Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-08-13

THEE :.4cn were c!oseted in the pri-
vste Office OF the mayor of the town
of leu LatCad.
CEe was the president of the First
National bank and owner of the Hemp
stead Electric Street railway. He
leaned slightly forward as he deliv-
cred his ultimatum.
The road is losing money every
day, but if we could extend it across
Juniper street to the cemetery
through Shantytown we might make
it pay, and that is what must be done.
You must fill the creek and run Juni-
per street through to Eighth street. 1t
should have been done long ago, and
you must do it now You know very
we'll you could not have carried the
city without my influence in the First
ward, and you owe me this much"
The mayor tapped his feet on the
floor, looked at his tiinger-nails, and
then at Alderman McGinnis.
We'll, Mac" he said, what do you
say?"
ITS all up with me if we do re-
spon6ed the alderman. you know the
row the boys made when we tried it
before The whole kittle of 'em over
in Slantytown would go back Oh me.
/ knew 'em. They've made themselves
all special guardeens of Widow
O'Leary, an If we touch her shanty
my names Dennis, sure"
The president of the street railway
arose and pulled his hat firmly over
his brow.
WELL" he said, you can fix it to
suit yourselves. If you don't put the
street through, I'll have to support
some man who will"
When the door closed behind him
the two men were silent for while.
well, what are you goin' to do
about it," asked McGinnis at length.
is 1t him or me loses?"
Hes right about the First ward, I"
said the mayor slowly.
THAT means l lose," laughed Nc
Ginnis. 81 thought would. ] thought
so when you sent for me. You fellows
had it all fixed up before, didn't you?"
The mayor smiled Unless you
can get Widow OLeary to move" he
suggested.
Mover" said the alderman, doubling
his fist and striking his knee. "You
couldn't git her to move in hundred
years. Remember the last time we
tried?"
The mayor laughed sit is rather a
tough proposition" he said, "but you
see what you can do, and I'll go up
and see her myself, and maybe We
can persuade her."
The next afternoon the mayor and
Alderman McGinnis called on Widow
OLeary.
She lived In a shack of rough
boards on the edge of the hill over
looking the hollow through which
Connor's creek ran.
The shanty would have stood in the
middle of Juniper street if the street
had not ended there, but when she
had pre-empted the shanty there had
been no thought Of putting the street
through, and the jewellers in Shanty-
town had made themselves guardians
Of her home, and as long as she
wished to stay where she was they up
held her and fought anyone who sug-
gested tearing down her shack or ex-
tending Juniper street.
And she had no intention of moving.
Here OF am, an here Oi'll stay!"
she told McGinnis and the mayor, and
no bride could affect her resolution.
Having said so much, she closed her
lips over the stem of her black clay
pipe and hobbled around the shanty
to her pigsty.
tits little these pollytishuns care
for us" said Mrs. MCGUIRE, "an' little
sh'u'd we care for him. It's a cowld
worruld, Missus O'Leary, an a hard
wan for us poor widdys. Them that
roides the strates in cartridges thinks
little av them as was vance as good
as them if not better, says Oh"
"Thrue fer yez, Missus Mcclure, an
SO OF always says mesilf, exceptin'
Missus Terry, an she's Teddy if liver
was wan. OF do well be rememberin'
how she KEN roidin' up to me very
dure in her carridge, a-makin' me a
fri'ndly visit, an lawn her card on
me as swate as butter, an sayin' 'Oi
hope OF foind We well, Missus O'Leary,
ma'am, an whin ye be up me way,
dhrop in"
How long ago that was OF dunno" "
the old woman said sadly, IAN Ohm
sorra to say it's not yit hev OF been
there. for Oh do be so bad wild rhuma-
tiz these days OF fale the divvil in
me jints av OF do but go to fade the
pig, an he goes hungry some days,
me not bein' able to git to his sthy,
but, Saints bliss us all, Oi'll dhrop in
on Missus Terry yit some day"
"Sa We will" said Mrs. McGinnis
sympathstically
For three years Widow OLeary had
cherished the memory of the day
when Mrs. Terry, the wife of the
wholesale grocer, had visited her, and
she lost no chance of dwelling upon
the honor nor of bewailing her inabili.
ty to repay the visit.
Widow O'Leary could walk only
with the aid of two canes, and when
at her spryest the journey from the
house to the pigsty was the limit of
her endurance. Mrs. Terry lived half
mile farther up the hill.
Poor sowl!" said Mrs. Mcclure to
her neighbor, Mrs. Dale. its little the
loikes av her'll be takin' tay wild
Missus Terry, Ohm thinkin', nor goin'
that way at all, unliss she goes rattlin'
by In her coffin wan O. these days"
It's enough to bre'k me heart to
hear her talkin' av takin' tay wild
Missus Terry" said Mrs. Dale, wipins
her eyes. rs her pig dom foine?"
He is that" said Mrs. Mcclure
Hes fat as miller's wife,"
Praise be! An how's the bye?"
Me MOiRa2 Eoino God h1icc hirn