Evening star., 1914-02-08
Continued from page 8

later"
The arm she held gave twitch, and she
looked up at her companions face. 1t was
impassive, and she did not know that Mona
han was mentally swearing at the errant
Jim.
@But I was sorry he sold the ring she
added in her quiet, patient voice. at did
seem as if he might have kept it-just to re-
mind him of-of what used to be-" she fall
tered aAnd when l saw it there in that
window it was something, part of me, that
was gone"
She walked for quite awhile without say
ing anything, and Monahan, his Irish heart
afame, understood all she meant by those
last words: that the little token, purchased
at the cost of penny savings, was keepsake
of those unmarried days when all her skies
were filled with hope. As he bade her good
night at the steps of the noisy tenement in
which she had room he leaned toward her
and said quietly:
"I'm glad it's there in Triggers window;
for it brings you where l can see you. And
l have grown to watch for your coming
THE weeks slipped along, and the cold
ness increased. The nightly visits took
on a more intimate tone, and once Monahan
tried to lend her money; but met with a
sturdy refusal. Perp1exed and solicitous, he
tried to plan ways to relieve her; for he OBJ
served her increasing shabbiness, and the
thinness of her garb. He discovered, with
secret delight, that now when she talked to
him she no longer held the handkerchief to
her face, and to him the scars were beauti-
and loyal soul Monahan wished that he
might bear them, as a fearless soldier bears
his wounds. She confided to him the disap-
pointments of her days, and here and there
through her uncomplaining words, crept the
barb of her misfortune, always the same,-
the heartless stabs delivered by those who
did not know the history of her face. Mona
han wondered at the obtuseness Of the world,
and could have murdered those who turned
her away.
Once he got her to accompany him, with
his mother, to moving picture show, and
on that memorable night he was proud of
the old Irishwoman who was proud of her
boy, because the elder woman caught that
SCARED waif to her breast as they parted
and kissed her, as if she was a child Of her
own. That night Monahan's eyes blinked
and his face writhed as he turned away.
The wise old woman said nothing as she
turned to her room at night; but caught his
head in her hands and for a long time looked
into his honest eyes, before she lifted herself
on tiptoe and with strange tenderness, as
vi OIle PAL lulS, klSSeu Hllll SOOulllSlIl
The Christmas traffic ran apace, and was
heavy. Crowds, parcel laden, thronged the
streets, and the whole sordid world relaxed,
each individual in his way. The miser
opened his purse strings, the prosperous man
bought lavishly, strangers smiled and spoke
to one another in passing, and motorcars
broke speed laws on that night when Mona
han, again in citizens clothes, met and
walked with her. Happiness exhaled from
her; for the tide had turned. She exulted
and told him of her success, and he exulted
with her, knowing all it meant. She had
found one who understood and was kindly,
and had secured position. She was to
move her meager belongings on the morrow.
True, the pay was not very generous; but
there was home, and something else to be
happy about, the child she was to care for
had seen her, and, unlike two others she had
seen in her search for employment had not
cried and pushed her away. 1t had actually
put its arms round her neck.
Monahan caught the queer little catch in
her throat when she made this faltering but
grateful statement, and understood.
4Pretty soon now," she said softly, II can
buy my ring back" and Monahan changed
the subject, and seemed thinking of some
thing foreign and did an unusual thing for
him,-decided that he had some business