Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28

and the great MacMahon. there was
something to be said there
So whispers sped about that the great
MacMahon was going 10 marry Pas
quales Blanca and then for the rest OF
his life Pasquale would have all he want
ed OF wine and fruit and cakes. The
whispers were heard by Irishmen and
MacMahon was TESTED with by his friends
AS result, one of them carried away
bruised face. and for three days Mi
kitchen.
And Nv course" he said to himself.
If 1 am goin' to see annywan in that
kitchen. tits Kate" He said this so
many times that IT ought to have been
true.
He concluded that at least the talk
was not due to little Blanca; she was
too modest girl to countenance any such
report: Besides. Kate was always there
to talk to. and anyway he must keep
his promise to the little father until
Hates vacation should be over.
MacMahon might have argued on the
other side that Kate's presence in the
kitchen consisted In waiting It'll he got in
the room before she left 1t, and in re-
turning at 10 o'clock to tell him that
decent people were going to bed. And
he might also have counted that six
weeks had elapsed since Hates vacation
had begun. He might have noticed too.
that Hates tones to him were very gen.
tie. When they were all in Father
kinsellagh's study she would sometimes
look at MacMahons sturdy figure with
an eager admiration and a sudden pride
of conquest; after that she would glance
at the little fathers tired face: then she
would turn from them both. with q smile
that was almost maternal, to Bianca's
young loneliness. Kate sometimes won
dered il she were losing MacMahon. but
II she were she made no effort to re-
gain her hold. She was unwontedly pas
sive. as If she were drifting to some safe
and sure fate.
MacMahon was not keen on analysis.
and it was only when Rates vacation
was two months old and she was rather
fretting to get back to her old free
sway In the kitchen that ne was brought
to full self-consciousness. He was 60
ing a little later than usual to the
fathers kitchen when. as he neared the
door. he heard Pasqua:e's voice in
angry. intense Italian. Looking into the
window as he passed. he saw the man,
evidently drunk his blanched face full
of hate. his teeth parted in a snarling
grin as he forced Blanca backward to-
ward the stove. Her face was terrified,
her barred arms raised IN appeal. her
eyes fixed on her fathers right hand.
AS MacMahon dashed open the door
Pasquale was kissing:
He has not asked you yet? Well, I
wait no longer. kill you now
MacMahon saw the Hash of steel At
the same moment Blanca swerved. and
then a ribbon Of bright blood started
upon her breast and arm. MacMahon
threw himself upon Pasquale. who fell
with crash against the stove. At the
noise Kate rushed into the kitchen. fol-
lowed by the little father Kate lifted
the fainting Blanca. while Father Kin
sellagh cried:
Lad. have We killed him."
Has he killed her." said MacMahon.
He took Blanca from kate and car
ried her to the light. while the little
father examined Pasauale.
"A nasty cut on the head he said.
graveIy. Maybe he is dying tits time
Then tits a good job he's right wild
you. father" said Kate. with nervous
flippancy. She was looking curiously at
Mac Mahon's face. There was an express
sion upon ii which il had never worn
for her.
An hour later. when the doctor had
gone, MacMahon went upstairs to the
room where Pasquale lay Father Kim
sellagh and Kate sitting oy him.
Well father" MacMahon said. in an
odd. strained voice. sure your irish
Italian alliancell be bound wild wan
goold ring. anyway.
Think shame to yourself said the
little father, in an angry whisper. a
glad light on his face: you don't even
ask is Pasquale alive"
Sure. no tury'd decide agin me il he
wasn't" said MacMahon. easily.
He'll be dyin' a dozen times yet,
Michael" said Kate. softly.
"Jist you yell in his ear I'm soin' to
mora" said MacMahon. Il left her on
the sofy down stairs. father"
As he went out of the room the little
father looked at Kate with sud len mis-
giving.
You'll never regret. Kate? he asked
anxiously. Sure. when 1 made this
plan / hoped 'twould see you two happy,
one way or another"
Kate looked at him with sudden tears
'Oh. father. agra. she whispered:
how good you were to me whin I was
a little motherless thing goin' to school
in County Carlow. And cud see you
widout yur comforts among the hay.
thens here? I'll niver lave you"
The father turned his back en- Pas
quale and bent toward ner gently.
We'll. God bless you. anyway. katA"
he said.