The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-14
stolen. and no price of a meal on me

broad, f1orid Irish face, the homes
eyes beneath tempestuous brows.
81 have a little money here yot
: are welcome to ;" she said, smiling
: 81 spent nearly all l had shopping"
"I'll accept it gladly as loan
, Timothy, me son, will repay. What
, name, miss ?"
"Mrs. Shamus O'Neill. But really
you needn't trouble about it at all"
"O'Neill?" the tempestuous browS
arched. "Forty years ago in County
i. Clare I went to the National Schoo
wild Michael O'Neill. He married
j Biddy Callahan, me girlhood friend.
The color ran up into Mary Elias
, face. "Oh, Jimmy's mother was Brid-
get Callahan! Oh, do come home
with meH'
And it actually fell about that hav-
ing introduced herself as Katie Nolan
the stranger and Mary Ella went hap
PLY down the street, Mrs. Nolan STEP
ping high, her black satin skirts up
lifted, for thrift clung to her; what
had once been necessity had long be-
come habit.
What meeting there was between
the ould mother and Kathleen! They
wept, but thriftily so as not to drop
one tear on the awesome splendor of
bugles and satin. Mrs. Nolan sat in
state in the parlor, where the ould
mother presently joined her, herself
tidied up in the best mohair, with a
silk apron atop. 1t was Norah's day
out, and Mary Ella. humming happi-
/ ly, laid the table for luncheon, and
having an Inspiration, brewed a very
great pot of tea, and broiled long
rashers of bacon with poached eggs
for garnish.
A meal they made of it, Mary Ella
waiting on them, the roses blooming
on her cheeks and lips.
"Hotel cooking. I'm sick of it," de-
clared Mrs. Nolan. "Tim keeps his
ould mother like Teddy, sure, but
there's only the two of US and Tim
out and gone often. If he'd get mar
ried! But you were always the one
for luck, Biddy O'Neill." She shook
a playful finger at Mary Ella, Gan
mistake not, there's more and bet
ter luck comm"
MARY Ella DlOOLleu DlllllollI Cdi- /
mine The ould mother stared bit /
Her spoon ratified in her saucer.
Holy mother" she said. San her
waitin' on US when-run along now,
honey; not a finger do you lay on a
dish! An me not dreamin'! Run along,
dearie, Kathleen Nolan amt above
settin' here forninst the hearth while
l tidy dishes and brew bit more tay /
for company"
Mary Ella obediently "ran along"
In the privacy of her little bedroom
she undid her bundles and spread out .
tie contents on the bed. The dim .
pies deepened in her checks; with a
forefnger and thumb she touched the
feeciness Of the flannel, tested the
daintiness of dimnity.
The bell rang loudly. Mary Ella
the frill at her throat,
and went sedately to the door. The
day seemed prolific of personages.
Importance dwelt in the manner and
attire of the one now confronting her.
BCt Mary Ella, in the old days so used
to celebrities, was unawed by this
one.
"Will you come in?" she said.
"Can you give me any information
my mother, Mrs. Nolan?"
"She is just having luncheon with
is. Won't you come in, Mr.. Nolan?"
He came in, ponderously, hat in
,and. He was redfaced and his
Eyes were bright points under his
brows.
'Pve been chasing all over town
m the lookout for her. My car :
,roke down before l got to Pachun- ;
"a, and by the time I telephoned,
he had left the station"
"Mrs. Nolan and my mother-in-law
we're old friends" Mary Ella explain t
"And you are Mrs. Jimmy O'Neill,
hen" he said. He looked at her t
Nth some respectful amusement. He
ad heard of Jimmy's incursion up &
n the chief treasures of Cherry HILL j
"Mrs. Shamus O'Neill, if you t
lease" her eyes laughed into his. T +
Ike the Gaelic"
"You like the Irish, eh?" he sat !
own on the davenport. I
"One would think so. Won't you !
ave luncheon with US, Mr.. Nolan?"
Thanks, I've had bit early. Would /
ou tell mother I'm here?" e
Mary Ella disappeared and present.
Y returned. "She will be in as soon a
S she finishes her tea.s
"1ll wager she's drunk dozen t
ups already" her son chuckled. y
She misses the tea and gossip, liv- e
l1g as we do" He revolved the d
i'm of his hat between his fingers,
urveying in turn the portraits on the j
all. He chuckled again as his gaze
astened upon Jimmy's. h
Hes always had that hair, hasn't
e? Pretty busy in his campaign, I t,
uess? il
Eyes" Mary Ella said. "Of
purse, he'll be elected. The Old
uard-as folk call them-is against b
i'm. And so is the Hon. Timothy Il
Jimmy is having a stiff h
ght, Mr.. Nolan, but he will win" b
Mr. Nolan looked at the floor, then
Mary Ella, from the bronze-gold 81
her hair to the tip of her arched O
nd slippered foot. e,
Go in for politics much, Mrs. k
'Neill ?" "
"Oh, dear no." she said. '1 don't
now or care thing about anybody's al
zee but Jimmy's." tc