The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20
THE TEST OF BLOOD.
AN IRISH TALE.

AN IRISH TALE. s"
You won't dance with me, Kathleen p
sNo. Luke, I will not
sFor what reason"
Il don't choose it., Besides, I'm engaged to Mark
Dermot.'
The above very slight conversation in itself, was to
the individual full of the greatest import. To explain
it it will be necessary to take a Parthian glance at our
subject. Kathleen Dwyer was the pretty, spoiled, vii
lage pet, with quite sufficient vanity to know that the
preference was deserved. Every young man IN the place
was anxious to pay court to her, and sooth to say, she
impartially dispensed her smiles to all, reserving, il
must be admitted, her more serious thoughts for one
alone. That one wassLuke Bryant, and as he really
loved her, the hightiness of her conduct, and her inter
minahle firtations. gave. him very great uneasiness
Often and often would he reason with her, lmplorine
her to dismiss the crowd of purposeless suitors that ever
auttered round, and select one, even though that selec.
ton would doom him to- misery. 4'
NO, no = the little madcap would say, with a bright
smile, 8 l cannot give up altogether the delight Of hav'
ing 50 many male slaves in my train; they are useful,
and if you don't like it you know your remedy
'But do you think it is right 2 be would say sup.
pose there may be some, even one who loves you truly,
to lead him on by the false light of your encouraging
smiie, to perish at last
sPshaw !" would she answer, 'men are not made Of
such ~perishable stuff
sWel, we'll, Kathleen, have a care if any enc of
your numerous admirers feels towards you as | do, to
lose YOU would be the loss or everything.
AS may be reasonably supposed, these conversations
usually ended in a little tiff, when the wild, good.
hearted, but giddy-headed girl would select one from
her surrounding beaux, to play off against Luke; gen.
orally pitching upon the person most likely to touch his
feelings to the very quick herself, the while, | must
do her the justice to say, quite as miserable, ii not more
so, than her victim.
And now to return, let me describe the individual
she has this time chosen 20 ina;ct torture upon her lover,
and | think you will agree With me that he has cause
for more than discontent. rv1us
Mark Dermot. or, as be was most generally denomi-
mated, Black Mark, was one of those persons we some.
times meet with in the world, on whom prepossessing
appearance and great natural ability are bestowed, only
% be pat to the basest possible uses. Character he had
none. except of the very worst kind his ostensible pur-
suit was smuggling, but crimes of the darkest nature
were freely whispered about him-and yet, in spite of
all this, his dashing, daredevil nature and indomitable
impotence, enabled him to show himself in places
where, although his evil reputation was we'll known. he
was tolerated either from supineness, or more likely
from the fear Of his ennity.
1t is not to be wondered at, then, that as Luke stood
by and saw this rufian carry off his souls beloved, his
very heart should quake from apprehension. He was
unaware until this moment that she ever knew him,
and his feelings, as ever and anon Mark would seem to
whisper something in Kathieen's ear, to which she
would seem to smile on approval, can only be imagined
by SUCH of my readers, if any there be, who have seen
another feeding upon smiles which they would fain
monopClze. .
Jealousy OF the most painful nature took possession
Of Luke he had often experienced sensations Of annoy.
ance before, but never to this extent. Her fame-her
character-w compromised for he knew Black Mark
70 be the very worst description OF man for a woman
TO come in contact with at%aH, caring nothing for the
ties of morality, or for. the worlds opinion-reckless
bad hearted, aud moreover 'uncomfortably handsome in
the eyes of q lover. -a
The dance now over, Luke imagined that she would
give up her partner, and Join him but no, the silly
a. - - e - a--.sonA e~-I s. I'll. .~-
Of mad delight in w~ounding Luke's feelings to the ut
.ermost. She approached the spot where Luke, with
folded ariGs was standing, aud leaning Familiarity upon
the arm of Mark, said laughingly-
Y Why don't you dance, Luke? Come, I'll find
= partner for you"
Called to the very quick, Luke answered with asper
ity-'Thank you, Miss Dryer, you have found one fol
yourself, and looking at Black Mark as a jealous lover
only can look-syouup pardon me; but l don't like ths
sample ~: f@s-
Mark regarded him with a scowl of the deepest ma
lightly, while Kathleen, the real feelings of her hear
kept down BY coquetry, exclaimed with a laugh
Don't mind him, Mark, he's only jealous, poor fel
low. Come, will you not dance again.
'Ay, and again, and forever impetuously replied
Mark. Come
And as they went to rejoin the dancers, Kathleen
caught the expression Of Luke's features, and there saw
so much misery depicted that she would have giver
worlds to have recalled her words. She yearned to i'm
plore his forgiveness, but her Unsuitable appetite fo
admiration restrained her. Never mind, thought sh'
when the dance is over / can easily make it up will
him. and away she went, thinking no more about it.
At the conclusion of the dance, her better feelings al
predominating, she quilted Mark and rushed over to tht
place where Luke had been standing, but be was gone
with that ~unf9eling speech ranking in his heart, be hae
left. 1t was now her turn to be miserable; not all the
soft speeches that we've poured into her ear had power
to console her but her annoyance was at its heigh
when Black Marx, presuming upon the encouragement
which she had given him, seated himself beside her, anc
in ardent language declared himself her passionate lover
Poor, unthinking Kathleen, she had evoked 3 spirit
which she had not the power to quell.
It was more than a week after before Luke could
bring himself to venture near Kathleen but thinkin,
that each succeeding day only made him still more
~wretched, he determined to know his fate at once, anc
" With a sorely pa'eitating heart he neared her abode
lifted the, latch, and entered the FIRST sight that me
his eyes was Mark and Kathleen, sitting near to eacl
other, the deep blush that crimsoned her to the yer.
throat, eyinced tosLuke the interesting nature Of thei
conversation. She could not speak, neither could he
but giving her one look which sank into her very brain
he left the place in vain she called after him, he turned
but once-a deep curse was on his lips, but bis nobl
heart refused to sanction it. Farewell, beloved Kath
Gen. he cried, while bitter tears flowed fas,as be spoke
May the good God protect you now, for you will nee
ST. And LIKE rapiilv Strndo towards the village, inl