El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-10
The Girl With Yellow Hair
CBy MOIIie Kennedy

-HE first morning that Moira Ger
raghty came into that Bond
= street tea room all the girls
stared. Her hair was yellow, startling
| " yellow, reminding one of sunshine.
of fields of corn, of marigoIds blink
/ ing at the sun. and Of golden daffo-
! dis. Miss Bates. the manager, said
| this; but Miss Bates was of a poetfcal
! turn of mind
Later on oscar Henderson boosted
| that it was he who had discovered her.
The Bond street tea room was a favor
| lite haunt of several of the academy
students, of whom he was one, a little
| cOterie of them gathering in one cor
ner, where they talked an art jargon
unintelligible TO the ordinary listener
until one afternoon MORA CHANGED to
! serve them, and after that theS talked
of nothing but her wonderful yellow
| hair.
That night Henderson burst in upon
his friend, Jack Mayne, who was smOk-
ing and painting, his eyes dancing.
old man." he cried, I've found her.
I've discovered the poster girl at last
Jack Mayne went on painting and
shrugged his shoulders.
You've said that before" he said
calmly. Remember, the little Irish
girl You said she'd do. Her hair was
red"
But the next day when he saw MORA
Gerraghty, he was quite as enthusiastic
as his friend, and as eager to discover
whether or not she would consent to
sit to him for a picture he wished to
paint Her soft accent as she answered
him told him of her nationality and
he asked her at once if she were Irish.
My father was Irish she an
swered. MY mother is English She
is an invalid. and I am her only child,
so 1 do not like to be away from her
a moment longer than 1 need. But if
you Will come around and see her"
she added quickly, seeing the look Of
disappointment on his face, we can see
what she says about the sittings. You
see she said with a smile. I am only
free on Sundays and every alternate
Saturday afternoon; but if you will
come around and see what mother
says, We might be able to arrange
something"
The following Sunday he went round
at her invitation, and found. as he ev-
pected, that the mother was a la6v a
gentle-faced woman whose white hair
showed signs Of having once been like
her daughters
Then began 4 series OF VERY pleasan.
Sunday afterno ms, fo- MORA had con-
fessed to him that she could not give
up the mornings, this being the only
time in the week she Ea5 70 devote
to her mother; and .eac1 2fternj1n Jncs
Mayne would jCin the resi- # the little
coterie who had tea in the Bond street
lCh SAlOps anu VINO now sought the par
ticular corner over which NORA pre-
sided.
Bit by bit Jack NIayne learned some
thing of their past life. Mrs Ger
raghty spoke but little of her own
people, but he gathered that she had
been well born, and that her parents
had never forgotten the match with
the penniless author who had fallen in
love with her face. and since her mar
rage she had had no communica ton
whatever with her own kin
1t was when the picture was almost
finished that lack Mayne spoke Of
showing it. md wondered to see the
sudden look Of fear which leaBed into
Mrs Gerraehty's eyes.
Must you put it in an exhihitiong
she asked. Must it be shown
He explained to her how much de-
pended upon exhibitions. and Nora sat
with quiet face listening; but after
that Mrs. GerraEhty said nothing Only
when MORA had gone from the room
slightly flushed face to the young man
you are obliged to sell your pic
lures. is it not sou she asked, and he
nodded
How much do you expect to get for
for Moira's pOrtrai-2 she asked
He named n sum, and she was silent
for a moment or two; then, looking di-
rect at the young man, she asked him
If he would do her a favor
Certainly. If it is anything 7 can
DO L am yours to command" he as
sured her; and she gave him a tiny
key which she drew from a box on
the table ut her side.
DO you mind going to that cabi-