El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-03
BY Mana Springer White
VNf HEN, at the funeral of Jimmie
wv Quigley, his brother Tom saw
Minnie Stanley slip from her

wv Quigley, his brother Tom saw
Minnie Stanley slip from her
seat beside his mother into white
motfonless heap on the floor between
the pews. the last little flame of hope
which he had kept alive in the most
secret chamber Of bis heart f1ickered
and went out.
Even as he carried her to the opeu
air a tiny voice at the depth of his
sub-conscious self kept saying over
and over, Jimmie won after all" When
he became conscious of what he was
thinking he nearly dropped the slight
figure in his arms, shocked at the hor-
ror of his own irreverence.
Ever since Minnie Stanley had
opened her eyes to the world. the
Quigley boys. Jimmie and Tom, whose
parents lived next door to the Shan
leys. had been her devoted slaves They
taught her to creep, to walk and TO
talk, they were her champions always
in the childish squabbles of school
days.
AS they grew older AMI the ritv
crept over closer to the humble cot
tages Of their parents. the r; angular
friendship still continued.
It was 4 curious rivalry. each voc!h
with the fierce family loya-ty that
was his irish heritage p-aisins the
other tC. the girl, each careful To pre-
serve a strict balance in the attentions
he offered her At first the three went
everywhere together, as they had done
in their childhood. Then gradually
there came an unspoken agreement.
whreby Tom Quigley always had i'm
portant engagements when Jimmie es-
corted Minnie and Jimmie found things
which required his immediate presence
when Minnie accepted Toms atten-
lions.
AS for Minnie herself, even the kind
Nv neighborhood gossip, usually unerr-
ing in its discernment, could not de-
termine which brother she favored
Then came the terrible illness which
struck down Jimmie Quigley. In his
deIirium he called constantly for Min
ME- and the girl who was dear as
daughter to Mrs. Quigley, who had
been denied one of her own, helped
the old woman through the crisis OF
the sickness and the convalescence-
For the first time Tom Quig1ey found
himself shut out from the companion
ship of the girl he loved. Jimmie
Quigley well, was honorable and IN
selfish to a degree. Jimmie Quigley
ILL., weakened by suffering. threw every
consideration to the winds save the
norco QeS1Gc TO VIII MlIlHle OHdHIcy
love.
When I get well. you're a going to
the priest with me. girl" asserted
Jimmie, and Minnie, hiding an agony
of apprehension in her eyes. murmured
softly, Yes, Jimmie, when you. get
we'll"
"I couldn't help it. Tom" This was
Jimmie's apology to Tom when. after
the elder brother had taken care Of
him through a particularly trouble
some night. the sick lad shamefacedly
told of Minnie's promise to marry him.
Tom was at the window. his face
turned away from his brother He
fumbled with the curtains a long while
before he answered
why should you help it. Jimmie?"
The elder brothers voice was husky,
but full of kindness 1--WE couldn't
both have her. and If you must know
the truth, while I think a whole lot of
Minnie yet I've been looking in an
other direction lately
The lie accompanied Jimmie Quigley
into eternity and smoothed his path
way as his brother intended it should.
For Jimmie's recovery was short lived
and his decline rapid.
But underneath all Toms stoicaI ac-
ceptance of the situation, there lay the
born of what he could not
tell. that Minnie's love was only a
passing one, born of propinquity, that
the real depths of her nature were
still untouched. He put the thought
away from him as sacreligious in the
terrible time of Jimmie's death. and
when Minnie tainted as the coffin con-
the body of her lover was for
ever closed from view. he realized the
depth of her grief. and also knew that
Jimmie dead YVES a far more formid-
able rival than Jimmie living
He did not see her again for over
year. Immediately after the funeral |
worn to shadow by her long |
and grief. was borne away |
TO the farm of her godmother who |
was alarmed at her condition. It was
only the week before the first anniver- |
z-ry of Jimmie's death that Minnie |
came back to the city.
Did you see the mass announce
nent?" oueried Mrs Ouigley on the /
evening before the anniversary "Ah, |
but It's the good faithful girl Minnie
Stanley is
Tom took the extended paper with !