The Holly chieftain., 1906-11-09

why had to send Tim away"
AS II he cared for your money!
And he'd never let Billy lose" Larry
said exultantly. But he bent his head
reverently to kiss mammy's hand as
he added: But, oh. you are brick!
You made up all this about the name
to blind that blessed boyY'
II had to-there-there wasn't any
thing else. Tim was such a gentle
man." Mrs Wheat said, smotherlng a
sob You won't tell him, Larry, but
all this teasing over his sweetheart's
name is Just to keep him from suspect
l think he Is making mistake. He has
promised to wait a year-lOng enough
to find 1t out for himself"
Whats wrong with her." Larry
asked.
Everything. but mostly that she's
too old and wise and hard" Mrs. Wheat
said comprehensively II mean that
she was born too old; actually they are
but Il month apart She is much too
c1.ver to care really for my dear. big.
laundering, pretty boy. but she cares
whole lot for what he can give her
You ought to see her eying my pearls.
l could forgive her little IL she had
no pearls of her own. To be rich and
grasping Is so much worse than to
yearn for what one never has had.
could break up the match tomorrow by
letting Aer know l hold the purse
strings. but that would lose me my boy
and he's everything
"She shan't have him, and you shan't
lose him. Listen! I've got an idea,"
Larry said.
Nanny bent toward him, her brim-
ming eyes shining. They talked In
whispers for two minutes, then barry
rushed away. headed for the telegraph
office.
Exactly three weeks later Nanny
Wheat, with Larry In attendance, went
up to tho city upsn Z steamer DAY, The
pair got back late to Fernbrock and
slipped into the hotel by the side en-
trance wholly unseen. But soon there
was inscribed upon the register In Lar
ry's most sprawling hand, "Mr. and
Mrs. F. 7, O'Toole- -Merrion. Mount
Merrion, County Meath, Ireland" And
underneath, in Greek letters, They've
found It."
Whats all that aboutY' Billy said,
coming up and leaning over Larry's
shoulder.
Larry laid hold on him, saying, Get
your Gum and come see." AS he
dragged Billy toward the main stair
way he added: Don't you get heart
failure. You'll come out all right, If
only you live through it."
Sarah-Susan, in wait for Billy, was
easily carried along. As the three en-
tered mammy's private parlor they saw
her standing beside a tall, handsome
fellow, baldish and grayish. to be sure,
but ruddy and with the happiest merry
eyes. Shamelessly he put his arms
around nanny. not even giving Billy
a finger until he had said: II had to
have her, even If 1t meant changin' me
name and nation. son. Sure, life was
no life without her. Wish me joy, lad,
Of me new home and a wife in it,"
Il do" Billy said heartily, wringing
the tardy hand. Nanny detached her
self from Tim and flung herself upon
Billy's breast. half sobbing, half laugh
ing out: "Wait, son, until you know!
Are you willing to be poor to make me
happyw
Sure" Billy said, giving her hug
Sarah-Susan bridled. Larry In his
most innocent fashion began to eX
plain. Before he had said fifty words
she wheeled upon nanny:
'As you have beggared your son.
madam, for your whim, understand l
refuse to countenance your duplicty.
agree with your late uncle. Such con
duct is positively immoral"
AS she spoke she had been stripping
herself of Billy's ring. simple affair
of thready gold with diamond spark
on it. But she quite forgot the diamond
pendant at her throat. the circle of
brilliants about her arm. not to name
many more jewels resting upon her
dressing table. Majestically she tossed
the ring to Billy-poor crestfallen Billy
who stood at his mothers side.
But when Mrs. O'Toole- Merrion drew
his head to her breast and patted 1t I'D
she Had done when he was three year,
old, he lifted 1t bravely and smiled up
at her, saying: ut hurts. nanny. but
I'm not going to cry. And I'm not go
ing to starve either. Tim will see ID
that"
Sure" Tim said. hugging his new
son. Nanny and Larry consideratelJ
lookod awav