The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-24

~ ROVE street had quieted down
 Tfor the night. Far apart lamps
 flickered and the moonlight sift- ing through arching elm boughs lent mystery and depth to the vista. It might have been a village asleep. Rat ting carts and shouting teamsters and swift moving men and women seemed further off than the day.
 Half concealed by the shadows of a tree, half in the vivid moonlight, was the motionless figure of a man. He sat on the curb with bent back and head, his elapsed hands hanging down between his knees. At long intervals some one passed behind him on the sidewalk but he did not stir. Sud- denly he lifted his head, all attention; 8 quick step had sounded up the street He stepped along into the shad- ow and was motionless again. The step came nearer, then 1t was not heard; a woman glided close to the fence and passed the motionless fig ure silently on the grass. She had turned the corner before the man moved Then he walked swiftly un- til he caught up with her.
 Mag" he said gently, laying a hand on her shoulder.
 The woman uttered a sound of ter TOT and drew away
 He caught her arm. Don't you be afraid of me- Mag!" There was ap- peal in his voice.
 The woman's manner changed at once, and she let him walk by her side.
 I've got work" he said, "an' there's three dollars comin' to me the night. An didn't taste dhrop since, Mag. I'll be home to you be the sthroke O nine" He gave her arm a rough pressure and tried to kiss her.
 Not here, Tom" she begged. 'Ill be waitin' fur you home"
 The man turned away down a side street and the woman quickened her pace. Her thoughts came fast Thank God, she had the home for him to come toi It had been hard to keep it by days work. Should she wake up Patsy to see his father? No, he would see him in the morning. Tom would not leave her again. Twice he had come back since he went away in fit of drunken rage, but only to take her earnings and curse her. Once he had struck her. T had right to tell him I'd shut the door on him. she said to herself. ''Oh, I'm soft!' Her heart bounded. She would set the lamp in the window and have supper on the table.
 As the city clocks were striking nine Maggie stood at her open door. peering up and down the street. When the chimes sounded the quarter and the half she was still there, though she had been inside a dozen times to set back the tea kettle or stir the fire or peep behind the curtain at Patsy, asleep on his cot. The room was warm and odorous of coffee and frying sausases It looked pleasant to Maggie as she pictured Tom coming into it.
 On Grove street, in the quiet moonlight, man sat on the curb. Several times he made a motion to rise, but sank back again. At last he got to his feet and tried to walk. but he staggered and almost fell Stretching out his arms with beseech- ing gesture, he pressed forward a few steps. Then he stopped, lis body sway ing to right and left a moment before lie sank down at the foot of tree.
 "Gee!"
 This was Patsy's morning invocation as he bobbed up from his cot and sniffed noisily Still sniffing. he slid to the floor and followed ms nose to the stove. It was hot On the back sausages were sizzling and coffee steamed On the table he saw the customary half loaf, and be- sides its usual accompaniment of a bottle of milk, there was butter.
 Patsy was benumbed for a moment. Then, gradually, a relation between these objects and himself frightened his face. He broke off corner of the, loaf, used the piece to shove sausage onto a broken saucer. and then stood transfer ring 1t rapidly from the hot fat to his mouth. until the bread he'd become too din1u3shsd to absorb and render again tho succallsncs of the frying pan. Black