The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-02-29
John Cassidy's Sacrifice
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
By CHARLES c. D. ROBERTS.

In the adjacent valley; but the long.
round hill, licked naked by an ancient
confiagration, was of niggard soil and
The house was built so well that time
appeared unwilling to try conclusions
with II. and so warmly that its occu.
pants, did not suffer from its bleak
situation. Low-walled and wide. rain.
washed to a gray which blended with
outgrowth of the hill itself. The front
door was dull yellow. At one corner
arose, like steeple, the stiff gray
form OF a Lombardy poplar, the only
tree on the hill. At the other corner.
where the ell struggled off leanly from
head to catch the rain water from the
roof. A little square OF garden, slop-
ing from the front door. and fenced
with low walls Of stones carefully
piled. was bright with sweet-william
and bachelor's-butt6n and phlox. This
patch Of color took on curious
pathos from the wide severity which
It so vainly strove to soften. The
ample barns, which as rule succeed
in giving a certain kindly air to the
bleakest scene. were hidden behind
the house at Stony-Lonesome.
AS Lydia gracefully and steadily
carrying her two pals of water,
reached the top of the hill and turned
the corner toward the kitchen door,
John Cassidy lifted his eyes from his
corn-hoeing in the lower field. He
saw Lydia pause at the corner of the
house and cast one lingering back.
ward look across the valley toward
that notch in the hills. He had
watched her at this before, and had
come to know what 1t meant. He
trembled, and muttered to himself,
she's got It! The p'ison's workin' in
her blood That's what's maxim her
fret so, longin to be away to that hell
on earth. Lydia, Lydia, Id ruther see
your dear young eyes shet white an
fast In death than see we go like your
poor mother done!"
Then, with knit brows and set lips,
he went on with his hoeing, till pres.
emily Lydia appeared In the kitchen
door and blew long, echoing note on
the great shell which served as a din.
ner horn. John Cassidy Strengthened
his back, threw down the hoe. and
started for the house; and the hired
man appeared coming from behind
copse further down the valley.
The hired man sat down at the
dinner table along with Mr.. and Mrs.
Cassidy and Lydia. His name was
Job. A pair OF kind but shrewd blue
eyes twinkled under his pale and
bushy eyebrows. giving an alert look
to his otherwise. heavy face, which
was round, red and hairless. After
shoveling huge quantity of fish and
potatoes into his mouth, using his
knife for the purpose. he stopped for
breath.
Jim Ed Barnes come by as was
workin' In the back lot this forenoon"
said he.
What did Jim Ed have to say for
himsclf?" asked Lydia.
He was tellin' me-" answered Job.
how fine his sister Ellen was hittin' 1t
off In Bawston."
Mr.. and Mrs. Cassidy looked at
each other. The old mans face paled
slightly. while his wife made hasty
effort to change the subject.
= Did he say how his mothers leg
was gittin?" she inquired, with an
excellent assumption of eagerness on
her large. gentle face.
Hut Lydia interrupted. What's she
doing. job? And how is she Citing
along? And how does she like II in
Bawston?" she Queried breathlessly.
why" said Job. she's got to be
forewoman In big rlillin'ry store.
She was always neat.angered, v know,
an took natural to that kinder thing.
An now she's maxim money. reckon!
Why. Jim Ed says as how she sent
home two hundred dollars yesterday
to help rcy'off the mortgage on their
place"
TIE potato which he was eating he.
,a;lc to John Cassidy as dry as saw
lust, and stuck II his throat. lie
f.N. llItfi .e Nd.