Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-27

lights twinkled from the distant Palisades
She listened to his words rough with the fervor of
his love- and drew long sigh.
Pat" she said at length. "I don't think ever did
much thinking as did before came up here to-
night I've thought it all out and I've settled that
It wouldn't dot wouldn't do at all. I'd not make
you happy after the first, and you'd not make mo
happy at all at ALL 1t might DO very we'll with the
you speak Of and the furnishing and the new
clothes, for while. But poor mans wife has
hard time-a hard time. Then there's the drag OF
the children-look at mother!and there'd be work,
work, work. Maybe I'm lazy, Pat. l don't know.
Mother says I'm not strong. But I'd Just hato the
getting up early to see to your breakfast"
"You never should Sheah,' urge Pat with DIES.
perate earnestness "Id get me own You cd lie till
nine o'clock II ye wanted to-"
But still she shook tho little head he wanted to
draw upon his shoulder.
NO. Pat no. My minds made up. Pm going to
leave the store. can't stand the long hours, and
the being always on my feet, and the lifting down.
and the putting back I1u going to take real easy
place in Mrs Van Tessel's house. III get more money
than do now and do more for mother. But It's no.
and no, and no. to you, Pat for couldn't stand IT,"
The orchestra playing popular waltz just
then. They STOOD enveloped in melody possessed by
sound. 1t was so loud so gay, dominating that it
held them almost as thing corporal might have
done To the end Of his life Patrick O'Meara never
heard that air without memory Of the sick despair
that bloted out the stars from the skynever heard
it without recalling the misery Of his conviction that
Sheilah truly meant just what sho had said.
"11l not come in Sheilah" he said when they stood
on the steps of her home. And III come at
ALL unless may be that ye send for me. Goodnight"
Sheilah stood on the steps, watching his burly fig
It strobe to the corner halted and disappeared
Then. with tagging steps, she mounted the stairs and
passed into the where her mother sat and sewed
at pink muslin frock for Mora to Sunday.
AS the girl met her mothers nquiring eyes, she
said:
Hes gone mother. I don't rightly know If he's
mad with me or not But I'm going to quit my job
Sat'dy and go to Mily's aunt Monday. It's all fixed
about me going. l en- get ready Sunday"
Il ony hope We haven't lost the best chanst of
husband yell get replied her mother anxously.
Yell say there's chances where yer goin'. Maybe.
Meself. don't take stock in hunlies than l do
In store clerks Pats good man
All the long night. she lay painting and sleepless
by her mothers side, with Mora wriggling uneasily
the foot of the bed. Sheilah seemed to hear
these words. They set themselves to her mothers
deep breathing. they sang themselves to the gay mel
ody which the last she had heard at the roof
garden: Pats a good man"
And Pats good man" she echoed; but added:
"But he'd want three meals day
The change from her mothers two rooms and the
dingy. tawdry splendors of bargain counters to the
magnifcence OF Mrs. Van Tessels brown-stone house.
was duly made. Sheah in uniform Of pale pink
chambray, white apron and dainty muslin cap, coon
became enamored of her surroundings. She was as
signed to tall somewhat sour-looking female, who
ruled the second floor. vast and echoing corridor
and four bedrooms hers TO keep in spotless
der. But she did not find the work hard stand
ing from eight to six, in the department More
over she had such fare she had never dreamed of
a to herself, small and of nun-ke planness but
fresh and dainty those she tended. The life was
new, piquant delightful.
Once q week she left It to carry her liberal aid to
her mother. But she assembled the dingy stairs
without qualms. She restlessly miserable at the
MOL and toll in which her mother lived, and ndig.
nant at her content-content SO gnoble
And poor Pat? For three weeks he fought out his
battles alone Then motherless he fed to Sheilah 8
mother for comfort and the bttersweet of news Of
the dear star absent from his clouded sky Finally
he took room In Mrs. Moriarty's tenement for the
pleasure Of being near her constantly. Only Tues
rays Sheilah's night off, did he stay away wandering
up and down Riverside Drive, dreaming day-lreams
on the benches and finding soace in the beauties Of
sky and water.
Now don't you lose heart lad" Mrs. Moriarty ad.
monished him "Its all very grand that place where
Sheilah s and her heads Just turned with IT, But it
amt hers. And day. If she's woman she'll
want the smallest thing that's her very own. You
wait"
a change came over him. He visited Mrs. Moriarty
often that he initiated into the sorrowful mys
terry Of a woman's life Like many another man. he
had wondered. What the women folks did the whole
live-long day-them didn't work for bread?' Now,
he that they toiled endessy, a weary success
sion of small and often heavy tasks, which sprang.
hydra headed to full life the moment they seemed
vanqu!shed. He would go in at supper-time to see
piles of dishes awaiting the "washinup," This done,
MORA and Mike both under six, claimed and at.
tention II they to be put clearly bod Clothes
had to be looked over, mended washed or roned The
days work literally never done.
Why I'm better of than most" said Mrs Mort
arty, when he spoke OF this one night I'm busy
most part Of tn day. but I've children that bring
home 'noush to keep us going and en- see 'em get
ting on, too and the way to steady lives. Jem II
be in the force, lessn two years, and Dams at gro
Gerry Sheilah she's doing well If not in the way
wish, and the little uns 60 to school, and don't often
play hockey No, lad amt so bad off
She leaning contentedly back in her chair
looking at the glow IN the tiny stove. The late No
vember night chilly, and outside light rain was
falling.
Anyway" she went on. its not when yer young