The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-01-02
"Never knew he had brother.~

ne'er-do-well, and comes from Amer
lea. He has no money, and is very
idle and dishonest and fascinating,
and"
How typical" murmured dream-
lily.
What Off"
ooh, nothing, dear. Please tell me
more about him"
1t appeared that Mikes brother
was nearly twenty years younger
than he, and had distinguished him.
self by robbing the surrounding FAM
lilies when at home, and, when
shipped off to America at great ex-
pense to his family, had proceeded
to drain their feeble resources by
begging letters, full of-Irish inn
agination!
Mikes brother?" I cried, amazed.
Yes, Mike is his guardian angel,
and l believe'-with great mystery
Il believe that Mike sends him
money STILL"
Mike came into the room just then,
and our conversation stopped, but l
noticed he looked very much dis
turbed the next few days, his simple
eyes clouded, his ruddy face paler.
left Ballyknockshannon a week
afterward, and l always carry in my
mind the remembrance of old Mike
as he opened the gate for the dogcart
that was to take me to the station
the November sun on his white head,
a bunch of his best ruddy chrysanthe-
NUNS held up for me to take as we
sped along, his left clutching Brian
Boru (whose coat matched the
chrysanthemums) and a wistful, far
away eagerness in his earnest eyes
as they followed the cart down the
leaf strewn road.
l wondered-did Mike look more
careworn? Was my sight, misty,
with tears, deceiving me? Or was
it the influence (always keenly felt
by me) of the romantic melancholy
of the half-neglected acres around
me, with their fateful autumn still
ness?
Life, however, with its incessant
hustle and stir, claimed me, and in
it's feverish stress perhaps the men,
ory of Ballyknockshannon and my
old friend Mike faded little until
chance took me to Ireland again-to
dear, dirthy Dublin" on this oc-
casion.
1t was during the late spring, and
the season there was nearly over. I
remember l had promised to do a
commission for friend in a remote
and somewhat "slummy" part of the
town, and as l was amusing myself
with watching the types" around me
my eye suddenly fell on little old
man who came hurriedly out of
pawnbroker's shop and walked in
front of me few steps, then turned
to cross the road. l caught his pro-
file, then full FACET was Mike!
The same "bumpy" head (and the
hat at the same angle), the same
childlike, deepset eyes. yet l thought
he looked broken, older, shabbier.
Mike" l cried, you remember
me?"
He dropped his eyes nervously and
flushed with embarrassment.
"'Tis Miss Janet" he said, with
an obvious effort at being pleased to
see me. "Sure, an how could be
forgettin' the lovely face Of yer?"
"Oh! Mike, just the same" I
laughed. How are they all at Bally-
knockshannon?"
Eyer ladyship," the old mans voice
sank and his earnest eyes solicited
mine, " 'tis a grand favor you'll be
doing me not to tell her honor that
you met me here. / was just"-he
hesitated-"buying an Elegant pres
ent for me cousin Biddy, who is to
marry young Larry Murphy at"-he
began to cough, and l didn't like to
hear him, also distrusted his COM
ing to Dublin to buy a present.
Doesn't the mistress know you're
in Dublin, Mike?" asked, gravely.
"She does, yer ladyship, but this
street.-the indicated it with a fine
air of patrician scorn-" tbs not Of
the quality, and her honor might be
thinking I'd be afther taking some
sickness down." he stammered, pain
fully.
"Of course, Mike" 1 answered
gently, Il shall not say anything"
In vain l tried to persuade the old
man to let me give him some tea, he
looked so i'll and worn out. He pro-
tested with an air of great mystery
that he had business, an appointment,
etc.; so l let him go, as he was OBJ
viously eager to do so, and watched
him down the street. How shabby
his coat looked, and it was turned up
around the neck as if he feared the
wind; and Mike, who had faced all
weather in all seasons, and this was
a balmy spring afternoon. l went
home wondering.
A few weeks later I received the
following letter:
Dear Janet have been intend
ing to write to you for some weeks,
but we have been in such trouble
about poor old Mike. He has been
ailing for some time, but last Mon
dow ba 6iad from couorn attach nj