The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-02
COUNTING LOVES TOLL FRANCES ,,,ne,

the Hudson, black under the darkening sky faint
lights twnkled from the distant Palisades.
She listened to his words rough with the fervor OF
his love and drew a long sigh.
Pat" she said at length Il don't think l ever did
as 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 me
happy at all, at all. 1t might be very well with the
you speak Of and the furnishing. and the new
clothes, for while But poor mans wife has a
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. don't know.
Mother says I'm strong But I'd Just hate the
getting up early. to to your breakfast"
You should, Sheilah,' urge Pat with des-
perate earnestness I'D get You cd lie till
nine o'clock If ye wanted to-"
But still she shook the little head he wanted to
draw upon his shoulder.
mo, Pat, My minds made up. I'm going to
leave the store l can't stand the long hours, and
the being always on my feet and the lifting down,
and the putting back. I'm going to take a real easy
place in Mrs. Van Tessels house I'll get money
than do now, and do 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, enveoped in melody, possessed by
sound 1t loud, gay, dominating, that 1t
held them, almost a thing corporal might have
done. To the end of his life Patrick OMeara never
heard that air without memory of the sick despair
that blotted out the stars from the skynever heard
it without recalling the misery Of his conviction that
Sheiah truly meant just what she had said.
'I1l not come in, Sheah, he said, when they stood
the steps of her home. And III come more at
ALL unless it may be that send for me- odnight
Sheilah stood on the steps, watching his burly fig
it strobe to the 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 wear Sunday.
AS the girl met her mothers inquiring eyes. she
said:
Hes gone, mother. don't rightly know if he's
mad with not. But I'm going to quit my job
Satdy and go to Millys aunt Monday. It's all fixed
about me going. en- get Seady Sunday"
Il on'y hope we haven't lost the best chanst of
husband yell GET, replied her mother anxiousy.
YEN say there's chances where goin. Maybe.
Meself, don't take stock in funkies than do
in store clerks. Pats good man"
All the long night, she lay painting and seepless
by her mothers side with MORA wriggling uneasly
across the foot of the bed. Sheah seemed to hear
these words. They set themselves to her mothers
deep breathing, they sang themselves to the gay mel
ody which was the last she had heard at the roof
garden: Pa good man"
And Pats good man." she echoed; but added:
But he'd want three meals day
The change from her mothers rooms and
dingy, tawdry spendors of bargain counters, to the
magnifcence Of Mrs. Van Tessel's brownstone house.
duly made. Sheilah, in uniform of pale pink
chambray, white apron. and dainty muslin cap,
became enamored Of her surroundings. She
signed to a 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
over, she had such fare she had dreamed Of
a to herself small and of nun-like planness but
fresh and dainty as those she tended. The life
new, was piquant, was delightful.
Once 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
moil and toll in which her mother lived and indig
nant at her content-content SO ignobe.
And poor Pat? For three weeks he fought out his
battles alone. Then, motherless, he fed SheiIahs
mother for comfort, and the bitter-sweet of O
the dear star absent from his couded sky. Finally
he took room in Mrs. Moriarty's tenement for the
pleasure of being her constantly. Only on Tues
rays Sheilahs night off, did he stay away, wandering
up and down Riverside Drive, dreaming day-dreams
the benches and finding soace in the beauties of
sky and water.
Now don't you lose heart lad - Mrs. Moriarty ad-
monished him. It's all very grand, that place where
Sheilah is, and her heads just turned with it it
amt hers! And one day. if she's woman, she'll
want the smallest thing that's her very own. You
wait"
He waited for three months. But during that time
a change him. He visited Mrs. Moriarty
often that he Initiated into the mys
terry of woman's life Like many another man. he
had wondered, What the folks did the whole
live-long day-them didn't work for bread?" Now
he that they toiled endessy, at weary success
sion Of small and often heavy tasks, which sprang
hydra-headed, to full life the moment they seemed
vanQuished. He would go in at supper-time to sec
piles of dishes awaiting the "washn'up." This done
MORA and Mike, both under six, claimed and at
tention. if they put Clearly bed Clothes
had to be looked over, mended washed ironed The
days werk literally done
Why, I'm better off than most" said Mrs MORT
arty, when he spoke Of this night I'm busy
most part of tn day, but I've children that bring
home 'nough to keep going and I en- EN- get
ting too and the way to steady lives. JemlI
be In the force less'n two years, and Dams a gro
Sheilah she's doing well, il not In the way
wish and the little uns to school, and don't
play hockey No, lad, l amt bad off,
She was leaning contentedly back in her chair
looking at the glow in the tiny stove. The No
falling.
ANYWAY" she went on. its not when Young.