The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-23
TIE EVENING .STOR r
IIarrys Weddine.


When Larry Donovan was promoted
from footman to coachnan and moved
from room over the stables to trim
cottage with a fine view of the Hens
stead's lawn, he felt as If the summit
of his ambition had been reached. If /
genius IS a capacity for hard work.
Larry could well lay claim to it, for I
he toiled early and late with a per-
tinacity which set him high in the es-
timation of his employer, and enabled |
him to put by a snug sum by the time /
he had been in America tkree years.
There was only one thing wanting to
make Larry's happiness complete. and
that was the presence of Ellen O'Meara,
who was already on her way from the
old country. A month ago Larry had
sent the money for her transportation.
Ellen was the belle of Baliymoran,
and his winning her was to be viewed
in the light of a great triumph. For q
while IT had been nip and tuck as t.
whether she would marry him or Tin
Kearny. But Ellen had chosen Larry,
and in the letters she wrote him from
time to time there was no mention of
Tim Kearny
"shure, her hearts all mine" said
Larry to himself, and as the day OF
Ellen's landing approached his joy be-
came more and more apparent.
Indeed, the whole Hemstead house
hold took an interest in Eilen's home
coming. The servants knew her age
to dot that her eyes were as blue as
the lakes of Killarney, and her hair
like FURNISHED copper.
The morning of his wedding daWned
clearly and Larry was in jubilant spirits
as he took the Long Island train for
New York. How Ellen would delight
in their little cottage, and exult in the
surprise that her husband was not a
groom but a ful1-fedged coachman.
Larry boarded the emigrant ferry
boat, and it was not till he had reached
the emigration building on Ellis Island
that he found that the Cedric. the
steamer on which Ellen was coming,
was day late
A whole twenty-four hours to spend
without Ellenl Larry wandered dis
consolately through the long bare halls
of the building, stopping to look at the
newly landed emigrants, and thinking
of the time when he had been like
them. In one of the halls a girl was
talking to a blue-coated official, and
biting her lips to keep from crying. She
was young and slender, with deep grey
eyes.
I'm sorry the official was saying
kindly. but we haven't been able to
get any word of the aunt who was to
meet you, and you're too young a girl
to work alone in the city. It's against
the law If your aunt doesn't come for
you, you'll have to go back to Ireland
to your own people,"
But they're all dead said the girl.
''Shure, there's no one belonging to me
at all except this aunt in New York
whom I've niver seen An if she
doesn't come for me- the girl broke
eff with a sudden Sob so childish. so
piteous. that Larry, in spite Of his hap
piness, felt his heart ache for her.
Its a shame, it is" he said to him
self. "a poor young bit of a thing like
that! Faith, if my Ellen was only here
we might think of something to do for
the girl" And on his way back to New
/ - To
Ellen about the matter. Women's wits
were much better than mems in such
cases.
Next morning he was early at the
island, and instead of waiting in the
emigration building, tramped up and
down outside that he might catch the
! first glimpse of the boat that was
bringing Ellen to him. Presently he
deserted it and his blood raced at the
sight.
He atood as near as he could to the
gangp1ank and anxiously scanned the
faces of the emigrants crowded on the
! deck, but Ellen's was notsamoug them
Larry was filled with an anguish of
apprehension. Then his heart leaped-
He had seen the CLINT of Ellen's red
gold hair! For an instant she faced
him, their eyes met, and then she
turned and spoke to man beside her.
He laughed and pushed back his cap
As he did SO. Larry recognized him.
It was Tim Kearny. They were COM
ing down the gangplank now, and
Ellen, to steady herself, put a bare
red hand on the railing. On her
fourth finger cleaned plain gold
wedding ring.
Larry was too stunned to speak
Dazediy he turned towards the emigra-
ton building. He knew not what to
do. or where to CO. The mockery of it
all swept over hiTn-the fruit1ess years
of planning and working; the little
house that he had meant to be so hap
by in Worse than all, the shame Of
returning alone smote him to the
quick. But as he stumbled on, there
flashed through his mind the memory
day before. She had been 50 helpless,
yet so lovely in her grief. Somehow,
the recollection Of her loneliness seem
ed to draw him toward her as If by an
invisible bond
'Shure, misery loves company" he
said to himself, and if the girl could
only learn to care for me It's joy and
not sorrow might be in store for usi''
He quickened his steps, fumbling in
his pocket for the letters with which
Mr.. Hemstead had invested him in case
he had trouble in proving his right to
Ellen. They certified as to Larry's
and satisfied the nliddle-aged official
who ran his eye across them.
well ~ he said.
The situation was a difficult one and
it took Larry some moments to ex-
Finally. the ofHciaI threw back his
head, and laughed. We've had good
many romances on the Island" he
cried. ssbut this beats ALL Still, as far
as 1 can see, there's nothing against
your marrying the girl If she consents.
At present she's expecting to be de-
ported, for we've found that her aunt
! died some days after the girl sailed"
So Nora MacManus was called from
the women's detention room, and
came with a look of wonder wonder
which deepened as she saw Larry
ssThey're telling me you're from the
ovid sod said he. land that your
/ names Nora MacAIanus. Is it of the
! Innishowan MacManuses ye are2'
yes" said Nora. Her voice was as
] soft as the run Of a river