The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-14

t ANS off OK. After all, I had M
need of it, for finds her Biddy's owl
u darter-in-law, and here's Biddy wait
:. in wild open arms for me. And the
looncheon set before me, and the BIZ
/. of gossip I've had the day! Now it's
t not to the hotel I'll be goin' wild ye
ye may come in the car before train
Y time, | am on me way to visit wild me
sister at Fulton" she explained tt
S Mrs. O'Neill. "But till l go, an
y stayin' wild Biddy."
j Her son got to his feet. He look
4 ed hesitatingly at Mary Ella. "TiE
. no trouble to you?" he said.
S "Trouble! Mother and l are delight.
= ed to have her."
= He went away then, returning al
four. Mary Ella proffered him cup
of tea and some tiny cakes. He sip
ped the tea, looking on amusedly at
the voluble Irish goed-byes. Then
having drained his cup, he set it on
the tray, and turned to the young
wife of Shamus.
Jimmy sent me message few
months ago, but have not complied
with his request, Mrs. O'Neill."
81 am sure if Jimmy made it it was
a very reasonable one"
He laughed deep in his throat. "Ha
told me to go to the devil"
"Well?" Mary Ella said calmly, but
with twinkle, lit is not yet too late,
is it?"
At that the chuckle rolled in his
throat. His glance and nod approved
+bo ipc+opoo of bor rotort
otis plain ye're the girl for Jimmy.
And tell him this from me: l bear no
grudges for reasons of me own. An
tell him from me he is mistaken
about Connolly. He is not against
him for the nomination"
"Oh!" Mary Ella said breathlessly,
clasping her hands, "are you sure,
Mr.. Nolan?"
"Sure!" He grinned and his eyes
twinkled at her. "But tell him it's
due to no virtue nor deed of his own,
but to the fact that Connolly is soft
hearted fellow whin it comes to his
ould mother, and if onct she found out
he'd voted against the husband Of
Mrs. Shamus O'Neill, tremble to
think what would happen to Connel-
ly-"
But" began Mary Ella in per-
plexity, her eyes wide. "But Mr.. No
Ian"
"Beggin pardon, but my name is not
Nolan, Mrs. O'Neill. Me mother was
twice married, you see-1'm Connel-
ly."
Jimmy had had a grilling day. He
had won a case for the county after
hard and stubborn ght. But he
knew Connolly had been in town busy
as ever, working like mole under
ground. Jimmy's homeward route
took him past Cherry Hill. He
scowled up at the porticoed mansions,
for sometimes the fang of conscience
bit deep. AS he swung toward the
crowded, narrow gray street of home
his heart leaped out and ran before
him all the way.
Then-was it some trick of fat
to cheat him-or did he fancy the
door half-open and the glimpse of a
white gown beyond? He came up
the walk, up the steps. Then with
a little rush of her garments she ran
to him and lifted her face for his
kiss.
His WEAKNESS fell from him. After
supper he came into the room with
his tousled hair on end, an old jacket
on in lieu of coat.
81 won the case," he said. He drew
Mary Ella to his knee. "It's been a luc-
ky day for me. You know those lots
I've been holding, bought 'em for a
song long time ago? Well, the new
addition includes them and III get |
twenty-five hundred out of them and |
the best one left to build my own
house on. But Connolly was in town
today, and"
"You needn't be afraid of Connolly"
Mary Ella said. And then she told
the tale.
The telling left him speechless for
a long minute. Then he began laugh
ing; he laughed SO long and happily
that Mary Ella put her hand over his
mouth.
81 knew, though, he was not Mr..
Nolan. I'd seen his pictures in the
papers too often not to recognize
him."
At that confession he went off again
By and by he had his laugh out and
grew somewhat too sober.
"1'm lucky man," he said after
awhile.
"There's just one thing under it all
hat hurts. You've had thorn in
your finger you couldn't get out? Ev-
Try time you touched it, it only went
leeper?"
She nodded, twisting a button of his
acket in her fingers.
"Well, here's my thorn: wish !
lad won you by fair means, not foul" {
There was long silence. The but
on came off, and she sat looking at
t, her chin dropped.
what do you mean-by fair?" :
"That night l took you out in the
'oat; knew it was late. And knew
hered be a row. But I meant to
AVE you. knew I'd never want any
'ody but you"
81 knew it was late, too" she said t
lowly. "But there seemed to be no 4
ther way. For three years I'd wait 2
d-you wouldn't speak or-and
new I'd never want anybody but +
.ou!"
They sat very still, his arms closely
bout her. Suddenly she reached up
0 run her fingers throuoh his hair