The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-20
THE SMUGGLER"


I therefore got ~ and went
down 10 the kitchen. 10 see what
could find. for ! had eaten NO
breakfast.
The prospects were dlscouraEing
but found some crackers. and re
membered that Mary Anne had
mentioned putting the milk on the
hanging shelf in the cellar. 80
got glass and went after IL
cracker Jar ia hand.
found the milk and filled my
glass. then wandered aimlessly
into the recess. sa, down upon an
upturned Dor. and began my
lunch. ! do not understand why
should have elected TO do this,
when the entire house was NJ my
disposal. but sometimes one obeys
nm impulse without any tangible
reason for doing 80.
IA Ha. contentsdly nibbling n
cracker and slipping the milk.
heard voices. muffled but quite dis
tinct. An tho on the other side Of a
thin partition Al first was
alarmed. but in an instant ! reepg'
nized Mary Anne's familiar tones.
Nov. then" said a mans voice
/ impaticntly. don't let's have a
scene. and. for heavens sake. don't
turn on tho watsrworks--this place
Is damp enough already"
"oh. why. my dear dear boy. "
she said appealingiy. don't 20 for
TO be short WI NEEDN'T now"
There was silence for a minute
and then the man spoke again.
4 tell you. there's no use talk.
irg any more. I've begun the
thing. and I'm going thru with H."
But tho danger. WHY. the
danger,"
I'm used 10 danger"
AYE. worse luck. that you are,
And me like 10 break me cart vi
thinkin' Of you o. nights"
Then don't think"
"Aw. 'ow can ! clip ~ Me tina,
carried you In me arms when you
xas n little baby"
Wen. now. will you do what
ask. or won't your
Don't ask IL OF me. Willy
don't now"
lilo muttered something I could
no; hear. however. and Mary Anne
gave q stified sob.
"Oh. you didn't use 20 be &C
ard" she exclaimed. "It'sshe 'as
changed you. It's 'er fsuli--with
'sr sof, 'anGs and 'cr ard, crool
I cart"
Don't you say anything against
Neil won't have f."
"oh. It's slius Nell nowadays
And What does she care what 'ap
pens 90 you. so long A. shes eafs
'rrselfI She d0n't love you as
do''
Then. mother. do an tell you
without any more fuss. Come away
from this placs-it gets on my
nerves--and give me something &c
drink. for ] vas up all night. and
have more work ahead OF me-
Their voices died away. and a,
iss, sound In the kitchen Indicated
that Mary Anne had returned alone.
SO went up.
She sat on chair near the table.
the picture OF despair.
Mary Anne" said very gently
Il was in the cellar Just now. and
heard you talking"
Miss Elise" she gasped. you
heraf"
Il didn't no with tho others. be
cause my head ached You have
not been honest with ~. Mary
Anne. We didn't know you had a
son
she rested her head in her hands
and burst into tears.
"oh. Miss Elise" she sobbed.
don't look ut me that way--Im
unhappy enough without that. Yes.
miss. ! ave n son. and II you card
va tRlkin'. you know all about II.
He took 10 drink. miss. and was
ailus In trouble. And last year e
got TO auarreling-in Montreal {,
was-and e stabbed n man. And
the man up and died. SO they're
after I'm fur Il. and they'll 'ang I'm
miss. theyTl 'Rng my boy n they
ketches I'm"
She rocked IN and fro n moment
in speeches. misery. and then con
tlnued:
And give I'm money. Miss
Elise. but ! don't let i'm come up
ere. except today q follered me
nnbcknownst. mies. and let I'm
go in the coal ole Mostly q comes
down the shore in 'is boat and I
meets i'm quite private. But I've
give I'm all the money 'ad. and
els goin back 10 the old country
TO live a decent life"
where were you when ] heard
you talking?"
In the coal ole nj the back o
the cellar. And beg your parding
fur the liberty took. but don't lay
II up agin me. miss. fur what else
could mother do? And. Miss
Elise. darlin'. you'll keep quiet
tongue in yer cad. won't you. and
let I'm git away? Fur e's shipped
as sailor and sails on Sunday
mornin'"
said | would talk II over with
the others. but | thought II she
promised never TO allow him near
the house again we would say
nothing. rs he was really going TO
leave the country and reform.
This vagrant son explained vari.
Gus little mysteries about Mary
Anne which had puzzled me a good
deal. and felt very sorry. indeed,
for the poor creature with her Sc.
cret trouble.
CHAPTER VII.