Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-05-26

| The orchestra was playing Inc
! Kerry Dance" when Anna entered the
ballroom with her sister and brother
in-law, ana her little foot beat time
to the swinging measure with antici-
pated delight.
Her gown was a triumph of tender
love for the mother country and affec.
ton and loyalty to the new republic
that had opened its arms to her peo-
pie. Anna had planned it weeks be-
fore, and her skillful fingers had made
it-green silk gauze embroidered with
little golden harps, folds of white chif-
fon inside the low cut bodice, and in
side the chiffon against her snowy
neck three folds of chiffon-red, white,
and blue.
The enhancing music of old Irish
melodies. the polished floor crowded
with brilliant gowns and the handsome
uniforms Of the Emerald Knights, the
eager spectators In the gallery over
head, all formed beautiful picture
that Anna Degan never forgot.
She danced again and again with old
friends and new ones whom her broth
er-in-law, Larry Fame. brought up to
her. AS she sat resting. her face
aglow with exercise and pleasure.
Larry approached with large red
faced man. black of brow and with
scowling black eyes. His smile was
pleasant, however. and seemed to in
dicate that the scowl was but bad
habit.
Annals heart seemed TO stand still
when Larry spoke. Anna, let me in
troduce Nj Mullin-Mr Alderman
AIullin of the Seventh ward"
Then Larry disappeared. and Anna
found herself permitting Mr. MGllin
to scrawl his name against the next
vacant space on her dance card, which
proved to be the one she was sitting
out, and so presently she was whirling
about in the stiff embrace of Mr.. AL
derman Mullin, who growled few
sentences above her head. stepped on
her pretty green shod toes without
apologizing and finally left her breath
lessly sitting on divan in a corner
far distant from her little group of
friends.
She was glad Of the respite to think
over the startling situation. If this
gentleman was Alderman Mullin, the
father of James, the unruly, who. then,
was the gentleman who had imper-
sonated the alderman and made him
self responsible for the behavior of
James?
Across the room a couple revolved
stiffly in the girations Of q waltz;
Anna recognized the burly form Of the
now familiar Mr.. Mullin and also that
of the lady she had known as Jimmy's
mother. AS for the other man-her
face grew hot with Indignation, and
she looked lovelier than ever when
Larry found her out. He had another
man with him this time.
"Mr. Alderman Mullins cousin, sis
another Mullin and a gentle knight
a good friend Of my own! George. my
sister. Miss Degan!'
Larry left the two facing each other
in the quiet corner. the man, resplen-
dent in green and white satin and gold,
looking tenderiy down on the young
girl in green and gold.
Miss Degan looked him squarely in
the face and with contemptuous shrug
turned away. but he caught her little
gloved hand in his own with a swift
gesture.
wait, please" he said gravely, and
Miss Degan waited for his EXPLANATION.
: 90
as from a man who is not accustomed
to explain his actions:
when q little lad is afraid of his
father, Miss Degan, he naturally turns
to some man whom he knows Is fond
Of him and will stand by him in trou-
BILE. Jimmy confessed to me this after
noon that he was afraid to take you
to his father-his father would thrash
him. and that is all the good 1t would
do! So the lad brought you to me and
trusted me to understand the situation
and to stand by him. / didn't get on
to his little game till after you went,
though l understood from his looks he
was In trouble, so / let it go, hoping
to see you again and explain matters
10 YOU. Udu u idlk VIII JluuIuJ, duQ
he's going to be good. In fact. I've told
him l shall call at the school every
week and find out what his deport-
ment is. hope you do not mind, Miss
Degan."
Anna listened to the long speech
with downcast eyes and trembling lips.
She was glad that she had spared jim
my a whipping from his stern father
and that this kind hearted cousin had
masqueraded before her as Jimmy's
parent. He had a good face, and, after
all, Jimmy would improve and room
No. 10 might be a credit TO the grade
after all,
She smiled gratefully up at Mr..
George Mullin and dashed a tear from
the corner Of her eye. Il am very glad
you did not disillusion me. l was so
tired and cross just then l might have
taken Jimmy down to his fathers Of
fee. wherever it is"
Hell be a good boy after this"
promised Jimmys big cousin as they
glided into a waltz. Sweetly. alluring-
~. came the strains of kathleen Ma
vourneen," and they did not speak
again until it was over After a little
while AIullin asked softly:
"And I may come to the school once
week and look at Jimmy's report,