Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-12

DethH4IA -eAeo 80
at certain East Side crossing. Her broad, rosy
face which during the ride had worn an ill-httins
mask OF wrinkled anxiety. flashed into sudden
beauty as the conductor gave slight lease to her
load.
.And thank ye wid me Sunday heart for thatl"
she cried with a voice that somehow held the mists
and sunshine Of old ireland. she walked few Of
the short blocks with the smile still her lips and
the Tilt of an Irish ballad the smile; then en-
tering more familiar streets. let them both die out
for here she was in the stronghold of her enemies
The district cut it where you will. presents dull
uniformity OF aspect, In slices from the same
brown loaf of bread. Houses are of a height smut
ted into toneessness, with small. stingy windows
in almost continuous rows. patched recklessy with
wads OF rag or paper pasteboard boxtops pieces Of
tin and wood The dust colored blinds, each with
q different number OF Stats, depend precariously
from single hinge. except where, in some prudent
instances, they have been tied nailed back to the
blistered wall. Uninviting doorsteps lead up to
squalor in crowded cells, downward into cellars
where human toads and vermin have existences
blinking away, by the fan-shaped glare of single
gas jet. the inenable Thing called immortality.
For four unhappy years, ever since her mistaken
marriage with Tony McGhee. this street had been
her home. The fne laundry work which. little by
little had become their only of support need
ed to be brought from distant quarters of the town.
Yet Tony congenially at with the loose compan-
ionship of Grimm Street. had refused to move to
more convenient locality Tony had been a trial.
irresponsible, untruthful. nimbe in deceit and yet
with turn ito the tongue him. which kept MOL
ly in thrsll The good influence she hoped to exert
had depressingly close relationship to the number
of dollars she let him get from her, After time
her hopes and her patience waned. Frying neigh
bors asserted that she even went to the length OF
personal castigation, her being stronger than
mis-. However that may be. Tony retaliated in pri-
vate and in public by insult and abuse Within the
past three days he had flung in her face the ulti-
mate ndignity of desertion and for the sake Of
other woman.
At the new prodding of this wound Mrs. McGhee,
now within sight of her doorstep, swung into de-
faint stride. One could almost hear echoes of bu-
giles as she passed. The gelatinous burden went
from side to side with rhythm of its own. Behind
the deciated blinds of houses and far up from the
caverns under stairs, there peered, she knew well.
the keen. malicious eyes of gossips. They chuched
at the sight of her. and whispered to another.
keep her Man.
whether one happened to wish to keep the
in question; whether. in this case, the were
worth the keeping, had bearing the mental at
fitude of Grimm Street. To have lost him. and
through frowsy, gum-chewing, worthless mop"
like Sadie volkhommer. was enough to merit scorn
She passed few siding acquaintance with her
ual pleasant Good mornin' to ye.''
They responded in the grunts or respirations of
their kind, but, as she kept her way. she felt
their curiosity like twigs of briar. catch at her
skirts.
on reaching her doorstep she could not forhear
a single. upward glance to the tenement house d.
rectiy opposite where IN a fifth story window two
strange phenomena had recently appeared.--clean
musn curtains, tied with yellow ribbon, and pink
geranium in full bloom. This was. after all. the
unforgivable phase of it.--that Tsny should have
dared to establish the creature within a stones
throw of his lawful wife.
The upward look quick though it was, and in
stantly withdrawn, had not escaped old Mother
Mitchell, wittiest and wickedest denizen of the
block. Her room on the first floor and she
threw back her blind SO close to Molly that it
almost grazed her ear.
"A pritty nest for the love-birds.-eh Mssis Nc
Cheer" she croaked.
Molly shrank back with an exclamation.--to be
more accurate 1t was an oath-and LET her burden
fall. She looked up at the wrinklsd. yellow face
that seemed to belong to ancient spider rather
than woman. and cried out bitterly. 'It rheumatic
had caught ye in the tongue nstid av the rum-soak
ed joints av ye.-the neighborhood would be bet
Their or"
Now don't be so onchristan. dariin'." crooned
the old dame. There's really news for ye to-
day
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