Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-11

the dining room until Ciancarty en-
tered, and then he did the talking.
The festive board looks very invit-
ing, and glad | am to see Owen among
us He touched Owens shoulder and
passed to Mrs. CIancarty, who docilely
lifted her cheek. You are looking a
little less gloomy than usual, Mar
garet; thank God for that" he said,
with light kiss. And over her head
he smiled cOndescendingly at his sons.
The dinner went on gaily. Dan
found the ring in the cOlcannon-a
mixture of potatoes and parSnips
mashed together-and was toasted as
the next bridegroom.
We'll, I've enjoyed your hospitality,
Mrs. Clancarty," Clancarty said, when
the dinner was finally over, bowling to
her with playful hooking dignity; IAN
thrust that the rest of this night will
| be as interesting for all here as it will
be for me-"
A look of wild anxiety passed over
the faces of the family as the head of
it walked to the sofa where he had
placed his hat and overcoat. He
paused there, and drawing out a pig
skin wallet began lesurely counting
the fiat, thick sheaf Of bills it Con-
| tanned
It's not going out again yare?"
Mrs. Clancarty faltered, her eyes on
| the money and the memory of the
many bills due looming darkly before
/ her.
She saw he had drunk enough to
make him like a mischievOus child.
| He was at his best in such mood. If
| he but stopped there. But to go out
again? All! that way lay the reckless
extravaganza that was faying him
| down hill, and for her the watching
and suspense until far into the night.
You're killing me-" Mrs. Clancarty
moaned, sitting down weakly; you're
| going to ruin. You think nothing of
/ goiag out with that wallet full, return
/ ing without a halfpenny"
| Clancarty smiled in slightly SUI
perior way and CLICKED his tongue. He
looked at the others.
'I'll tell you be said suddenly,
! flinging his gloves down in challenge.
| "Pll tell you. I'll go out, Margaret
but do you come with me-" He folded
his arms. threw back his shoulders
and stared into Mrs. Clancarty's
amazed eyes. There was no sound in
| the room
'I?" faltered Mrs. Clancarty.
"You."
"GO-where?"
Wherever l go!" Numbered Clan
carty.
Mrs. Clancarty was about to refuse
| when Tom and Dan, who had risen
and now stood behind their father,
| made frantic appeals to her by looks
and gestures to accept She hesitated,
distracted. To go out into the night
and rain with Clancarty on frolic
bent, was evidently what children as
| we'll as husband demanded of her, and
it seemed madness. But a thought in
| it's favor which had nothing to do with
| Clancarty's elOquence swayed her.
She might keep him from spending his
money.
Il will" she said softly, small, ex-
cited sigh following.
There's for you" he laughed. spin
ming her to him and slapping her
shoulder. 'Now = whisper-because
you're such a dotey you'll have a
kiss" His lips touched her shy cheek.
Get your things on, me dear But
don't take too long, for | ordered a
cab, and it must be at the door"
Mrs. Clancarty went to her room,
dazed. 1t was the most confusing mo-
ment of her life. She was going to do
what she thought wrong because she
felt it was wise to do it. 1t was poll
tic to let Clancarty fancy that his elo-
quence had converted her to his way
of thinking. In reality she resented
everything he had said, and with
every instinct secretly in revolt was
really going as an anxious watch dog
over the wallet
where are you taking me?" was
her first question after they had en-
tered the cab.
''Oh, to a quiet but entertaining lit
tie spectacle said Clancarty. Its
called The Black Crook" He gave
hawk glance to see if the name was
known to her, but her face remained
| pale and sad.
I'm afraid, I'm afraid" she kept
whispering as Clancarty led her with
many stumbles through the darkness
to a niche curtained off from the
throng This was stage box. To
Mrs. Clancarty it seemed a room next
to hell, for-oh, glory be!
She sat back weakly after untying
her bonnet strings and closed her eyes
| for a few moments. A contrite.
frightened prayer surged up from her
disturbed soul. 1t seemed as if this
brought peace and comfort, for the
| devils dance music ceased, and a
| tremulous, dreamy strain of almost
painful sweetness flooded the rapt
| quiet.
Her Celtic prudery was ablaze and
filled her with strength. She tied her