Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 33, Number 59, 14 April 1908 — Page 7

PAGE SEYEX. "iii Mr in Ml ilh ATI By 1 Gertrude Barnum hMI MiniVf T ntiiitm ;-- -

THE RICIOIOXD PALLADIUM AXB SUN -TELEGRAM, TTESDAY, APRIL 14, 190S.

r a tts ith tt ir o bs

N ORA COUQHLIN and Tim Monahan led the grand march. Nora was pink and spicy as a carnation in her smart silkaline dress, which stood out in still ruffles abOTe the slim ankles and feet. Her hair, topped by its Aigrette of feathers, was a marvel of sunny pompas

.jMs fm4 itilpl

"YOU'RE AWAY BEHIND THE PROCESSION WITH THE BUGGIES.

flour and marcel waves, which caly another Belle of Ihe Shamrock Pleasure Club could describe. She carried nonchalantly under her elbow-gloved arm a large variegatod bouquet, with shiny embroideredpaper holder end r:-.-earning ribbons. And Tim! Ho was a born lei-'r t grand marches! Loose black curls wsra trai.; . in studied carelessness over his brow. Tho deferential pose of the sloping shoulder and cocked elbow, upon which Nora leaned, was one that no girl could resist; and the amble of his knees and hips, as ho slowly led the long line of dance couples, was in latest Bowery fashion. It was a splendid pageant that trailed down tht. center of Callahan's Casino Hall under the brilliant electric-light clusters. Two members of the Floor Committee distributed dance programs with irreproachable solemnity. The onlookers sat spellbound by the r rowing intricacy of the march as It progressed: two fey two alternating, four abreast, four by four altercating and abreast, and at last, with a great blare from fourteen pieces of MHUgan's Band, a solid line ef the fair and thor?.ve advanced across the hall amidst tumultuous applause and whistling from the boxes. Even the austere reserve cf Nora and Tim thawed In this moment of triumph. They smiled proudly into each other's eyes as they swung into the flrst waits to the music of "My Wifo Won't Let Me." "You'ro all the goods, Teaches! You don't dance Trith any one but me this night," said Tim. Nora handed him her dance C3rd for answer, and lie put it in his pocket, and left her declining dances In a thickening crowd of swains, while he went to got his first drink. John Mullen, though lato in arriving at the ball, as very confident as he held out his hand for Nora's program: custom justified him in expecting special favors. Nora only tipped her chin. "Nothing left; you're away behind the procession with the buggies." "Cut it ov.t!" -Ask Tim." "I'll bet you r.nd Tim's going to do the grand march the rest cf the eve sin'!" "You'll be winning or that bet." John pushed closer angrily. "Is that his pin you're irearin'?" "It is so. .o caier." . ... . t.

"Look out you don't get, scratched." Nora felt a pang as she gazed after the dejected shoulders of her retreating second-best "gentleman friend," and she planned a canny plot of sitting out dances with John if Tim stayed too often or too long

with the refreshments. In everyday life the Shamrock Pleasure Club ladies 1 4, were known es "plate hustlers," being waitresses by trade. But under the spell of Miillgan'3 Band, Nora Coughlln had left the every-day world. As she floated the waltzes or glided the two-steps she moved as in a dream. Tim swept her with him across the slippery hJl when he went for refreshments, and she forgot John, though he conspicuously flaunted Lucy Scanlan in the range of her vision. Nora was easily the Belle of the Ball, but she forgot even this supreme glory when Tim led her out among the fluttering shadows of the Casino garden and whispered! 'The next ball will be a weddin' eh?" After tho next ball, which was a wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Monahan began light housekeeping in two neat furnished rooms. Sometimes the housekeeping was very light, for bartenders' pay-days often er-d in festivities which make inroads into weekly, incomes. While Nora could take substitute "lunchshift Jobs," the Monahans were able to "manage," but when she had to devote herself to baby clothes, it took nothing short of genius to keep the rent paid, oil in the kerosene stove,, and provisions in the pantry. The young wife would not nag. She nursed Tim's headaches and kept her heartaches to herself. One frosty pay-day morning, as she turned up her husband's overcoat collar about his ears, she said: "What's the matter with you coming home tonight an' us havin" a birthday reunion, you and me?" Tim's face showed conflicting emotions. "Is this your birthday, Peaches?" "My first I don't count anythin before the weddin'." What '11 I bring you?" "Yourself." He kissed the red cheeks and the eyelids which were shyly dropped, and his voice choked as he tried to speak lightly: "That's easy." It wasn't so easy; but Tim dodged "the boys" that night and returned to finJ his wife in her wedding dress, bustling over a festive table. She produced savory, steaming dishes from the kitchen and pantry comers cf the parlor-dining-room; and he proudly unwrapped mysterious bundles as the feast progressed. They lived over old times, laughed at old

SSIFIED

jokes, and took their kisses through smoke rings, as In the dear old days of courtship. Presently Nora produced a great basket and unpacked stacks of little clothes, all beribboned and be-laced, sweet with perfume, and together the delighted lovers shook out

little socks and jackets, Bhawls, blankets and hoods. Everything was pink. "For It's to be a boy Timothy by name," said Nora. It was then that Tim sprang up and uncorked a wine-bottle. "Here's to little Tim Monahan!" he cried gayly. For a moment the prospective mother hesitated. Then, raising her blue eyes steadily to her husband's black ones, she took up her glass: "May he follow his father's steps and never get In a bog! Here's to big and little Tim." Tim studied her face for a moment, then, setting down his glass, he corked the bottls and pushed it across the table. "Keep the rest till the boy's first birthday. We don't drink, again till then." Alas, however, It was hardly more than a fortnight later that the old horror came creeping back to haunt the Monahan home. Stumbling steps, coarse laughter, maudlin tears and the disgrace, felt more keenly because sometimes it was John Mullen who brought Tim home. John assured her that Tim was sowing only a few wild oats that every young fellow must have hiB fling. Nora must not take it so hard, ha said. The emerald and rhinestone breastpin, which she was only to wear when he was "straight," lay long in Its box, waiting for Tim to redeem his many and ardent pledges. The crystal candelabra wedding present from the Ladles' Shamrock Pleasure Club and the glass-encased wax flower wreath wedding present from Bartenders' Union, Local 97 followed the other luxuries to the pawnshop. One of the Monahan rooms was sublet, and the bed was transferred to the parlor-pantry-kitchen-dining-room-nursery. When little Tim was two months old it was evident that Nora must take up the bread-winning. If there was going to be any bread at all. "The boy an' me are goin' to leave you to-day, Tim. I ot a job at the Callahan Casino, takln' care of the lodge-room3 an' scrubbin' the halls an' ballroom. They'll let me have rooms an' board an' take the boy along besides wages." Tim's eyes flashed in astonishment and rage. After UNPACKED a moment he said grimly: "You go whenever you get tired staying. You got tired awful quick, for all the bluff you made. You don't get the kid, I guess; I'm the father." "You got another guess comin'. Looks like I got to be mother an' father both." Nora's voice was scornful. Tim was all a-tremble from late dissipations. "It's easy enough for you to say give it up. Just you try it," he flung out savagely, sinking into a chair and

--?'-

ADS

bowing his head on his arms on the table In shame' and despair. "I ain't blamin you none, Tim; yo".1 know I never did. You can't seem to help it; I see that" "But you don't want the kid follerin' my steps is that it?" "There's more to It than that. I'm goin to help you. Us leavin" you's goin' to be y'r chance you bein' crazy about the boy, an' seem' you ain't soured on me yet. If we hung on you, you'd get to hate us. But If we go 'way why, absence makes the heart grow fonder. You're a-goin' to brace up to make a nice place for us. and when you ain't touched a drop for a year we're comin' back." A year!" "A year." "How'll.you know?" "You're comin' to tell us, an' we'll believe you, all Tim climbed the stairs to his home that evening he honed against hope; but the room was desolr-te. The table was set for his suppr, which was warm on the back of the stove, and a tear-st:UE?d little scrawl, full of lovo and faith, was tucked into a tiny knit baby shawl laid by Ms plata The man flung himself upon his bed in an agony of self-reproach, grief 23d dread. What would become of him? He lived over his fierce struggles with temptation and tho gradual realization that it ws3 stronger than he. Nora could hardly believe her eyes when, a month later, her husband took to dropping In to Callahan's Casino, ostensibly cn business with the managers. He had got a job as manager cf a hotel, and he looked like another man. Nora marvoled at the success of her plan. It was evident that he was not drinking and that he secretly hoped tls year of probation would be shortened; but he talked of anything and everythinj but this hope. Nora learned from him of his activity in politics, but she did not know she had a secret ally, who "called off" the boys, and led Tim into the fascinating maze of ward campaigning for diversion and stimulus. Though her back, was lame wlfh work, though her pride was hurt by her menial position, though her heart ached with suspense and loneliness, she always turned a brave and laughing face to Tim and the world. She and the baby were popular with the Casino managers, lodge-members and enter,tainment-

STACKS OP LITTLE CLOTHES. ALL BE-RIB30NED snd-dance-committeemen who came and -went, nakiig engagements and arrangements for the rooms and halls cf the great buildias. Tim found himself courting her all over again. The change in Tim wa3 so great that Nora was not gTeatly surprised when he told her he was "up for alderman of th& Twelfth Ward." "Now Heaven l!p you, Tim, in the campaign," she said, with double meaning. "The Lord helps them that helps themselves, X B IN M

give the wink to the bartender an' get sarsap&rllla la the rum glass." j "I'll be workin' for you here. I'll pass the word in the lodges." "Do that." "An I'll get up a Woman's Political Leagust C I'm the modern woman all right." j The baby, who was creeping near the water-pail! crowed delightfully at this Juncture and pulled th dirty suds over his fresh white dress. The modem womau sighed, as she tucked hini under one arm wit) the mop under the other, and started upstairs. ! "The new voaaa needs her old man pretty bad." she laughed. "Perhaps the alderman won't be havtnj euch as me.' , "Hotter take no chances an' come home before thf election." He was handsome and strong as he stood looTtinf up at her, and the tired wife was tempted to nil down into his strong arms, baby, mop and all; Taml instead she threw him a kiss and made little Tia wave "by-bye." On election day it wan John Mullen who bounded up the stairs of Callahan IlaU.Uwo at a time, and found Nora vigorously if absent-mindedly sweepl& the band-stand. 1 "He's sure to bi elected. They can't beat bim now, an' bo's sober as a deacon." j As Nora looked into the radiant face before her thought struck her like a flash. "John, it's you that's been doin' It all'" "Me! Why, I ain't only.got one vote." "I ain't speakin' of the election only." Nora sal down on the edge of the platform and wiped her proud and hnppy eyes with the corner of her aproz, "You ought to be an alderman yourself." "I ain't so popular as Tim, you know." "You're sure popular with me, an' you're popalaa with Lucy Scanlan from what I'm hearln'! John, why not make It two weeks from Wednesday, an w can have a sort of double weddin'." "I always wanted to be married on the same day, as you, Nora." . , Nora roee and threw her two anna around her aeoond best gentleman friend's neck, and gava him a hearty klse on each cheek. As she laughingly dodfad out of his reach again, she whirled about to face hm husband, standing stiff with astonishment and race. "Oh, Tim! Praise be to God the election la oreiy

AND BE-L.VCED. an you've baat every way! Don't ni!n3 ma kl3?rf John, I had to kiss somebody, an' he came Sret. Hf engaged to Lucy Scanlan, an' we're goin to have a, sort cf double weddin dance in this here very hTl. two weeks from Wednesday. It's -o great I took to kissin' John ty mistaVcf ; "IH stay rijht here an aeet they ain't no more mistakes," and Tim caught hs wifa to his heart, white John, knowing it was time Tor him to so, slipped out unnoticed. KITS