Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-06-26
q Gnnh Stun.
THE FAULTY HEART
AND THE
SVxMMERING TONGUE
BY LIZZIE LrNwooD.

BY LIZZIE LINwooD.
20, now, Maggie, why will you be
always thinking of that stammering
Dickie O'Neil? What matter is il
whether he Is 10 be 10 thefrolic or not?
There'll be enough more there rest We
assured ''f
81 know-Iknow, Bridgy. only
asked be-" ~
eyes, yes, We only asked because
We wanted 10 know. And ye're only
blushing, now, as ye'se always sure
10 blush when that suffering body Is
mentioned You are silly girl, Mag,
that's what you are, TO be so cold TO
Pete Hannighan, who's most dying
for ye this blessed mint; and whose
nice farm is full Of good .things he'd
be glad TO offer your own self, IL ye'd
only give him the least bit of encour-
agement. Well, every body has their
own taste, to-be-sure." And with a
dignified toss of the head, Maggie s
friend drew her bonnet-strings to-
gether; preparatory to bringing her
call TO close.
30, Bridgctl' said the pleading voics
of tho accused, "don't blame mo so.--
You do not know how bad a heart
Pete Hannigan hasgot. Ifyed only
heard him speak 10 his poor, old, blind
mother, as did once, ye'd never be
the one 10 say such words TO me. |
know Diclxie has faltering tongue;
but-but. Bridgy, he's got a good
heart of his own, that's fuller of good
than any body's farm" And, half
frightened at what she had said, the
blushing girl bentlower over her iron
ing, 10 hide the tears her full soul
pressed TO her eyes.
Bridget's Irish heart melted instant
ly. With genuine repentance, she
threw her arms around Maggie's neck
and begged forgiveness.
20, never you mind, darlin, what
/ said. I'm forever sayingthe wrong
thing. There's enough that would be
proud Of your love, dear, but your
own clear heart will gide ye right
And | might have remembered that,
too, before / went 10 blaming you with
my foolish tongue"
Maggie, no doubt, remembered that,
'to err Is human, TO forgive, divine,
when she gave her hand in token of
reconciliation. She wiped away her
tears, and carefully folding tho shirt
she had finished ironing. laid it away,
while heavy sigh escaped her, as II
from woaryness; though the absent
look betrayed another cause.
"Well go early, wont we?' said
Bridget as she lifted the door latch
"Yes," replied Maggie, pcnsively.
"And you will wear your blue cam
brio dress?"
"Yes."
"And Ill were mine. Good bye
Maggie, dear"
"Good bye"
A kiss and the friends parted until
evening. Hl ~
"Bridgct shown the lights or,
Ireland's sons and daughters. And
il the rustling Of the silks was not
there, that broad, oldkitchen resound
cd 10 happier sounds. There were
blushing maidens there, and hopeful
swains; and music and dancing and
coquetting. And, II all was not done
in the most refined style, there was
as much good motive and purity, ~
tho most conscientious and delicate
could hove desired.
Away in tho corner were Bridget
and Maggiel And.in close proximity
were the Dicxie O'Neil and Pete Han
nigan, about whom they had consend-
ed in the morning.
The friends had worn their blu,
cambric dresses, according to agree.
ment. And IL they were not cut Pre-
cisely after s'tho last Paris Fashion,
they nevertheless, did credit TO the
industrious hands that made them
And the deep falls of tho cotton lac'
wero just as delicious, in the eyes 0
their admirers, as the richest blonde
would have been.
There was one among the crowC
that night, whose entrance had hush
cd for little time, tho voice of mirth
and given rise 10 many o feeling o
pity in the warm hearts that bea
there. II was blind sister of Dicl<i'
0'Neil'sl
"She wanted to come" he was say
ing to Maggie, "and 1 told mother !
she would le.let her, I'd see that NJ
harm came upon her."
81 ought to brought my old blin'
mother" said Hannigan, drawing
down his chin, with a achuclxling laugh
Sand many's tho thing you could'l
done worse" tartly added Bridget
his late defender.
The young farmer, falling TO oxcit'
ridicule against his hated rival, cas-
an angry glance at Bridget, and turn
ing 10 0'Neil, continued.
"Tis hard time you must have o
1t to feed so many mouths, and only
your two hands 10 work with. Yol
must find you wife who will bring
you some land to live upon"
"I would not have wi-wife for Oh,
land she would bring me-" blushing
Ily replied O'Neil, ~ love TO work 70
the'dear ones ut home, and we Away
have e-enough and to spsre.p
"Tis sildom frolic ye can attend
thogh, far want of money" bitterl,
replied Hannigan reddning withvex
alton. ~
10, fie upon you, Pete Hannigan,
5 again said Bridget, ITO be speaking
a these TO the like Of Diclxie O'Neil.--
|. He's got big, warm heart of his own
that's worth thousand times moro'i
/ your few acres of cold land. And
I know" she added slowly, "of som
r one else who thinks" But an i'm