The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-03-16
TheLine
@March
A St. patrick's Day Story
By CLARlSSA MACKIE
By CLARlSSA MACKlE
A St. patrick's Day Story
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

oooooooooooooo oooooooooooo
Matthew Golden rearranged the
newspapers and periodicals on his
counter into their customary order
March issues of the Ladies' Own Pc
riodical confronted him. There on the
cover, encircled by a wreath of sham
rocks. was Margaret Devlins beautl-
full Irish face-blue-biack mist Of hair.
forgetmenot eyes fringed thickly with
black lashes. saucy nose and smiling
red lips.
The name of the artist was fantas-
tically blurred into the background.
yet It was clear enough for Matthews
Jealous eyes to decipher "Conners."
His hands clinched savagely He knew
Corners by sight-blg. hulking. red
headed artist from the top floor of the
studio building around the corner. He
had walked past twice with Margaret
Deylin. Once there had been Il little
thin faced girl with them-some new
friend of Margaret's whom Matthew
did not know
just then the door opened, and he
turned to confront Margaret herself.
bewitching in fur turban and coat OF
ehinchilla. Her blue eyes did not lift
above his firm chin: they rested there
while she spoke:
Good MOI ming Is the March num-
Der of the Ladies' Own Periodical out
YETI"
He placed copy of the desired
magazine on the counter before her
and turned away that he might not
see the look of startled pleasure In
her eyes when she beheld her own
beauty on the cover.
"I'll take all the copies you have"
said Margaret crisply. opening her
jingling silver purse How much2"
Even then her eyes were not lifted
above his chin.
"Forty-nine copies at 10 cents
$i.90-thank you" The bell on the
cash register changed noisily as Mat
thew made change. He laid the coins
on the counter shall send the
magazines to you. madam? They ar"
very heavy His tone was very i'm
personal.
IF you please" said Miss Devlin
haughtily. With one gloved hand on
the knob of the door
The young man who worked for him
came back from lunch. the errand boy
returned Fl IN the familiar number
In, e eel
thew worked on relentlessly.
The door onened. and strange thrill
down his SPINE told Matthew Golden
that Margaret had returned. He
heard her low pitched voice speaking
to the clerk. The latter spoke:
II see we are all out OF the Ladies'
Own. Mr.. Golden. When will we have
some more!"
81 shall not order any more"
The store was empty. and he pushed
his chair away impatiently and locked
the books INTO the safe. Then he
reached down his hat and went out TO
dinner.
1t was his luck that the only vacant
seat in the restaurant should be op-
posite Margcret's father, Tom Devlin.
Mr.. Devlin was as homely as his
daughter was beautiful. and his plain
features now lighted up into genial
friendliness. Matthew. me dear boy"
he said. with just touch Of the
brogue. I'm glad to see We. What's
the matter. Ye haven't been wearing
out the doo"mat at No. S42 this dogs
age I've been looking for We to come
around and have game at cribbage
with Maggie's heads so full of
wedding clc hes" Mr.. Devlin attack
ed his salad with twinkling eyes busy
over the proper mixture of the dress
ing
Matthew's heart gave frightened
leap. one or two hard thumps and then
apparently went out Of business all
together.
when Is the weddlngT he heard
himself ask carelessly
THE nth" returned Mr.. Devlin.
This NORTH"
Sure"
"St. Patrick's day. then" murmured
Matthew daledly.
Like to have ye come. Mate
o'clock at 81. Francis. Maggie would
have 1t so. though Corners wanted
Just to step into the rector and let
Father Fral,y tie the knot
Matthew scraped back his chair and
waved the proffered dessert aside. II
must be going along. Good night. Mr.
Devlin." he said heavily.
Then We won't be there on the
17th?" asked Devlin. with a tinge Of
disappointment In his tone.
"Can't. SINS of st. Patrick parade
at 0 on the l7th." said Matthew. MY
congratulations to Miss Margaret"
Devlin was speaking to the waiter,
and Golden took his hat and went
away into the brightly lighted streets.
He walked for hours up and down the
hard pavements. seeing nothing save
a pair Of forgetmenot blue eyes and
feeling nothing save tearing pain at
his heart
Back In his little store. now closed
to customers. he leaned his head wea-
rIly against the desk and thought bit
WHY VI nHut iCu uP " Tue up
preaching wedding on st. Patrick's
day. but fertnight away.
He and Margaret had been engaged
for year when she suddenly announc-
ed that Corners was to use her as
model for magazine cover design.
After that announcement matters NOV
ed rapidly. Matthew forbade 1t. Mar
garet defied him. and without expla-
nation on either side their troth was
broken.
Six weeks had passed since that mis-
cradle night, and he had scarcely
caught a glimpse Of her face, save at a
great distance. until that morning
when she came into his news store.
Two weeks dragged slowly by. and
the morning Of st. Patrick's day found
Matthew Golden arraying himself in
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