The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-09-04
r request. At the door she glanced
q around and saw that her sister was

1dtSy SprdnS up ana quickly wiped
her tears away. The ring brought
Mrs. O'Brien from an inner room.
$50 we've come home. have ye?' she
said, going to open the door.
Patsy remained silent.
The person at the door was Mallory.
He entered and glanced at Patsy, but
offered no word Of greeting.
where's Patricky' queried Mrs.
O'Brien.
Il dunno" answered Mallory, throw
ing his hat on chair. He'd left the
hotel, an l hunted for him everywhere
but l couldn't find him an gave 1t up
l left word at the hotel for him to
come on to the fat If he turned up
again, as no doubt he will. l got tired
Of waitin'. an. besides. thought he
might "a come here by this time"
Haven't you two seen pop yet?"
ventured Patsy timidly.
NO" growled Mallory, without look
ing at her.
A ray Of hope shone in the girls
eyes.
''rhen l want she began hesitat-
ingly.
want phwat?" snapped her mother.
Patsy advanced toward them eagerly.
Il want you both to promise me that
you won't say nothin' to him Of what
you seen tonight. He'd only make
muss with Crawford. No good 'u'd
come of that"
"1ndade, Oi'll promise nothin' av the
koind!' retorted her mother decisively.
Dye think Dim goin' to lave We an
that man to 'yir carryin's on? Not IL
OF know 1t. Yir father will deal with
him an with ye too"
"You keep quiet an I'll promise new
er to see Crawford again-On me hon.
or" she appealed.
"Yir honor! laughed her mothe,
harshly. "Yir honorw
Don't you see I'm doing this for
pops sake?" urged Patsy. "There amt
no need for him to know-to know
"rhe koind ov a girl ye are," broke in
her mother angrily. "D'ye think Ord
decaive him as we've been decaivin'
us?
mo. there amt no need for him to
know the sort of girl I am" repeated
Patsy. writhing under the cruel, un-
merited interjection. you'll promise.
nom? It's the last thing I'll ever ask
you. Say you will for his sake-for the
sake Of me that was dear to you once"
She appealed to Mallory in turn:
won't you promise?"
Mallory turned to Mrs. O'Brien.
1T won't do no good to tell him." he
said. Its no use breakin' his heart
like she's broke mine-an' yours"
"Thin ye promise never to see Craw-
ford agin?" demanded her mother.
II promise, MON. An you can he.
lieve me-" she said earnestly.
Gall right, then. won't tell II Dan.
ny thinks it BEST" the old woman
agreed.
"What lie are you goin' to frame up
for your father?" asked Mallory.
I'LL tell him it's all off between YOU
an me, an that's no lie," Patsy an
swered.
Mrs. O'Brien looked dubious.
"Ye'n have to think Of sonlethin'
better'n quarrel to convince yir ia
ther," she said. Hell want some
good reason for me takin' Nora home
with me-"
YOU'RE goin' to take Nora away
from mel" questioned Patsy. with wide,
frightened eyes.
"Phwat dye think?" tiarcd up her
mother. "D'ye s'pose Id leave nn
baby with We? It's hoigh tonne SHE
was out av this"
"Then ! amt goln' to have no one.
You don't think I'm fit to have m,
honey lamb around! You think III
make my sister bad! Oh, my Cod:
oh, my God!'
Patsy burst into passion Of tears,
and fed from the ROOM
Mrs. O'Brien gazed after her. visihly
perplexed. Dan was rubbing his chin
vigorously and shifting uncasily from
one foot to another.
"Oi almost misdoubt me own sinses.''
said the mother "lt's hard to believe
her bad. Oh, what's to become n"
her?"
you'd better take her home will,
you for the present" Dan advised.
You can't leave her here alone to he
tempted by that-that man. No one
knows but you an me-"
"But what If O'Brien's gone to Craw-
fords?'
81 shouldn't wonder il he had" he
admitted II don't think. though.
Crawford II tell him much You heard
him say he didn't want no row on his
hands. Anyhow. you'll take her, won't
you? Who'll stand by her if you don't?
She can't be anythin' more to me, but
I'd be sorry If she went from pad 70
worse
Mrs. O'Brien reflected
"Ye're right. Danny. that's sure" she
said. ITS me duty to take her home
an save her from becomin' worse
! But OF misdoubt If she'll listen to me
Help me to persuade her. Owe no one
to lean on but you, bhoy. Yen have -
talk with her:"
He answered in the affirmative.
can yez won't let me face O'Brien
alone. will We? Help me to lie to him.!
Don't worry. I'll fix it." he assured
her.
God love We. Danny. bhoy," she said.
"Ill Fave We so that We can talk to her
alone"
Mallory waited for Patsy to return
to the room. He had no doubt that
she would do SO when her paroxysm of
SWooninp had anQnf itao1f Noxv fhot