The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-16
THE EVENING STOR Y
How Grady Wore the Green.

(By lola l.. Forrester.)
When the construction gang took pos
session of Sackett Junction Kitty
O'Reilly took possession of the con-
struction gang.
Kitty's father read the daily papers.
and, followed the movement of the cur
rent events. The construction gang
which was laying the new branch line
of railroad from Buds Peak to Alvarez
was the very latest thing in current
events, and by the time it landed at the
Junction old Mike O'Reilly was ready
for it.
They're a fine lot of men, and a
hearty lot, Kitty, even if they are lot
of guinnies and greasers and such for
eigners. It's from the stranger within
our gates that we get the goods, Kitty,
and If he won't give them to US of his
own free will, then we take them from
him by gentle persuasion. Kitty, you
are the gentle persuasion of Sackett
Junction. You go right over and talk
to whoever's the king of the whole
bunch, and tell them you're the finest
cook in Arizona, and your dad can fur
nish meal tickets to the whole crowd of
them at a price that would bankrupt
any chink cook this side Of Sacramento.
Go on with the winning ways of you,
Kitty O'Reilly, and God bless you:
So Kitty and her winning ways had
tripped blithely across the wash to where
the tents of the construction gang
showed on the side of the hill. And she
delivered the message of her father in
her own sweet way to the king OF the
bunch and the king was neither gum
ny nor greaser but Tom Grady from
Kansas City. Tall was Thomas, six
feet two, with the shadowy blue eyes OF
Erin and the curliest of sunset tinted
locks.
kitty glanced sideways out of the cor
ners of her eyes at him, IN way she
had, and she was glad in her heart OF
hearts that the construction gang had
seized upon Sackett Junction as its
base of operations.
I'VE will eat with you. tell the old
man. said Tom Grady, and while his
manner was sedate, and his tone most
respectful as beftted five minutes
acquaintanceship, yet his eyes told
Kitty that she was the fairest creature
he had looked upon in all his life- we
will eat any old thing he gives us to eat,
and the road can pay for 1t. Tel MIN
to feed US hearty
Il do the cooking said Kitty, and
the way of her smile and voice was
most bewildering to a man with a free
heart under his coat.
Tom, and he stood on the hillside, look
ing after her as she tripped back across
the wash. And. sure, you can cock
for me all my life with the sweet smile
of you, and the tender glance of you
It's fried doormat I'd be eating with
relish if you. gave Il to me- he SAID
to himself, and he sang as he went
back to the gang: 49,
"Oh, and when you're dreaming, Molly
darling,
Don't forget to dream of me-"
Two months the gang were to pitch
their tents on the hillside and Mike
OReilly made 1t pleasant for them. lie
had the largest and coolest house az
Sackett's, and Saturday night he would
throw it open for a dance for the boys.
And it was at their dance that Tom
asked Kitty did she love him a bit;
Kitty sat on window sill, cooling
herself in the fresh, sweet night air at
ter "a grand light and left come-all-
ye.' >,
she said softly.
not later" answered Tom, and the mas
terfulness of him did her heart good,
for the Maynard woman loves best the
man who makes her mind him. YOU
don't have to tell me at all, for I've
been knowing it month past. Your
ewes told me even while they tried to
hide it with the darling long lashes you
have on them. And your voice SAID II
when it trembled, and your blessed NJ.
tie hands said it every time they gave
me the finest bits to eat of their own
cooking. Your lips don't need to be
telling me what's the truth l know al
ready, Kitty, angel heart of mine, but
want to hear them say 1t. Do you love
me?"
whispered Kitty, and the tear drops
gIistened on her dark lashes for the
Joy that swept over her.
Tom stood up straight and glanced
over his shoulder at the long dining
room that had been turned into dance
hall. The piles of dishes were stacked
IN on the bare tables at the Sides and
the smoke was thick. Down on one OF
the bare tables old Mike was doing an
unsteady jig, and singing 'Donnybrook
Fair" There was a lull in the dane
ing 1t was Just past midnight. and ST.
Patrick's day was at its dawning.
And Tom, turning from the smoke
and the crowd at the table, where
Mike danced, bent over Kitty as she
sat in the shadow. and kissed her.
"We'u be married next month";, he
told her. and Mrs. Thomas Grady shall
spend her honeymoon gayly In con-
roads put through, and we go on to
Kitty laughed happily, and put her
hand over his mouth. And the two OF
them sat there in the shadow beside
the open window talking and saying
nothing at all sensible for half an
hour. When they stepped out on the
door for the last dance, Tom held MS
head high and proudly. ne nad ID
ali the world she was the sweetest glri
he had ever seen. And on his coat,
lust above the heart, was pinned tne
@@a1yor she had given him. 1t was only
. little shamrock made of wire and
green silk, the kind they sell on me
Street corners st. Patrick,s day put put
Kittv had worn it in her hair All IN Q
a1,eninq stuck in sideways like the
coouetfe she was just above her pretty
ear. and it was the sign OF botn ms
victory and her thraldom 10 Ionh
R1t suddenly as the two stepped out
on The floor to take their places IN the
reel. a figure appeared in the doorway.
and old Mike gasped and sWore uIl ,l,e5
bie breath. Then the old man ducKeu
under a table. and quietly, soberly pre-