured the flood
Nancy is a democratic young woman,
and she objects to seeing any girl cry, if
the floodgates can be closed; so she tapped
at tie door and stepped into the band
box room. Norah gave one gigantic sob,
strangled amidshlps, and sprang to atten-
ton. Nancy pushed her back upon the
bed
Now, just tell me all about it," she
said in a tone that would have wrung
condolences from all oyster.
Norah blushed, and supplemented the
kerchicf with her apron, she said:
'Shure I'm that ashamed of mesilf, Miss.
It's nothir' at all, at all. I'm that fool
ish, sometimes. that need a good beat
in I do that" -.
but what's the matter?" insisted
Nancy
well, we see, Miss, it's the ball Tues.
day night. The girls was here tonight
a-oeggin me to go, and I can't.
wouldn't be carin' so much, only it's
County kildare ball and all the girls and
the lads will be from County Kildare.
They're comm from all around the coun-
try here, and there's them as I haven't
seen since came over. But there! shure
l mustn't be throublin' you wild me
siliness It's bit Of the inconsistencies
I'm feelin' the night"
Why can't you go to the ban?" asked
the 1nterrogattve young person, perched
on the trunk Haven't you anybody to
take your"
Norah laughed outright in scorn.
All there, wud ye think I'd be needin'
q lad, Miss? Faith, they'd be reaching
to the next street, if I'd stand them up
In row. Lad! Is it? When I'm needin'
lad, it's not cryin' I'll be-. I'll be dead
entirely. If the clothes was only as aisy
to get as the lads, Ia be wearin' velvet.
But It's the dresses that cost more and
wear worse-bad luck to them!'
5ta You haven't any frock for the bal1?..
That's 1t, Miss, but II I had a ha'porth
o sense, / wouldn't be cryin' over II.
You see, all the girls are having new
dresses, and I was out of work and in
the hospital all summer, 80 I haven't the
money. Not new rag have I had, ex-
cept my workin clothes, since I came
over. Ye should see Katy's pink silk.
MISS; and Mary's got a red cashmere that
luks for all the world like a tinnirnint
house fire, and neither of them becomin,
to the dresses. Shure If I had that mink
silk I'd be leavin' all of County Kildare
dead on the field the mornin'. The no.
hcemen would be ringin' for ambulances
TO carry the lads off in, If the policemen
wasn't laid out thimsilves-pink's that
becomin' to me, Miss"
Norah had warmed at thought of the
f tray. but IS slumped into deadly gloom once
the trunk and eyed the mourner criti-
cally.
'Norah," she said. finally "you are
just about my size. With little pulling
In, you could wear my clothes You shall
have pink frock for that BALL.
Norah came to her feet as if an cleo
tric battery had been applied to her.
fe aren't meanin', Miss"
You shall wear my new pink froc1, y
said Nancy, firmly '>'
The Irish Niobe sank back In cons+ar
nation, but there was a dawning hone IN
her eyes. -
Not the one with the apple blossom
wreath on it. Miss?''
That same
Oh. I cudn't be thinkin' of II Tt,s
that good of you to offer, but I'd never
dare. II We had some old dress now thar
you'd never be wearin' again, but"
fou'll be dream in that pink frock
Moran, and you'll knock County Kildare
INTO cooked nat No, you needn't be
saying you won't; I've got my heart sat
on 1t now. You are going to have thc
Time OF your life Tuesday night, Norah.
III order pumpkin at the corner grocarI.
ana County Kildare ought to be able r.
furnish prince descended from Rrie,,
Boru. Now go to sleep and dream vol, q "a
comet with tail of Kildare lads. Tues.