Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-05-26
Flanagan's
Boy
Story Of St. Patrick's Day
By cLARIssA MAcKIE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

By clARlSSA MAcKIE I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Larry will never be coming home.
sighed Dennis Flanagan as he looked
out into the March twilight Its i've
years since he went away to seek his
fortune, Molly, and do you never won
der what he's foundr'
Molly Delaney looked at her uncle
through unshed tears.
II am always wondering that. Uncle
Dennis" she answered.
Light the lamp. Molly. and read bis
latest letter." requested Dennis.
When the lamp was lighted 1t dis
closed q comfortable sitting room.
clean and coy and warm. 1t showed
Dennis in his big rocking chair. bis
helpless rheumatic feet propped on a
stool. Lovely Molly Delaney. with her
misty black hair and her Irish blue
eyes, sat down at the table and open
ed the worn envelope that contained
Larry Flanagan's letter and read:
Dear Father-Although It's FIVE years
since I left you with high hopes In my
heart that my returning would be soon.
fear that I must wait little longer be-
fore seeing your dear face again and feel
ing the hearty clasp Of your hand. Gold
u an ailuring Jade She has led me
pretty chase In this bleak. cold country.
| - ta {,,ok ly,a
God, when next write II will be to tell
you that have struck It rich, that am
coming home to buy a grand house for
you and Molly, and we will all be happy
together. Remember that promised Mol
" that when I came home I'd bring her q
bunch Of emerald shamrocks, the real
Jewels, and now they are just within my
reach. A boy frem Hazenville IL due here
tomorrow, and with his coming I expect
to hear direct news from you both. with
love from your dutiful son. LARRY.
Molly lifted her eyes and looked
across the table at Dennis Flanagan.
Uncle Dennis, I'm afraid that Larry
viii never come home" she whispered.
The old man lifted tremulous hand.
Flush, child; I've q feeling that
Larry will come back to Us. had
q dream last night I thought there
came q knocking at the door and I
opened It to see our Larry. Instead
Of wearing fine clothes and silk hat,
poor Larry was in rags. And instead
Of pinning a bunch Of emerald sham
rocks on your bosom, where they'd be
out Of place on that fimsy cotton
gown. my dear. our poor Larry car
ried q little pot Of the living green
plant from old Ireland. And then
woke up"
Molly was sobbing softly.
II don't care how poor he is, Uncle
Dennis, II he will only come home to
Us"
mo more do 1. childie." whimpered
Dennis.
Don't sorrow. Uncle Dennis" COM
forted the girl. slipping to her knees
beside him. Larry will soon come
home. II this last quest for gold
should prove useless. can see him
turning about and coming back to US.
Between the lines Of his letter I could
read that he was hungering for the
ones he had left behind"
"God bless you, daughter" smiled
Dennis more cheerfully.
The Alaska twilight had fallen swift
~ like dull gray blanket tossed over
the frozen world: then ghostly moon
appeared over the eastern mountains
and revealed bleak expanses Of glisten-
ing snow and the dark masses Of pine
trees.
Under the shoulder Of the hill crouch
ed a little cabin. and before the blaz-
Ing FIRE on Its hearth two young men
were sitting. The hoy from Hazen-
vile" had arrived. and Larry Flanagan
was listening to his story Of home and
the home folks.
"And my old father helpless with the
rheumatism" repeated Larry incredu-
lousy. "Why. Mike Dolan. the old
scout never wrote word Of 1t to me!
But, thank heaven, the railroad stocks
will keep him comfortable. but
Mike Dolan looked at the big framed
man, whose brown hair was grazing on
the temples and whose handsome face
had taken on new lines Of doggedness
during the past five years. Was 1t pos
sible that Larry did not know that the
little western railroad had blown up
and that old Dennis Flanagan's stock
was worthlsssf
Larry" be interrupted soberly,
didn't you know that the railroad
busted and your father lost every
pennyr
"You ner' cried Larry savagely, for
be was struck to the heart by the news
Mike Dolan smiled pityingly.
Its all true. Larry. and what's
more true Is that your little cousin
Molly Is a wonderful girl. When the
bud news came the lass opened mil
Iinery shop. and with her clever fingers
she certainly has made money hand
over fist. She's taken good care Of your
father, and
"Whisht, man." cried Larry in an
lgonIzed tone. II cannot bear to hear
my more! Look at me. Mike Dolan!
Laugh at me! I came away to make
my fortune. said when l returned ]
would bring Molly a bunch Of sham
rock made from emeralds. with dia.
mond dewdrops on 'em. and look at
thisr' He swept his arm In a gesture
that included the four corners Of the
tough cabin. me. still striving to
make good that promise. and Molly
sweet little Molly Delaney-not bother
Ing her dear head about emeralds or
diamonds. but doing her duty day by
day! Laugh at me. Mike Dolan. for