The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-17
THE BROKEN cRUcIFIx.

button eyes
The shadows were beginning to gather in the
corner of the kitchen, and the wash-tubs full of
soaking clothes made great patches of black on the
wall
Maggie could not see into the alley below, be-
cause she was in the top of the building, and she
rested her chin on the sill. She watched the tops
of the shipmasts the roofs of the other houses
gliding silently up the harbor or swaying laziy at
anchorage
q wish mamma would tome" she lisped, Clause
PlnBy wants his milky"
Pinky purred at the mention of his name and
restlessly stroked his fur against the tiny shoe
the sofa.
The child grew tired of watching the naked
masts fit by, and returned to the rag doll and 9th
er playthings on the floor. The dirt and disorder
of her surroundings did not disturb her for she
was accustomed to them both, having been born
among them. But the house seemed strangely 81
lent and the rumble of the traffic in the streets
sounded louder, and the shrieks of the steamer
whistles startled her, that the playthings had
lost their interest and the darkness was coming on
She sang to herself and talked to the doll and kit
ten, pausng frequently to listen for the footsteps
of her mother.
"See the dolly, Pinby; nice dolly. drawer. re-
moving the articles one by one taking them to the
window to examine them. None of them seemed to
please her childish fancy, until she discovered
small crucifx with the bronze image of the
Gifted Savior
ooh! nice dolly" she cried in delight kissing
it again and again.
See the dolly, Pinky; nice dolly. tiss dolly.
Pinky" she said holding it out to the kitten, who
purred louder at the attention., and kissed" the
ivory crested cross
Its my dolly, amt it. Pinly" hugging it TO
her breast, IAN I'm dom to teep it. tause it's nice
dolly"
Pinly agreed in his own way and came closer
to show his appreciation but ne visited the milk
tin quite as often despite his satisfaction with the
member of the circle
Here tones mammal" exclaimed Maggie run
ming to the door to meet the person heard coming
up the creaBy stairs.
ooh. it's papa" she said in evident disappoint-
ment, man staggered into the room. The new
conner fell into chair by the table. and after re-
peated attempts, managed to light q bit of candle
stuck in bottle. He then rested his head in his
hands and blinked at the splattering light before
him in a sullen mood.
Maggie stood in the center Of the room watch
ing him with distrust, while She clutched the
cifx under her and plched her check with
her disengaged hand The kitten ceased his pur-
ring and retreated behind the stove
Papa" ventured the child in a low tone.
The man gave no sign of having heard her. but
took bottle from his pocket. The movement gave
the child courage; she ran forward with the
ciix outstretched, exclaiming in her gee: See my
new dolly, papa-ain't it nice"
uP IaJiltF IuTlleu MS SNOiicn lace on the cNu,
and gazed for instant at the image held before
him, With a muttered imprecation he swung his
clutched fist aud dashed the crucifx to the floor.
The force Of the blow dazed Maggie. and she, too.
fell The kitten scampered into the hall.
The man glared down at the child. and the cru
ciix, with arm broken off. attracted his atcn-
ton As he peered ct the object on the floor, the
flushed face grew ashy pale and an expression Of
horror came as he realized what he had done
'Me poor old mothers cross" he muttered. with
shudder, IAN [ broke it."
He was sober now. "Bad luck to- me-" rising
from the table and holding the bottle between him
self and the light he said: Twas you that done
it, an curse We, I'll have of ye." He hest
tated for a moment, and glancing at the child. he
flung the bottle through the open door and it clat-
tered down the stairs. He fell back into his chair
and burying his face in his arms sobbed without
restraint.
Little Maggie stopped her crying and reganed
the broken treasure which she fonded on the sofa
papa bwoke it," she said, naughty papa, bveak
Maddie's dolly and run Pinky way Nice dolly,
tause it's mine," and she kissed the bronze figure
and held it up in the light.
The clock on St Stephens church in the square
had struck s. when Mrs Kerrigan climbed the stairs
and entered the room Maggie was sleeping on the
sofa, the crucifx clasped in her arms. The man
had not changed his position, but was now silent.
"The same old tale,' she whispered to herself
as she deposited her bundles on the table and went
in an Jimmie gone away with his papers, God
help me burthen, it's heavy enough"
us mamma tome 2" asked a voice.
"Yes pet" said the mother cautiously. cts me
that's come what little of me that's left Did jim
mic go away an lave me darlint all alonep
She stopped and kissed the child.
''See my nice dolly; naughty papa bwoke it."
''The Saints preserve usi Where did you get
that cross! Mamma must take it. pet"
NO don't take it. mamma. It's my dolly,
tause Pinky said So" and Maggie away to the
sofa.
Indeed, then, an it's naughty papa ye have"
Mrs. Kerrigan prepared the evening meal, but
her husband remained quiet She supposed he was
in drunken sleep and did not disturb him.
Maggie sleeping in her mothers when
Jimmie arrived He carried bottle in his hand.
81 found it outside he explained, "an' there1l
be ructons if he don't have it"
"Lave it beside him, said Mrs. Kerrigan; 'heil
get more, so what's the use"
Jimmie took the bottle to the table. The faith
er raised his tear-stained face and looked at the