The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27

nodding against the lattice.
II thought Katie had come home" she
explained sleepily.
"They gave you up, pet. They all
waited on you until almost 3. then they
took the trolly and went to the park"
who's 'they2" Mamie asked breath-
less.
why, Katie and Tim and Mr.. Murphy
When they made up their minds you
wasn't a-comin' they asked Ellen Mullane
to go with 'em. She was awful tickled
to be asked. Ellen amt had many beaux.
Can't you wait for emp
mo I got to get supper. It's my Sum-
day in. Tell 'em 1 come as soon as
could won't you?" She hesitated pathet-
ieally. ELLEN is about Mr. Murphys size.
amt She Miss Early?"
Il shouldn't wonder IL she was. She's
awful tall"
Did Mr.. Murphy have on his blue
suit2'
| well, now, I never noticed. He looked
real nice, and Ellen gave him dahlia
| for his buttonhole. He's just had a raise
at the mill and is feeling awful good
| over it,"
iOACu 81 Wllllo anu llIed lHdl
evening she waited on the table that
| even Mrs. Cooley noticed it.
She's a nice little girl" she said to tho
! inattentive Lillian; meat and clean and
intelligent but, not strong. I fear she
won't be able to do the work. What do
you supposed possessed her to array her.
self in that way for dinner? Those mill
girls have no idea of their place"
Promptly at o'clock Mr.. Murphy,
broad of shoulder, clear of eye, and
strong of chin. hesitated in front of the
Cooley's' imposing structure. The front
door protected by. vestidule, was rather
awe-nspiring; the kitchen far in the
rear he did not even consider. He finally
! decided on a small side entrance seldom
used The unaccustomed ring of the bell
startled Lillian Cooley from her book,
and, thinking 1t was some neighbor call
ing informally, she Hospitality opened tho
| door herself
us Miss Ryan home?'
She started nervously at the heavy bass
voice from the dim outline of broad Mr..
Murphy and half closed the door
NO." she said timidly, "this is Mrs.
Cooeys residence;. you must have the
wrong house."
Mr. Murphy glowered in the darkness,
then explained huskily:
Miss Mamie Ryan--they told me She
works here
"Oh!' Lillian calculated ''You mean
Mary OF coursel I didn't know her last
name. Go to the kitchen door, please; 1
think she's still here" And, closing the
door gently, she went to her book
Mr.. Murphy walked out of the yard in
high dudgeon feeling he had been insult
ed. He walked around the block, his
| smooth face flushing holly. He hesitated
for long moment between the cars that
whirred down the centre of the town
with a cracking accompaniment of cleo
trio sparks and the dim yard of the Coo
leys. AT last he turned back and walked
resolutely to the kitchen door. Mamie
still in her finery, opened 1t.
! why, Mr.. Murphy" she said family.
and Mr.. Murphy, beautiful to her in his
new blue suit, but a little pale about the
lips, entered the kitchen. Mamie gazed
| helpessly at him as he found himself a
hard. straight backed chair by the table,
One gas jet burned feebly from the high
bare ceiling. The room was not over
| cleanly. Bertha took no pride in its APP
| pearance. She met her own young man
on the corner.
Mr. Murphy gazed steadily at Mamie as
she talked to him breathlessly. She hard
| ~ knew what she said, and her cold
hands trembled in her lap. She made no
apology for the changs in her stuat ion
she could only ignore it. She asked for
their various friends at the mill as If they
had been long parted, and Mr. Murphy
answered, as was his custom, In monosyl-
| tables. They sat stiffly on either side Of
the kitchen table, and Mamie felt that If
she stopped talking for an instant she
would surely cry.
piercing Shrek from the speaking
tube interrupted the monoogue Mr.. Muir
| ply could hear Mrs. Cooleys voice from
| the floor above:
Mary, did you forget TO turn down the
| beds and to bring up some ice water?"
With shame-faced glance of apology
Mamie left the kitchen, leaving Mr.. Muir
| ply gazing steadily in front of him. He
| looked larger and more massive than
usual sitting in the stiff wooden chair
under the one dim light.
| Mamie was gone some time. She duti-
| fully turned down the beds in the rooms
| above.
Don't forget the ice water Mary"
| Mrs Cooley called after her retreatlng
| figure. Mamie thought of the dark cellar
| which she would have to face in getting
| the ice from the Toe box. Once she had
| seen rat scuttle down the stairs.
Mr.. Murphy" she said bravely, will
| you hold the candle while l get some
ice?'
| Mr. Murphy rose heavily from his seat
| and together they descended the stairs.
| He took the icepick from her trembling
| hand and struck great blow SO that
| the ice splntered about them and made
! them laugh.
My, but you're strong"' she said adj
| miringly. then irrelevantly, gazing up in
+. to his good, honest blue eyes:
II wish, Mr.. Murphy, that had a home
| where you could come to see me. l hope
| this amt for long" She shaded the can
| die with her hand to see him better, as
! he stood, large and powerful, holding the
| icepick like a weapon.
1T won't be for long. darlin'," Mr..
| Murphy said huskily He passed one pow
| erful arm around her yielding waist
"Why, Mamie. that's what l come to
| say"