The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-08
BY j. Hartley Manners

iiSu an OecOme wanderers on the
face OF the earth. an nothin they
ever earn II make up to them for the
separation from their homes an their
loved ones!' She finished the perora.
ton on a high note and with a forced
manner such as she had frequently
heard on the platform.
She smiled at the astonished Jerry
and asked him:
do We know what that is?"
II haven't the least idea," he an
swered truthfully.
That's out of one Of me fathers
speeches. He father makes grand
speeches. He makes them in the cause
Of Ireland"
"Oh, really! In the cause Of Ire
land. eh?" said Jerry.
"Yes. He's been strugglin' all his
life to make Ireland free, to get her
home rule. ye know But the English
are so ignorant. They think they know
more than me father II they'd do
what me father tells them sure there'd
be no more throuble in Ireland at ALL"
"Really?" said Jerry quite interest
edly.
Not a hit of throuble. l wish me
father was here to explain 1t to ye
He could tell We the whole thing in a
couple of hours | wish he were here
now just to give you an example Of
what fine speakin' really is. Do you
like speeches?"
Very much = sometimes" replied
Jerry guardedly.
Me father is wonderful on a plat
form with a lot O. people In front of
him. He's wonderful. I've seen him
take two three hundred people who
didn't know they had grievance in
the wurrld-the poor cratures-they
were just contentcd to go on bein
ground down an trampled on an they
not KNOWN Il thing about five seen
me father take that crowd an in five
minutes afther lie had started spakin
to them We wouldn't know they were
the same people They we're all shout.
in at once. an they had murther in
their eye, an 1t was blood they were
afther. They wanted to reform some
thin'-they weren't sure what--but they
wanted to do it. an at the cost Of life
Me father could have led them any
where. It's n wonderful power he was
DO We like henrin' about ME father?"
The asked Jerry suddenly. in case she
was firing him
Jerry FASTENED to assure her that he
was really most interested
We'll. so long as yer not tired I'll
tell ye some more. Ye know | went
all through ireland when | was a child
with me father in Il cart An the pO
lice an the ronstabuLary used to fol
low MS about. They were very fright.
ened of mo father. they were They
were grand days for me. Ye're Eng
!ish. mehhe?" she asked him snddenlv
II am" said Jerry. He almost felt
Inclined to apologize.
We'll, sure that's not your fault Ye
couldn't help it, No one should hold
that against ye. We can't all be born
Irish"
I'm glad you look at 1t so broad
mindedly," said Jerry.
She stood restlessly moment. her
hands beating each other alternately.
Il get so lonesome for me father"
she said.
Suddenly, with tone of definite re-
solve In her voice. she started to the
stairs. calling over her shoulder:
I'm gOin back to him now. Good
byr'
Jerry followed her. pleading insist
emily:
"Wait. Please wait"
She stopped and looked at him:
Give us one months trial-one
month" he urged. ut will be very
little out of your life, an l promise
you yonr father will not suffer through
IT except In losing you for that one
little month. win you? Just month 2"
He spoke so earnestly and seemed
so sincerely panied and so really con-
cerned at her going that she came
down few steps and looked at him
irresolutely.
"Why do you want me to stayT she
asked him.
"Because-because your late uncle
was my friend. 1t was his last wish
to do something for you. win you7
Just month";
She struggled with the desire to 60
away from all that was so foreign and
distasteful to her Then she looked at
Jerry and realized. with something akin
to feeling of pleasure. that he was
pleading with her to stay and doing 1t
In such way as to suggest that It
mattered to him. She had to admit to
herself that she rather liked the look
Of him. He seemed honest, even
though he were English. After all. to
run away now would look cowardly.
Her father would be ashamed of her.
This stuckup family would laugh at
her. Instantly she made up her mind
She would stay. Turning to Jerry,
she said:
"All right, then. I'll stay-a month
But not any more than a month,
though"
"Not unless you wish It."
II won't wish It'll promise ye that
One month II be enough in this house. +"
II am glad you're going to stay"
"Well that's u comfort. anyway.
Some one II be pleased at my stayin'."
To Be Continued.