The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-06-24

es, replied Maggie, pensvelv.
And you will wear your blue coat cam.
bric dress =
Yes
And III wear mine. Good bye, Mag
gle dear
Good bye
a kiss, and the friends parted until
evening.
Bright shown the lights Ger Ireland's
sons and daughters. And if the rustiuc
OF silks was not there, that broad, old
kitchen resounded to happier souuds.-
There were bIushiug maiGens there, and
hopeful swains and music and dancing.
and coquet;ing. And, if all was not done
IN the most refined style, there was as
much good motive and purity, as the
most conscientious and delicate could
have desired.
Away N one corner were Bridget aud
Maggie. And in close proximity were
the DicEic O'Neil and Pete Iannigan.
about whom they had conteuded in the
morning.
The friends had worn their blue cam.
oric dresses, according to agrecment.-
And ii they were not cut precisely after
the last Parish fashion, they, ncvcr,hc.
less, did credit to the industrious hands
That made them. And the deep falls of
cotton lace were just rs delicious, in the
eyes OF their numerous admirers, as the
richest blonde would have been.
There was one among the crowd that
night, whose entrance had hushcl, for "A
illtic time, the voice os mir:h, and given
rise to many feeling of pity in the warm
hearts that beat there. 1t was blind
sister Of Dickie O'NeiI's!
She wanted 10 come he was saving
to Maggie, 'aud | told mo'her il she
would c.let her, I'd see that no harm
| came upon her
4 ought to brought my old, blind
mother, said llanuigan, drawing down
his chin, with cluckIing laugh.
And many's the thing YOU could "a
done worse tartIy added Bridget, his
! late defender.
The young farmer, failing 10 excite rid
lcuIe again-t his hated rva', cast an an.
cry glance at bridget, and turning to
| O'Ncll, continued
''lIs a hard time you must have of it
TO feed SO many mouths, and only your
two hands to work with. You must find
you wife who will bring you some land
to live upon
Il would not have a wi-wife for tho
land she would bring me- b;ushingly re-
/ Piled ONcil, Il love TO work for the dear
ones at home, and We always have en-
ough and TO spare
Ills sidom froljc yc can attind,
though, for want or money! bitterly re.
/ pIied llannigan, reddening with vexa,ion.
%, fe upon you Pete Hannignn,' again
chimed in Bridget, TO be spaking sich
words to the like Of Dickie O'Neil He's
( got big, warm heart of his own, that's
worth a thousand times morc'n your few
acres Of cold land. And know she
added slowly, of some one else who
thinks But an imposing glance from
/ Maggie caused her 10 stop.
An angry light WAS burning in IIanni-
gan's eyes. But he dared not say what
lie wanted to because OF Maggie's pres
ence, whose face was red with confusion
the shade Of satisfaction upon il being
perceptibe only to the saucy Bridget.
! A sudden relief for all came AT this
moment. a soft, pleasant voice was call
ing, Dickie !
Yes, Mary answered the BROTHER
! And the young man was at his sisters
! side in moment.
4 left you long time, was the broth.
ers kind remark. i did not consider how
quickly the time passed.
90, no, it was not long. have not
been lonely. | have been talking with
the girls, and but just stopped to listen
! for your voice. did not hear il, so
spoke. But what is tie matter, Dickie-
how no, your hand is "
%. nothing-l guess yours is co cold
that's all. I'll lead you to the fire.
! The sister strained her sightIess orbs,
rs il to look in her brothers face. Bu,
| II was in vain, and she contented herself
to be led, bv him where he chose.
!. was pleasing sight. for those who
had hearts to appreciate it, to see that
young man leading about his blind sister,
l ahd u lhR W Pulu-
ing her steps, and stopping where he
thought she would be pleased. He did
not leave her many times to join in the
me,rinent. Only once more, for the
sake Of leading Maggie into the whirling
dance, he left her, seating her where the
sound OF the music would fall the most
pleasantly upon her sensitive ear. When
he went back TO her, Bridget again heard
Hannigan trying to ridicule him, which
so reused her indignation that she longed
for an opportunity 10 tell him how detes
table he was. To sppease her wrath she
managed to give him disagreeabe shove
whenever they passed and re-passed each
other, during tue mysterious changes of
the dance. And he, vexed with her im.
pudeuce, at length made it convenient to
catch one Of the brass buttons of his coat
into one of the flowing rufiles Of her
dress, and did not stop his forward move
ment until the dainty trimming was shorn
Of all its beauty.
Bridget's wailing was long and hearty,
at this Disagreement Of her favorite blue.
The dance was stopped, and hosts Of sym.
n