Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1916 — "The Woman in the Case.” [ARTICLE]

"The Woman in the Case.”

From Life

Jack Borroughs’s dog broke from him and made a sudden dive down the first opening. The usual clear whistle made no impression. “Jim” was oft Jack quickly followed, and to his relief saw a big Irishman patting “Jim’s” head; “Jim”, with unmistakable signs of delight, jumping up and down and rubbing against the man That started the strange friendship between Jack Borroughs, lawyer, sportsman, and Dennis O’Sullivan. Dennis lived in the last house on “Grasshopper Hill.” It waß a little less ramshackle, a little more independent looking than the rest of the row that faced on a small bluff above the railroad tracks, and its garden bloomed like a rose. Dennis himself was large, burly, red faced but with the twinkling blue eyes and the genial courtesy of the true son of Erin. Later Dennis brought out to the almost palatial suburban home of Jack Burroughs rare bulbs and old fashioned flowers; Jack got Dennis to help him in making his own garden beautiful. As the war dragged its fearful way .long they, strange to say, never even mentioned it, until one day in June suddenly Jack said: “Dennis, I have written to a cousin in England to know if it’s possible for me to get a com mission in the English army.” Dennis looked up from the border he was working and demanded: “For why and I should like to know ?” “Well, Dennis, you see my greatgrandfather was an Irißh patriot, and came over here during Emmet’s rebellion; but now Ireland needs me, and I’m going.” “From what part of the ould country was your grandfather?” “Oh, from near Lough Neagh.” “Are ye maning County Antrim, Misther Burroughs?" “Sure, Dennis.” “Thin I’m yer boy, and will go with ye.’’ Jack was rather startled, but on second thought he decided to take the risk. “Dennis, will you sign the pledge I take you?” Dennis’s blue eyes twinkled, and with a comical smile he lifted his cap from his fiery head and said, “Shure, yer honour.” Both gardens bloomed gaily in the June sunshine; both men talked and worked and planned in secret foi their swift going. At last the letter came. Jack, as gay as a boy went first to Dennis. “Come out to the house tonight, Dennis and we will make oui final arrangement.” “Ye can count on me, and I will be that grateful to ye for the whole o’ me life.” With his letter held high, .Tack with “Jim” at his heels, gaily waved it to a sweet girl that he caught a glimpse of on a neighboring porch. “Can I come in, Eleanor?” he palled. The blue eyes gave him welcome. He sat on the lower step and, leaning against the post looked up at the girl “Eleanor, I am off to the war!’’ The smile froze on the sweet lips, the slender strong hands clenched but the girl’s voice was quiet as she answered: “I hardly understand, Jack ” Then he eagerly explained how his cousins in England, with the same strain of Irish blood in their veins, were fighting—nay, some dying—on the battlefields in France, and call had come to him and he must go. He stood tall and straight, his gray eyes flashing—those eyes she so loved —his head thrown back. Ah! The girl felt he would lead his men even unto death. He gave his warm, merry smile; surely she would understand. "Sit down, Jack, dear. Yes, I un derstand,’’ she smiled into these eagei eyes, but you do not understand. No wait, please—you are an American, Jack, first, last and all the time; and now soon, only too soon, your country might need all such men as you. You cannot desert your country now! You cannot, cannot. Jack, dear!” And Jack understood. How to tell Dennis, how to break the news to him; what was he td say? As later he saw the big man walking slowly up the path Dennis touched bis cap to Jgck. “Will ,ye pardon me pipe, Misther Burroughs, being that low In me. mind i kinnot spake without it?” Jack smiled. “I am a bit low meself, Dennis.” “Well, I bad best out with it iike a man, Misther Burroughs. I went to spake to me Nora,, and she said, ‘Dennis O’Sullivan, have ye lost the little bits o’ wits ye be blessed with? Not one foot do ye stir from your own country. Did ye not become an American citizen this five years back?’ AnU shure, Misther Burroughs, ’twas true the word she spake!’* And Ingenious Bing—“l understand that Shmelts Is lazy.” Biff—“Lazy! You bet! Why, when he spanks his child he lays a carpet over the kid, so that he can do two jobs at oncel” ■ . ~