Rock Island Argus., 1908-04-02

lures, lis John Patrick, ana my grand
father came from the old country"
Millicent laughed.
"My mothers name was Kate Kear-
ney," she said, land there is a tradi-
ton in our family that we are descend
ed from Irish kings"
Good" said Barry. 'It shall be
feast in honor of the good saint. And
you must let me give the kids dinner.
please. No little sandwiches, but hot
things"
And. in spite of the protests of the
economical Miss Faversham, the even
ing of the 18th of March found in the
gymnasium long table fairly groan-
ing with good things. There were little
pigs simply cracking with richness.
There were potatoes mealy and white.
and there were green candies and
cakes with green icing and the potato
forms of ice cream and clay pipe for
each Of the boys and a tiny gilt harp
for each of the girls. And at the head
of the table Mr.. Barry presided. and at
the foot was Miss Millicent, while Miss
F3versham was kept upstairs by a
headache.
For which let us be thankful" said
Mr. Barry when Millicent told him.
She looked at him with shocked eyes.
"Oh, how can you be so hard heart
ed?" she chided.
81 beg your pardon" he amended. 81
am awfully sorry about the headache,
but / am glad she isn't going to be
down"
Millicent looked at him wonderingly.
''Why?"
He laughed.
Somehow feel that she is weigh
ing me in the balance, and. besides. I
don't believe she would enter into the
spirit of it,
"Oh. she likes you," Millicent told
him earnestly. Everybody likes you"
He stood looking down at her for q
| moment in silence, and then he said
abruptly, DO you like me-"
Something in his.tone sent the quick
| bushes to her cheek.
"Of course" she said hurriedly and
turned from him and began to straight
en- the favors on the table.
The children will be here in a min
| ute," she remarked, and then she stop
ped and stared, for at her own place
| was favor different from the rest-a
\ shamrock in green enamel, and on one
leaf glittered diamond dewdrop.
| "Oh," she said and flashed a glance
at him-"oh did you put it thereY'
"Yes" He came and stood beside
| her. 81 put it there, Millicent."
She shook her head. 7''' 2
Il mustn't take it, please" she said.
at is too valuable for me to accept" 81
| "It has no value except the sentf-
ment Do you know what the sham
| rock means?'
"No" 9
Zone leaf means truth and one valor,
and the other one is love. and all that I i
have of truth 1 give to you, and all
/, that have of valor, and, above every
thing else, give you love-
She was very white as she said, "You
| must not"
"Whyg'
81 am dedicated to my work here.
shall never marry"
He squared his shoulders.
| "That is nonsense. I'll dedicate my
| self to it, too, and we will work to-
gether.v
"Oh, no, no." she cried. Il must not
| listen. If l married you should care
so much that should forget all this,
and l should live for you.'
Dear heart" he said under his
| breath, ''do you know what you are
saying-that you love meW
She caught herself up.
81 didn't mean she began.
"But you have said it." he inter-
rupted.
She drew away.
81 must not think Of it." she insist
| ed. my life belongs to these people"
And even as she spoke they heard
/, the children on the stairs, hilarious,
| shouting crowd, pushing through the
doorway. pfiing into the seats, fighting
| little for "A certain place, but good
| natured always.
Such feast as it was. And at the
| end Mr.. Barry made a speech.
| He told of lonely boyhood, Of his
efforts to rise.
And any of you boys may succeed"
he finished, but success isn't every
| thing, for you must value more the
love Of truth and "a brave spirit, and
| more than all you must value love.
And some of you are more fortunate
than !. for you have lots OF people to
love you. You have your fathers and
your mothers, and Mickey has his little
sister Nora, and I think little sister
| Nora's love is worth all the money in
| the world" And he smiled down at
| the rosy checked child by his side.
And Miss Millicent. seeing him thus
at his best, was thrilled and touched
and almost convinced by his words.
After all, why should they not work
/ together? He was a king among men!
And at this moment Of her indecision
Miss Faversham, somewhat recovered
, from the headache, drifted in and stood
/ behind Millicent's chair.
1--WE ought to have Mr.. Barry here
all the time," she said. II heard his
speeclL He has wonderful way with
the boys. After all, men are more ef-
fectiye than women In such work."
NJ i1icent smiled up at her.
~ L. n a