The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-07-14
The Price of AffIiction.
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wv ~ ~ a ~ l @ LII u III hlS
breezy way, what "a we got here?"
Mrs. Mulroy explained.
Cant see, hey?'' he queried eye
ing Dan quizzically. He didn't be-
lieve it. He could see nothing the
matter with his eyes. They we're
bright and they were open. And
being open there was no reason that
he was aware of why he should not
see with them.
Anyway, b e determined upon a
test. The test consisted of quick
sweep of his hand before Dams face.
If he blinked he was fooling, you see!
Dan did blink, blinked and drew
back as the sweep was made; not that
he saw the hand, but with the hy-
persensitiveness of the afflicted he
was conscious of the movement.
Haw! Hawp' bawled the doctor,
elated at the success of his scheme.
You young rascal" he said, giving
Dams hair a goodnatured tug. Take
him home Mrs. Mulroy, he's all right.
He has touch of Spring fever. Let
him have holiday for day or so.
A romp in the park will do him good,
for we were all boys once you know
and girls" he added roguishly.
The doctor, you see, though hum
bug, had grain of generosity in his
composition. The way homeward
led along the Thames Embankment
and past spot where stood a dis
mantled steamboat pier. A storm
on one occasion had swept away the
pierhead leaving the railless gang
way which jutted out some hundred
feet from the bank to an abrupt end
ten feet above the water. At the
sight of this Mrs. Mulroy was seized
with an idea. She would make a test
herself. So maneouvering Dan un-
til his feet rested upon the gangway
she said: Now, off you go 'ome and
let us have an end to this nonsense,
for remember I'm behind you-now
go!' And with gentle shove she
started him on the way. He'll turn
as soon as he sees the water" she
thought, but Dan didn't turn. On he
trudged little falteringly, but as
sturdily as the darkness and his heart
would permit.
The breath of the Thames was in
his nostrils. Dan was not afraid of
the Thames. Oh, no! He and the
Thames were friends. He had tum-
bled in its breakers time and again
and they had carressed him more ten
dcrly than ever b u m n hand had
done: Presently he heard someone
call, Hi! You Dan. Mulroy, where
yer goin'?''
Dan recognized the voice. That's
Old Tom White" he unused, Old Tom
the boatman. No, he wasn't afraid of
him either, but he feared the hard
fist of the proud, relentless woman
he believed to be at his heels.
She's waiting for me to stop and
then she'll knock me down." he
thought. So he trudged on. The cry
was repeated, Hi! Dan Mulroy!"
Dan detected something peculiar in
the voice. He had never heard that
note in Old Toms voice before. 1t
was strange! 1t was fear. And the
fear entered into his soul. He. STOP
ped and was about to turn when the
world seemed to sink from beneath
his feet and he fell down, down till
the cool soft embrace of the Thames
closed about him.
Two days after his body was cast
ashore. The Thames had been good
to him. In falling from the pier his
body was sucked into Of the cavities
left by thedemolished pierhead where
it lay until an unusual commotion in
a returning tide whirled it again to
the surface and deposited it reverent-
ly upon the strand where he had been
wontto play. They sent for his moth
er. She came hysterical with grief
and remorse for the part she had
played in his death. Goddle mighty!
she sobbled and she pressed the wa
ter-sodden body to her bosom. My
boy! He's dead!' she crooned.
Old Tom White eyed her awhile,
then STEPPED forward, touched her on
the shoulder and asshe looked up, ,re-
marked! Taken kind O. likin'. fur
i'm all on suddent? What" /