The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-05-09
The Guest
That Tarried
The vaaabond and Dreamer.
Who Heard the Call OF
Manhood.
By Sir Gilbert Rnkr
Copyright. 1914. by the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoelatlonl

| ed on the stump OF a maple, when
had furnished part of the late win
ter's firewood. tho singer took mo-
notice Ills leather Jacket. made
| for him hy one whose eyes were
not so bright as those al Roalcen
OF lnniskillen. had resisted many u
heavier storm than this. and his
face was turned Ia the south.
whence the spring seemed TO come.
The face of man. a young.
bearded. keon-cyed man, appeared
at the window OF the house behind
him II was the Young Doctor who
had lately come To Askatoon.
How many years. you say he
asked OF woman standing beside
him. and nodding toward the
singer.
Fifteen years. doctor"
Hes no relation
None. He's irish and wore
Irish. that's all.
How did he come 20 plant him.
self on you''
Well. you ~ee. doctor. Il was
pourin' wet. that day. rs years ago.
an he Just stepped in out o. the
rain"
The Young Doctor turned and
, looked az her closely. refleetiyeiy
Was she mocking him, trying 20 be
humorous. with this dismal tragedy
behind them In darkencd room
where two people lay stricken and
beaten flotsam Of fate left TO the
sport OF the monstrous sea OF pain
and heipiessneHf
How old are yougN the Young
Doctor asked curiouriy. but with
his face turned toward the bed.
room. where a womans voice was
sobbing softly and a mans voice
was speaking In gentle wheedlins
tones
I'm 81" she said with a toss OF
her head; and by that the Young
Doctor knew beyond peradyenturc
that rho loved the man outside. for
she was al. n she was a day.
And what for dye ask Couldn't
ye tell by lookin' at me teeth ," she
added maiiciousiy.
She showed her teeth not nm.
pleasantly. and she could have no
reason TO regrc, doing Il. for they
were her best feature, Rs fine and
even and white and beautiful A set
OF teeth as ever woman had.
The teeth are AZ he answered
calamity.
And tho light In your face IN
that OF riri ~cppin' home along
thc road down by Tralec --steppin'
home from school. Faith. | hope
your heart r. MS young. for there's
stiff work 10 your hand" He
glanced toward the bedroom door.
through which came only the man 8
voice now. pleading and Kind.
There's dark road ahead. !
know" she said. 'nut tia mo own
that I'll work for. and that mus, be
cared for: and. Gods love, but the
back will not break nor tho hand
10 palsy"
Your father may &c, well per.
haps. but II win be slow. and he
can't help himself mnch--~he nod.
ded toward the other room-''but
ts kind man. and"
Well. he will make II as easy
for you as he can. but. she--your
mother--can't max. II easy. no
matter how she tries She can
only move one arm. md even that
may so .ith the rcst-~hut. there.
we'll hope for the best. She has 10
be lifted often and often. and you
cant do II alone Besides. It's n
night and day business. fs there
no sister. or aunt. or cousin"
There's no one az all. at all. OF
women folk. We were five-father
and mother. the two b'ys, and
meself. Terry. he's gone this fifteen
years. Left us one day after a
shindy--father'd been drinkin'. an
he laid hands on Terry. and Terry
flew off like a colt with the bars
down. All. Lord. Lord. he was the
pick o. the posy. Wild as he was
And cruel. too. he was In goin' for
him and her"-a hand flung toward
the bedroom door--''waE nlver the
same after Terry whit"
Her eyes filled with tears. which
she dashed away. and her face
turned to the man without. Twas
n week after Terry whit, he came
He'd seen Terry down by the new
railway. and they'd been drlnkln'
together. and whin he stepped In
out o. the rain, twas like n link
with Terry. for he'd seen him since
We had. and"
Suddenly she opened the front
door and put her head out.
Come I'm out o. the rain. Nolan"
she said sharply
Nolan Doyie'a hie nnme"
And Nslan Doyle--what does he
do2" He knew well what he did not
do, for the fellows discredltable
fame needed no special revelation.
II was a common knowledge: he
was loafer. vagrant. and n pau
per I'm land OF work and action.
"Shnre. there's the garden stuff
to be pulled. and there's food to be
got In the city"--a village OF one
Thousand people is city" In the
,West--"and there's prairie.hens to
be shot. and fish to be caught, and
and all that. doctor dear"
-Four dollars n day won't be
enough" He glanced toward the
bedroom door again. You'll need
help for the sick room and for the
Homework. and help out here Is
expensive"
'T'll do II meself, or die" she re-
sponded stubbornly.
A few moments later the Young
Doctor was out In the rain. now
diminishing TO fine mist. making
his way TO Nolan Doyle. Still the
voice kept dreaming Of Innlskillen
far away and all that was done and
left undone by Rosleen.
Why not 20 back 10 innlskillen.
where you'd have y chance of seein'
her? DO you expect her TO come
10 your" said the Young Doctor.
"Innlsklllen's the place for you.
my man. You'd not be a rara avis