Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-09

the Hudson, BLACK under the darKen1ng SKY
lights twinkled from the distant Palisades.
She listened to his words, rough with the fervor OF
his love- and drew long sigh
pat" she said at length 81 don't think ever did
as much thinking as I did before came up here to-
night I've thought 1t all out and I've settled that
1t 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
rooms you speak Of and the furnishing, and the new
clothes for while. But poor mans wife has
hard tine-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 not strong. But I'd just hate the
getting up early, to see to your breakfast"
"You never should Sheilah' urge Pat with des-
perate earnestness. "Id get me own You cd lie Till
nine o'clock il we wanted to-
But still she shook the little head he wanted to
draw upon his shoulder
mo- Pat no. My minds made up I'm going to
leave the store. can't stand the long hours, and
the being always my feet and the lifting down.
and the putting back. I'm going to take real easy
place in Mrs Van Tesscls house I'll get more money
than do now and do more for mother. But it's no.
and no. and no. to you Pat, for I couldn't stand it,
The orchestra playing popular waltz Just
then. They stood enveloped in melody possessed by
sound. 1t loud, gay, so dominating that II
held them, almost thing corporeal might have
done To the end Of his life Patrick o'Meara never
heard Isat air without memory OIL siVh ueepoiA
that plotted the stars from the sky-never heard
it without recalling the misery Of his conviction that
Sheilah truly meant just what she had said.
"IIl not come in Sheilah" he said when they stood
on the steps of her home. "And I'll come no more at
all unless 1t may be that We send for me. Goodnight
Sheilah stood on thu steps. watching his burly fg
ure as it strobe the corner 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 on Sunday.
AS the girl met her mothers inquiring eyes. she
said:
"He's gone mother I don't rightly know If he's
mad with me or not But I'm going to quit my Job
Satdy and go to Mily's aunt Monday. It's all hxed
about me going. l en- get ready Sunday
'I ony hope ye haven't lost the best chanst OF a
husband yell get" replied her mother anxousiy
"Yeyi say there's chances where yer 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 sleepless
by her mothers side with MORA wrggling uneasiiy
across the foot of the bed Sheilah seemed to hear
these words They set themselves to her mothers
deep breathing they sang themselves to the gay mel
ody which the last she had heard at the roof
garden: Pats good man."
And "Pat's a good man. she echoed; but added:
-But he'd want three meals day"
The change from her mothers two rooms and the
angy tawdry splendors of bargain counters, to the
was duly made. Shsilah, in uniform Of pale pink
chambray white apron, and dainty muslin cap. soon
became enamored Of her surroundings. She was as
signed to TALL somewhat sour-looking female. who
ruled the second floor. vast and schoing corridor
and bedrooms hers to keep In spotless or
der. But she did not find the work hard as stand
ing from eight to SIX in the department store. More
over she had such fare she had dreamed Of;
room to herself, small and of nunke painness. but
fresh and dainty those she tended. The life was
new. piquant was delightful.
Once week she left It to carry her liberal aid to
her mother. But she assembled the dinsy stairs
without quaims She was restlessly miserable at the
moil and toll in which her mother lived, and indig
nant at her content-content ignoble
And poor Pat? For three weeks he fought out his
battles alone Then motherless, he fed to Sheilahs
mother for comfort and the bttersweet Of Of
the dear star absent from his clouded sky Finally
he took a room In Mrs. Moriartys 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 daydreams
on the benches and finding soace in the beauties Of
sky and water.
Nov don't you lose heart, lad Mrs. Moriarty ad
monished him. tits all very grand that place where
Sheilah is and her heads just turned with It, But 1t
amt hers! And one day, if she's woman, she'll
want the smallest thing that's her very own. You
wait"
He waited Tor three months but uurlnB Indb uhlo
a change came him. He visited Mrs. Moriarty
so often that initiated into the sorrowful mys
terry Of woman's life. Like many another man. he
had wondered, What the women folks did the whole
liye-long day-them didn't work for bread?" Now,
he saw 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 see
piles of dishes awaiting the "washin'up. This done.
MORA and Mike both under SIX claimed care and at
tention they to be put clearly to bed Clothes
had to be looked over mended washed ironed- The
days work literally never 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 en- see EN- get
ting on too, and the way to steady lives. Jem'll
be in the force lessn two years and Dams at gro
Gerry Sheilah she's doing well, If not in the way we
wish and the little uns to school, and don't often
play hockey. No, lad, amt so bad oh.Y
She was leaning contentedy back in her chair,
looking at the glow in the tiny stove. The late No