Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-05-23
A sMoKE-EATER'S LOVE.

engine house every morning on her
way to the paper-box factory around
the corner on Thompson street she
had never missed day all summer
| long, and every morning little be-
fore seven o'clock Tom Burke would
stroll out of the engine house care
lessly, tip a chair back against the
red brick wall and read the morning
paper attentiveIy until the paper-box
factory girl came by.
"Aint the unsociable thing,
though" Sue McMauus would say,
with swift, Laughing side glance at
the young fireman, when she went
by with crowd of girls 'Such an
interesting paper 1t is, to De sure.
Butit won't be so interesting woen
Margery comes by"
Burke would color at the laughter
which always followed, color darby
to the roots of his close curlel brown
hair, bat never an ansEerlng ghnce
would ne send alter the glrls Ali
his glances were saved for Margery.
He could see h.r the first minute
she tufned the corner OF Sixth ave-
nue. and came down along Fifth street.
| She always took the shady side OF the
| street. and the engine house was on
that side. The other girls wore
cheap picture hats, with flowing wells
end fancy waists trimmed with cheap
lace, but Margery was always in black
and white, short walking skirt and
trim white waist, freshly Numbered,
he knew, by her precious hands.
There was no picture hat On her bon
ny brown hair, but little black SAL
lor, with swallo VS. wing on one
| side, and bunch of violets in knot
of ribbon.
1t was the style of her that took
his heart and eye the fret time he
ever saw her as she came along the
street. Even the street-car conduct
ora would look after her aud pass cor.
ners absently, and every child on the
street would look up for sinlle and
touch of her hand. 1t was just the
way she had, Burke told himseh. and
she couldn't help it any more than
an angel could heir scattering bles'
sings as it slipped by.
He had never spoken to her. He
| didn't even know if she were aware
of his e1istencs. After she had passed
he would drop the paper and stare
| at the red and black Chinese sign
| across the street and wonder how he
could ever get acquainted with her.
She wouidn ha.i.rt Like other girls.
He could tell that by the way she
held her head up and went straight
ahead, and she never seemed to have
any chums among the girls Sue
McMsnus had told him her name one
day. Sue was right in society and
went to the 6remen's picnic, and all
| the benefits just because she had a
second cousin on hose cart uptown
in Harlem.
"Sure, 1 know who she lie" Sue
had laughed at him oyer the question.
"She's forelady on the fifth floor over
the lacers. Those are the girls who
put in the lace trimmings on the fan.
cy boxes. She's all right, but she's
stuck up because she has brother
that's policeman over on Mercer
street, big, tall young fellow.
Maybe you know him-Jack o'Fer-
rail-? ?"
81 know him, said Burke. "Hes
all right. She has reason to hold up
her head over him."
Then he wondered how he could
approach O'Ferrell. Every day he
used to see him strolling down from
Washington Square, his white gloves
spotless no matter what the weather
was; his coat without wrinkle and a
smile that won him the respect OF
everybody, for they knew behind the
smile was a handy fist and quick
| brain. No. Burke decided he could
not tell O'Ferrall that he was in love
with his sister. just on the strength OF
seeing her walk by the engine house.
He would wait. and let fate and the
little blind god join hands over his
love.
twas hot August day when the
alarm sounded, and Burke jumped for
his place as the engine pulled out
1t had been dull all day, and he ielt
! glad there was to be some relief at
last. The true, natural-born SMOKE