Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-10-08

DcaCD 10 tlU ruins OF an Olu paNulUH
near one corner of this new private
| park Park. A year ago that old
| pavilion was standin' up straight. and
the old style walters was slammin' Il
weeks supply of clarN chowder down
in front Of you for Il nickel and calm
you Gully friendly, and vice was ram
pant, and you got back to New York
with enough change to take a car at
the'bridge. Now they tell me that they
serve Welsh rabbits on Surf avenue
and you get the right change back in
the movin' picture joints.
Il sat down at one side of the old
pavilion and looked at the surf spread
in itself ON the old beach and thought
about the time me and Norah Flynn
sat on that spot. Twas before reform
struck the island. and we was ha,
We had tintypes and chowder in the
ribald dives. and the Egyptian Sor
ceress of the Nile told Norah out of
her hand. while | was waitin' in the
door. that 'twould be the luck of her
to marry redhended gossoon with
two crooked legs. and l was overrun-
min with joy on account Of the allu
sion. And twas there that Norah
Flynn put her two hands in mine a
year before, and we talked of flats and
the things she could cook and the love
business that goes with such episodes.
And that was Coney as we loved it
and as the hand Of Satan was upon it
friendly and noisy and your moneys
worth. with no fence around the ocean
and not too many electric lights to
show the sleeve of black serge coat
against a white shirt waist.
Il sat with my back to the parks
where they had the moon and the
dreams and the steeples corralled and
longed for the old Coney. There
wasn't many people on the beach.
Lots Of them was feedin' pennies into
the slot machines to see the interrupt
ed Courtship' IN the movin' pictures,
and Il good many was takin' the sea
air in the Canals Of Venice. and some
was breathin' the smoke Of the sea
battle by actual warships in tank
filed with real water a few was
down on the sands enjoyin' the moon
light and the water. And the heart of
ME was heavy for the new morals of
the old island, while the bands behind
me played and the sea pounded on the
bass drum in front.
And directly l got up and walked
along the old pavilion. and there on
the other side of it, half in the dark.
was slip of a girl cryin' by herself
there, all alone.
is 1t trouble you are in now, miss"
says |. And what's to be done about
it?'
"''Tis none of your business at all,
Denny Carnahan.' says she. sittin' up
straight And it was the voice of no
other than Norah Flynn.
Then it's not says |. and we're
after having pleasant evening, Miss
Flynn. Have ye seen the sights of
this new Coney Island, them
- have, says she. Me mother and
Uncle Tim they are waiting beyond.
'Tis an elegant evening I've had. I've
seen all the attractions that be.
fright ye are says to Norah;
and l don't know when I've been that
amused After disportin meself among
the most laughable moral improve
ments of the revised shell games | took
meself to the shore for the benefit OF
the cool air, And did We observe the
Durbar, Miss Flynn
81 did says she, rehectin'; but It's
not safe. I'm thinkin'. to ride down
them santin' things into the water.
"'How did We fancy the shoot the
chutes?' | asks.
True, then. I'm afraid of guns,
says Norah. They make such noise
in my ears. But Uncle Tim. he shot
them, he did, and won cigars lis
fine time we had this day, Mr. Carna-
ham
I'm glad you've enjoyed yerself.' |
says. 1 suppose you've had roarln
fine time seem the sights. And how
did the incubators and the heller skel-
ter and the midgets suit the taste
of YEP
I'll wasn't hungry, says Norah.
faint But mother ate a quantity Of
All Oh EN-. 1 III llldL plcdScu Win lhc
fine things in the new Coney Island,
says she, that it's the happiest day
I've seen in n long time, at all.
Ibid you see Venice| says |.
1--WE did says she. She was
beauty. She was all dressed in red,
she was, with
Il listened no more to Norah Flynn.
l stepped up and | gathered her in my
arms.
Ills a story teller We are, Norah
Flynn says l. we've seen no more
of the greater Coney Island than
have meself Come. now. tell the truth
-ye came to sit by the old pavilion by
the waves where you sat last summer
and made Dennis Carnahan a happy
man. Speak up and tell the truth
"Norah stuck her nose against me
vest