Tombstone epitaph., 1915-03-07

lookin' a divil as ever. Mister Ted"
 Teds hand shot out and grasped hers. Birdie, could weep on your apron. l never was so glad to see anyone in my life. Just to look at you makes me homesick What in Sam Hill are you doing here?"
 "Waitin'. After yer ma died. seemed like I didn't care t work fer no pri- wit famly. so came back here on my old job. m bet I'm the homeliest head waitress in captivity"
 Ted's nervous fingers were plating the tablecloth. His voice sank to a whisper. Birdie. tell the Gods truth. Did those three years cause her death?"
 .'Niyer," lied Birdie "I was with her to the end IL started with a cold on tn chest Have some French fried with yer beef. Mir. Teddy. They're illigent today"
 Birdie glided of 10 the kitchen. Au- thOrs are fond Of the word glide. % But you can take it literally this time.
 
 huge mistake. but she walked like a panther. and they're said to be the last cry as Tliders She walked with her chin up and her hips firm. That comes from juggling trays You have 10 walk like that to keep your nose out of the soup. After a while the walk becomes a habit Any seasoned dining-room girl could give lessons in walking 10 the Delsarte teacher Of an Eastern finishing school.
 From the day that Birdie Callahan served Ted with roast beef medium and the elegant French fried she ap- pointed herself monitor over his food and clothes and morals. wish could find words to describe his bitter lone Illness. He did not seek companion ship. The men. although not directly avoiding him. seemed somehow to have pressing business whenever they happened in his vicinity. The women ignored him. Mrs. Dankworth. still flashing and still widowed, passed Ted one day and looked fixedly at point one inch above his head. In a town like ours the Haley house is like a big. hospitable club house. The men drop in there the first thing in tSe morning and the last thing at night. 10 hear the gossip and buy a cigar and jolly the girl at the cigar counter. Ted spoke to them when they spoke to him. He began to develop a certain grim line about the mouth. Jo Haley watched him from afar. and the longer he watched the kinder and more spec ulative grew the look in his eyes. And slowly and surely there grew in the hearts of our townspeople a certain new respect and admiration for this boy who was fighting his fight.
 Ted got into the habit of taking his meals late, so that Birdie Callahan could take the time to talk to him.
 Birdie" he said one day. when she brought his soup. do you know that you're the only decent woman who'll talk to me? Do you know what mean when I say that I'd give the rest of my life if could just put my head in my mothers lap and have her muss up my hair and call me foolish names?"
 Birdie Callahan cleared her throat and said abruptly: T was noticin' yes terday your gray pants needs pressin' bad. Brink 'em down tomorrow morn in and I'll give 'em tn elegant crease in the laundry"
 So the first weeks went by, and the two months of Miss Wenzels stay came to an end. Ted thanked his God and tried hard not to wish that she was a man so that he could punch her head
 The day before the time appointed for her departure she was closeted with JT Haley for a long. long time. When finally she emerged a belIboy Iounsed up to Ted with a message.