The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-06-15
The Claim
Of Patrick
O'Mara
BY HOWARD FIELDING
CoprtoAt. 1901, bv Charles ". Hookc

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- HERE was great crowd along
the avenue, and 1t was par
~ ticularly dense at Fifty-first
street, where foolish million
aire In q bright red automobile had
tried to cross ahead Of the procession.
Several policemen were reproving the
who was replying acrl-
The crowd was jeering good
and had closed In so thickly
behind the car that 1t could not be
backed without creating carnage. and
the odds were large that the impatient
occupant would have to stay where he
was until about three miles of Irish
had passed that point.
The incident Is OF no Importance in
this narrative except that it resulted in
blocking the path Of Edmund Halloran,
who was OH his way to the University
club. Mr.. Halloran was Democrat as
a matter Of intellectual conviction, but
he was an arlstocrat ut heart. He dis
liked crowds, and with reason, for they
nre nearly always undignified. Dignity
was Mr.. Halloran's most conspicuous
characteristic; he had SO much Of it
that as n lawyer he could impart it
even to the proceedings of the typical
New York court.
Observing vacant place upon the
steps of the cathedral, Lawyer Halo
ran took advantage of it and for Il mo-
ment was out of the press. but the
people surged up and presently drove
him into the sacred ediflce. As he was
entering he observed a tall, broad
shouldered fellow who Mt the first
glance impressed Halloran as per
feet picture Of robust and sturdy
youth. An elderly woman, obviously
his mother, stood at his right and 8
pretty girl at his left. When the three
turned to ascend the steps the woman
and the girl took each TN arm Of tht
young man and helped him along. HI
walked with peculiar lameness, as
though the soles Of his feet had beal
red hot. The mothers tenderness and
solicitude were beautiful to behold, bu
the girl seemed impatient and a lttl'
out Of temper.
Lawyer Halloran vaguely wondered
what was the matter with the youn.
man, never having seen anybody linn
in precisely that way. 1t was pass
ing thought, and the matter woul'
A>-> ~>o..>~N heo vnauJ n 40 In In,
| q few minutes later, while he was en-
joying tho comparative seclusion Of tn
vast and splendid edifice. he saw tn
mother enter and take an obscure seat
Immediately she began to pray wit
great fervor. Tho deep simplicity o
her faith seemed to radiate into the al
! mosphere, ana in its circle OF influenc
the lawyer found himself assuming
more reverent spirit. The thought Q
his errand at the club and the annoy
ance Of the delay were forgotten, an
he was glad to be in the great churc
on the saints day.
The woman remained at her dey(
tions for perhaps ten minutes and the
arose and moved toward the door. BIT
Immediately returned, as II she ha
forgotten something. She had, indee,
forgotten where she had been sittin,
and. observing this, the lawyer thougl
1t his duty to point out the error. "a
was one who had a nervous dread {
mixing In the affairs Of strangers, an
1t was with some difficulty that b
brought himself to address this won
an.
You were sitting here, madam"
said.
His dignity quite overshadowed he
She looked up timidly and thanked hi