The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-29

the little red headed O'Ehaunessys. who
lived across the hall, were particularly
clamorous Mrs. McGinnis was wont to
remark that she was glad she had none
Of 1.-THE loikes of them" to stay at home
and take care Of.
AS 1t was. she set of blathely each
morning with her scrubbing dress done
up In bundle and carried under her
arm. Sometimes, through the generosi-
u Of her employers, she would return
with a much larger bundle. Such occa-
sions were gala nights, and Mrs. Nc
Ginnis could hardly wait to get home
and open the wrappings on the kitchen
table. There would be cuffs and socks
and trousers Is good as new for Mr..
McGinnis, and such waists and skirts
for herself that she was able to set the
styles for the whole neighborhood.
Her only near rival in ttis was Mrs.
O'Shaunessy, who appeared one Sum-
day in a red pluah hat nodding with
green plumes. The following week
Mrs. McGinnis went to church In q
pink satin waist that had once been
the bodice Of reception gown. II was
deliberately trimmed with chiffon and
artificial rosebuds and had elbow
sleeves which displayed Mrs. McGln-
MIS- muscular arms, ruddy from much
contact with strong suds. Yet II there
was anything ludicr0us In the picture
she presented she was entirely uncon-
scious Of 1t, and the gorgeousness Of
her apparel settled her supremacy a. q
leader Of fashion.
But the feud between herself and
Mrs. O'Shaunessy still continued. Mrs.
OShaunessy used to strut up the aisle
''for all the wurruld like an ovid hem
with her numerous progeny trailing
glance over her shoulder at Mrs. Nc
Ginnis. Were not large families Just
as stylish as pink satin waistsf
One evening Mrs. McGinnis came
home with larger bundle than usual
"Shure. It's a whole new wardrobe
Wen be having" she said breathIessiy.
"Tm that excited can hardly cut the
strings! Here's waistcoats for ye, Pat,
and some neckties and foine silk hat
FAX, you'll look loike the mayor him
self In It'll And here's a dress for me.
Silk lined 1t Is tool Oh, it's myself
that will make a 1ne rustic when I
pass that O'Shaunessy womani And
maybe there's waist to go with itr'
us 1t this ye meanY said Pat and
held up something that neither Of them
had noticed-a small black velvet suit
with lace cuffs and a wide lace collar.
There were little black silk stockings,
too, and patent leather slippers with
gilt buckles.
Mrs. McGinnis looked at the OUTFIT
speechlessly.
aye might sell it," said her husband.
"Indaid, and I'll not" said Mira. NO
Ginnis.
Eye can give 1t to Mrs. O'Shaunesay,
then" hazarded Pat twill at one Of
her youngsters"
els 1t out of your mind you arsr'
cried Mrs. McGinnis. ITO think I'd be
giving this suit to the loikes Of theml
What would her red headed spalpeens
be doing with lace collar and cuffs,
I'd loike to known And Mrs. McGin-
mis- snorted Indignantly. To her mind
these clothes were meant for q prince
ling, and none but princeling should
wear them.
That night. as she lay sleepless, sho
was haunted by visions Of a little fg-
ure in black velvet suit. Now he sat
by the kitchen table, his fair hair shin
ing under the lamplight; now no was
walking by her side to church, 50 aris-
tocratic that none Of the tribe
O'Shaunessy could hold a candle t,
him. Suddenly unguesssd longings an.
tendernesses began to stir. She Won
dered how it would seem to have som.
one to cuddle In the twilight, to feel
drowsy head against her breast. II
would be sweet, she thought, to wake
him In the morning and see his face
all warm and flushed with slumber, his
curls in tangle about his neck Later,
when he was older, he would 60 to
school and stand first In his class, while
the little O'Shaunessys would be Al
ways, always at the foot And soothed
by this pleasant reflection, Mrs. NO
Ginnis fell asleep. Yet even her dreams
were broken by the pattsr Of tiny feet
In patent leather slippers with gilt buc-
kIos.
With morning came a resolve which
she did not see At to tmpart to Pat
and by noon she set resolutely OF on
her quest. carrying a letter from the
priest In ore hand and dress suit case
In the other. The sister at st. Mar
garet's Orphan asylum was accustom-
ed to many startling requirements, but
surely none were ever more astonish-
ing than Mrs. McGinnis' demand for q
boy to At black velvet suit As to his
age or parentage Mrs. McGinnis did
not seem to care. So long as the sutt
fitted that was all she asked.
Then followed strenuous half hour
were many boys of assorted sizes.
There were thin boys and fat boys,
dark boys and fair boys, but good At
seemed hopeless. Mrs. McGinnis
watched the proceedings with trou-
bled eye. Look at him." she would
wall. Hes that chunky he'll be
bursting the seams IL he moves an
inchw or again, Begging your paSdpu,
it's no bean pole I'm after wantinef'
She tried two more asylums, with no
better results. Despair settled down
upon her. Was the surprise she haA
planned for Mrs. O6haunessy never to
be? Must she go home banned and de-
feated and give up ali hope Of the SEN
sation she had planned to createf And
q deeper feeling than all these tugged
at her heart. The world seemed 30
full Of children, and there was not
even one for herl A sob rose In her
throat as she began to fold up the
velvet suit.
"I'll be having you with many
thanks" she said huskily to the sister
in charge. "for there's not wan Of them
that fits the suit at all, at alIt' And
even as she spoke there appeared be-
fore her the vision Of her last niaht's
dream-blus eyed and with crisp curls
OF gold-only this child was dressed In
q checked Bingham pinRfore instead Of
velvet.
The child smiled sngagingiy at kn.
McGinnis. who felt great wave Of
love and longing sweeping ovss hsA
Such a broth Of boyi Here a& last
was one who would At not only the