The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1908-04-24
what, but he was still in a disgruntled

ent If you have fine. easy job. ! wish
work and plenty Of pay-or Jim John
sons. bossing a lot Of ditch diggers.
That's comfortable thing. Twas by
pull he got it. and | wish had his
luck. Then" with meaning glance at
kitty-"then Id have a wife and live
in fine style
Kitty's cheeks famed and her eyes
flashed.
The man ! marry" she cried. Twill
fight his own way up. He'll have 4
backbone. not a wishbone. Mr.. Des-
mond Fitzgerald
The phrase dwelt with Desmond the
rest Of the day. He shoveled venge-
fully.
"A backbone instead Of a wishbone,"
he kept repeating. The cheek Of the
girl to say thing like that to me"
His anger at Kitty became more and
more poignant. and when Thomas
spoke to him he made it apparent that
he wished to have nothing further to
do with any member Of the family Of
Marlborough.
Next noon tousle headed youngster
brought Thomas dinner pail.
where's Kitty" Desmond ventured
to inquire.
"Sick." Thomas was huskily laconic
Desmond's anger cooled with a sud-
denness astonishing even to himself A
lump rose to his throat and q quick
mist to his eyes. Sick. was she. the
poor girl! Like as not she had over
worked helping her aunt and the chill
dren. What she needed WAS some one
to watch over her and take care Of her.
He would buy her some flowers that
very evening. But when he came to
turn out his pockets he found that SO
cents comprised his worldly store
1T will buy a dozen Of some kind Of
posies. though" he thought. land
what's bite to eat compared to that?
I'm not hungry. anyhow"
He found his way to Kitty's tene-
ment with box Of pink carnations.
and Kitty's aunt opened the door,
who will say they're from? she
questioned in the subdued tones people
use in sickrooms.
"Tell-telt her they're from Des-
mond." he stammered. swallowing
hard. He CROPPED bis way down the
rickety stairs. inwardly determined to
send her roses every other day. AS
for the money. be could work even
ings. There were always plenty OF odd
jobs for a man who was willing.
So each morning Thomas told him
how she was. and all day long and
far into the night Desmond worked
with passionate energy. an energy
which helped him in part to forget two
dreadful questions: What If Kitty
didn't get we'll? And what If there
were another man whom she loved?
"And not the lazy vagabond l must
have seemed" reflected poor Desmond.
musing bitterly on his wasted years.
But Kitty gained and gained and
was sitting on a rocking chair by the
, window when Desmond went to see
her. box Of roses under his arm. She
was as pale as the soft white wrap
per that she wore. yet she flushed at
sight of him and held out q thin little
, hand.
"Oh. Desmond" she said. you've
been 50 good to me. aud the flowers
were lovely. couldn't have got
well without them. They made my
room like q garden when I used to lie
there and look at them. And they tell
me-they tell me you're doing flne!'
. If l am 1t Is all owing to you. Kit
IT," said Desmond. fumbling in his
pocket.
. What have you therey" she cried.
| Desmond looked a bit shamefaced
and drew out wishbone.
/ do you mind what you told me
about a backbone being the best thing
in life? I've brought you this as a
sign Ill win my own way up instead
of wishing"
Kitty's eyes danced.
But. Desmond" she objected, 1.-THE
bone was meant to be broken. so sup
pose you take one wish more. the last
Of all. and then have done with It for
ever? Twill be q kind Of celebra-
ton"
Right you are" cried Desmond.
Here goes"
They pulled.
II VIM! cried Desmond breathlessly.
Il win: And do you know what 1t was
that wanted? l wished that I might
marry Kitty Macdonough. the sweet
est girl In the whole wide world"
Kitty hid her blushing face on Des-
mond's shoulder.
"And wished the very same thing
she whispered.