The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-03
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By Constance Darcy Mackay
Copyright, 1906. By Mcclure. Phillips d Co.


that Mrs. McGinnis was as unsociable
as she was thrifty. While the other wo-
men leaned from the windows of the
tenement and gossiped or hung clothes
across the court and quarreled over the
length of line, Mrs. McGinnis went
quietly about her own business with
out a word to any of them. Indeed,
some of her neighbors looked at her
with awe, for in a tenement where
everything is known the news soon
spread that Mrs. McGinnis went out
by the day to wash for people who
moved in high circles of society.
Life went very cheerfully for Mrs.
McGinnis. She had many things to be
thankful for. Her two rooms were as
neat as energy and soap could make
them, her husband was sober and in
dustrious, and they were putting away
a tidy bit in the bank each month. She
was thankful, too, that there were no
little McGinnises to be "pothering'
about and mussing up the kitchen. She
was not fond of children. When any of
the little red headed O'Shaunessys, 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 it was, she set off blithely each
morning with her scrubbing dress done
up in q bundle and carried under her
arm. Sometimes, through the generosi-
ty 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 as 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 this was Mrs.
O'Shaunessy, who appeared one Sun
day In a red plush 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 a reception gown. 1t was
deliberately trimmed with chiffon and
artificial rosebuds and had elbow
sleeves which displayed Mrs. McGin-
MIS- muscular arms, ruddy from much
contact with strong suds. Yet IL there
was anything ludicrous in the picture
she presented she was entirely uncon-
scious of 1t, and the gorgeousness of
her apparel settled her supremacy as a
leader of fashion.
But the feud between herself and
Mrs. O'Shaunessy still continued. Mrs.
O'Shaunessy used to strut up the aisle
"for all the wurruld like an ovid hen"
with her numerous progeny trailing
behind her, and she would shoot II
glance over her shoulder at Mrs Nc
Ginnis. Were not large families just
as stylish as pink satin waists2
One evening Mrs. McGinnis came
home with a larger bundle than usual.
"Shure, it's a whole new wardrobe
we'll be having" she said breathlessly.
I'm that excited can hardly cut the
strings! Here's waistcoats for ye Pat,
and some neckties and a foine silk hat.
Faix, you'll look loike the mayor him
self In IT. And here's a dress for me.
Silk lined 1t is too. Oh it's myself
that will make a fine rustic when
pass that O'Shaunessy woman! And
maybe there's n waist to go with it."
as 1t this ye mean2" said Pat, and
held up something that neither of them
had noticed-a small black velvet suit
with lace cuffs and wide lace collar.
There were little black silk stockings,
too, and patent leather slippers with
gilt buckles.
Mrs. McGinnis looked at the outfit
speechlessly.
"Ye might sell It," said her husband.
"Indald. and I'll not" said Mrs. Nc
Glnnis.
"Ye can give 1t to Mrs. 'Shaunessy,
then" hazarded Pat. twill fit one of
her youngsters"
rs 1t out OF your mind you areY'
cried Mrs McGlnnis. ITO think I'd be
giving this suit to the loikes of them
What would her red headed spalpeens
be doing with a lace collar and cuffs,
I'd loiks to known And Mrs. McGin-
mis- snorted Indignantly. To her mind
these clothes were meant for prince
ling, and none but a princeling should
wear them.
That night, as she lay sleepless, she
was haunted by visions of little fig
ure in a black velvet suit. Now he sat
by the kitchen table his fair hair shin
ing under the lamplight; now he was
walking by her side to church, so aris-
tocratlc that none of the tribe of
O'Shaunessy could hold candle to
him. Suddenly unguessed longings and
tendernesses began to stir. She won
dered how it would seem to have some
one to cuddle In the twilight, to feel q
drowsy head against her breast. 1t
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 go to