The Irish standard., 1915-07-31

tin ag'in we've been up too" she de-
manded.
"Me? I'd like to know where I'd get
ST." replied Nora evasively.
Faith, an so would Oi!' agreed her
mother. "But phwat are yez cryin' for
thin?"
"I'm not crying. 1t was something
in my eye" she prevaricated.
The Duke, much relieved, FASTENED
to change the subject.
200 wus the bloke up at the stybte
with Mr.. Mallory just naow?" he asked.
Search me-" responded the Shrimp.
"Him?" said Mrs. O'Brien, with the
air of Importance Of one who knows
"He's Mister Crawford, Mister NAL
lory's partner. so yez had bitter he or
yir Dist behavior whin he's around
He won't stand for amy foightin', OF
kin tell ye."
Then, her curiosity getting the better
Of her, she asked:
"Phwat loike lookin' man is he?"
"Fair lookin', IL you likes 'em big
an mushy," said the Duke. But most
wimmin' Hive known as preferred
'em small an jaunty."
Nora tossed her head contemptuously
II think he's real handsome" she de-
clared.
did yez see him ylt?" questioned
her mother surprised.
Eyes. did," said Nora proudly, land
spoke to him too. He's real gen.
nd ri I,
"Took his hat of to yez? For hiv'n's
sake" calculated the old woman.
At this moment the door opened. and
O'Brien entered.
"Still at it. are yez?" he said as he
hung up his cap behind the door. "Be
the looks av things it's looky Dim
here, or it's no brikfast I'd be havin'."
"The ash is uncommon fine, sir" vol
unteered the Duke. Gould trouble
you. Mrs. O'BrienT
O'Brien took the outheld plate and
deposited 1t on the table.
"Yez has had enough an to spare.
Begone with the lot ov yez" he COM
manded.
Patrick, Oi'm SURPRISED ut ye!" ex-
claimed bis spouse, Intervening with a
motherly air. "Phwat's the hurry?
Lave the poor darlin's have their fill."
"All roight woife," assented O'Brien
resignedly, and he seated himself ut
the table. while Nora hastened to pour
out his coffee. After awhile, however
he said as though 1t had just occurred
to him:
"Oh, mother. Danny and Mr.. Craw.
ford's goin' to step in on their way
from the stables for cup av yir cof-
fee. They'll be here in minute"
The woman gazed at him in wrath
full ast0nishment. and her demeanor
underwent an entire transformation.
Its a wonder yez wouldn't say so
instid Of kaping it to yirsilf all this
toime." she said witheringly. Here.
you bhoys, skedaddle. the lot nv ye
Do yez want to sit ATTN here all day?"
And she waved them toward the door
with peremptory gesture, which they
lost no time in obeying. Nora already.
at the announcement Of the coming OF
Crawford, had vanished upstairs.
"Now, you, Nora. clear of the dishes.
an you, too. Patrick. Don't be talkin'
an watchin' me do all the wurruk."
went on the mistress of the house, al
though her husband. putting on his
knees so as to make room the plate
she had given him. had opened his
mouth to say word. Mora! Nora.
Drat the girl! She's upstairs primpin'
ag'in. She does nothin' else the live.
long day. OF dcclarew
"L'ave the choild be! Doan't be nag
GIN her." protested O'Brien, with au
dacious petulance.
His better half turned upon him with
icy dignity.
"When OF need yir advoice about me-
own choild. Oi'll ax ye for it, she
said. "Here, give this twist while yir
oidlin'."
And. snatching the plate from him
she thrust coffee mill into his hands
Cant yez lave her alone?" she ask.
ed scornfully. "1t's the queer girl
she'd be entoirely IL she didn't want to
spruce up bit whin strange young
man comes callin'."
But Nora had responded to her IA
TIERS summons and came down hook.
ing the waistband of her skirt.
Il never saw such a place." she
grumbled. "A person can't even get
time to dress in this house. What do
you want nowy'
"Here, grolnd this Coffee" ordered
her father.
"Groind 1t yirsilf, Patrick" inter.
posed his wife sharply. II want Nora
to set the table for Mister Crawford"
Nora, however, was in no mood for
docile obedience. She was harboring
what she imagined, especially since
she had seen the gentlemanly stranger
from New York, to be crying griev-
ance and was bent ON airing 1t.
I'm sick and tired of it," she de.
clared.
"Sick an toired of phwat?" queried
her mother. stopping and eying her
her arms akimbo, while the girl sulkily
went on getting the clean cups and
saucers.
, "of this work." said the girl.
IAN why shouldn't ye wurruk. Ord
loike to know? Ye're wurrukln
mans daughter. OF wurruk. An doan'l
yir sister wurruk, poor girl?'
Poor girlw sneered Nora. I'D like
to trade places with her."
"Oh, We would, would We? An who
dye think 'u'd give yez Job on the
stage? An why would yez think yes