The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

Cecilia" Mrs. O'Donnell shifted combat
lively, II you want to go home I'll take
you, but I'll have no young unmarried
sirl talking to me about babies"
''Oh, very wen, Cousin Annie" said in
jured Cecilia with sanity meekness. ITS
lovely OF you to go home with me- And
II you'll leave me at my gate I'll run
across the street with YOU"
Mrs. ODonnell shifted again. but never
theless gave Cecilia vivacious hug when
she left her at the gate.
Poor Otto." said she with a sigh.
You needn't mind going across the
street with me, Cecilia. III just run
home 10 my poor, neglected ones. But.
Cecilia, there's light in the shed. What
is !t?"
IT'S Pop" said Cecilia. There's some
thing the matter with one OF the horses.
/ guess. I'll 20 in and see; but you
needn't wait, Annie"
III wait on my stoop a minute. 4"
called Annie. and If you want me you
can call to me"
Very we'll said Cecilia, and ran up
the narrow snow path 10 the shed. AS
she slid back the door the lantern light
within suddenly trimmed her splendid
young figure with a golden have
"All right?" called Annie O'DonneU
"All right. thank YOU" called back Ce-
ella. and rolled the heavy door shut and
leaned her back against Il.
Daniel O'Connell stood in the center OF
the floor. his fat. polished sides cleaning
In the lanter light. his name and tail
neatly braided with red flannel strips
Brushes. combs cloths. and pals bore
witness to the siege Daniel O'Connell had
been through.
"Cesoylia," said Patrick McGirr, with
worried look, this horse IS sick. He's all
swelled up. and ne won't ate"
Perhaps said Cecilia. L gave him
too much for his dinner"
Patrick stared at her stupidity.
Perhaps he2what?' ne said.
Perhaps Cecilia repeated. II gave
him too much for his dinner You don't
learn much about horses at the convent.
Patrick McGirr overturned q bucket
and sat down upon it. He looked AT the
barrel-like shape of Daniel O'Connen.
and. avoiding CecilIa's grave young eyes.
hit on his gnarly knuckles to keep back
the great laugh that rose in his chest
So" he said, you were the bye that
fed him."
Yes said Cecilia. I'm the boy that
fed him. gave him plenty every tine I
went because I thought you might find
out and stop me"
Il wouldn't have stopped YOU" said
Patrick MeGirr, the great laugh gone far
from him. "Cissy. does Michael know We
did thisT'
Cecilia came over and laid her arm
around Daniel O'ConnelTs shiny neck.
Never mind about me- Pop" she said.
When you 60 over 20 see him tell him
you looked after Daniel O'Conneu. ThatH
please him. I know"
But you've got 10 go 10 the hospital
with me, Cissy. Don't you want TO see
Michael?"
The nurse let me look at him once"
said CisSy, the day when he was sickest
Of all But he wouldn't care about seeing
me. Why. Pop. he went away and never
even left a good-by for me. And 7
thought thought Michael liked me-
The red head went down at last Then
Patrick McGirr, seeing the hard culver
GO through her shoulders, knew that he
was not 10 be spared confession. The
words stuck in his throat and ne could
not look at Cecilia.
1T was my fault Cissy." he said halt
AAti9s Adu great nOuOnS TOT We, ana 10
took me by surprise that little Mackey
VIM. with his bad father and his drunk
en- mother. should be loolxin' ID 10 my
girl. and I said so; and Michaeis the
black Irish that can't swallow a hard
word or twO-so he VENT would have
taken every word back. Cissy, but he
went"
Cecilia famed al him like the great red
earth goddess herself
Why didn't you tell me? I'd have
made him come back"
Il don't know. Cissy,' said her father
humbly. Il thought I was the only one
that missed him"
Missed him. blazed Cissy. He might
have, diedr And she hid her face in
Daniel O'Connelrs braids.
Patrick McGirr lowered above her very
sorrowfully. At last he took her by the
shoulders
"Cesaylia, GIRL" he said, gently we're
TOO much alike. you and I. not TO neeA
your mother. It's that's the matter with
Us. Shed have known about you-and
Michael I didn't know about you-and
wanted him back myself. But well have
him back as soon as they'll let US"
Cecilia raised her head. her bright hair
crushed low over her wet eyes.
"Oh. Pop" she said. ARE YOU sure?
Are you sure?'
As sure as / am or YOU said Patrick
McGirr- Come. help me to put Daniel
O'Connell 10 bed. He's sleepin' standin'. -
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