The Caucasian., 1913-07-20
hafE1lens
Boycott
And How It Worked Against
Her FathR
BY JANE VAN NAME
j ]. j. j. J:

: = + : < =.
Mary Ellen Flynn was going to have
new dress-her father had promised
To be sure, he had promised three times
before, but this time he had seemed
more Interested somehow, and, besides.
he had agreed to stay with the children
while she went to buy it,
In all her sixteen years there never
had been anything that Mary Ellen
wanted half so much. Authorization
had thrilled her deliciously all day, and
her imagination had reveled in a bewil-
derlng assortment Of fluffy light blues
and frilly pinks She had finally de-
c1ded upon light blue. She sat on the
doorstep and planned how she would
make it while she waited for her ia
ther.
The last rays of the sun touched with
fairy fingers the blossoms Of the scrag-
gy little ounce tree that struggled for
existence In the corner Of the ward. and
Mary Ellen changed her mind once
again as to the color of the dress. 1t
should be pink-that soft. lovely shade
In the ounce blossoms. She broke Off
one OF the flowers, brushed two great
Jumps Of SCOT from its petals and gazed
froWningly at the tall chimney of the
rolling mill short distance away.
Mary E1len's father worked in the
mill and made good pay. but he had
two cronies who were always waiting
for him on pay days in the doorway Of
Kelley's saloon. 1t was never diff
cult matter to persuade Flynn to try
his luck at cards. even though he inva-
riably lost. His friends kept him gen
erously supplied with his favorite brew
while they coaxed the contents of his
pockets into their own In the same
proportion to his losses Flynn acquired
crustiness. and his family bore the
brunt OF chronic crouch.
Mary Ellen's mother was dead, and
for two years the girl had been mother
to the little brood Of three-the twins.
Jimmie and Annie, and Toby, baby
OF two. She washed. scrubbed, cooked
and mended, working as hard and as
faithfully as woman Of forty. It was
dreary. monotonous life for girl of
sixteen. and Mary Ellen hated it all
the dark, smoky kitchen and the wash
tubs-with strong nnwaverfng ha
tired. She never went anywhere, for
there was no one with whom to leave
the children. Her holidays in two
years she could count on one hand
and have fingers to spare, though Il
there had been opportunities to go out
with the other girls she had nothing to
wear. Her wardrobe had dwindled to
enc dress, decidedly the worse for
vear. Cor It had done service for mar
ket aTd meeting for months.
ei18ed sometimes to Mary Ellen
thar every other girl ii the world but
herself had good times and pretty
clothes. These things, she reasoned
and proved by her bosom friend. Kit
III Reilly, belonged to youth, and she
had bitter telling Of resentment that
wnxed strong with constant nursing
that she was being deprived of her
rights. She thought of the talk she
had had with Kitty only that morning
and OF the chance that was hers II
j only she could obtain her fathers per
mission. a girl who worked in the
store with Kitty was going to leave,
ana Kitty wanted Mary Ellen to take
the place They paid 81 q week
She thought of the pretty clothes
she could buy not like Kitty's. for she
didn't like 20 much lace on her dresses
zor red shoes or the near willow plume
chat was the pride of Kitty's heart.
Her mouth quirked q bit at the thought
sthat she, Cinderella with one shabby
dress to her back. should dare criticise
such gorgeousness as Kitty's.
Mrs Duffy. who occupied the foor
above the Flynn's. on her way to mar
ket ,stopped minute to gossip.
Il ..A Ain't yer father. come yet. dearieY'
Ishe asked
1sss No, hut he'll be along soon now.
s,pose you'll be a-dazzlin' us to-
morree, observed Mrs. Duffy, for
Mary Ellen had told her about the
dress.
l,icIl would you get, the girl
gasked. happy little CULVER in her
voice ID pink or a blue one 8
.igl1t blues hest, decided Mrs.
sDufy after careful survey of Mary
Ellen's face md figure. IT I'D go bet
Ifer With your hair than pink. You've
xot beautiful hair. child. Make him
Riye you enough for good one. she
Ieaid kindly as she went down the
steps You've earned i. q
8 Mary Ellen went In and looked at the
kitchen clock. II was fifteen minutes
nast iier father's usual time. What Il
Ihe hnd forgotten and gone e Kelley,s!
she looked apprehensirely tn that 81
rectton. then resoluteiy refused to Wor-
- about It. she hummed little tune
81 reassure herself.
But Il she watched he came around
~ corner, and she knew that he was
T. I'M Az some Of Kelley's wares With |
I'm iust enough . that the CARRYING
& thkh made him ugly. for he wore :