Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-02-03

from the house like mad dog? But y're oil
mistaken. / never went away willin'. He tux
me away-God sees be did au' | never laid
eyes on him since the evenin' he carried me to
the mountains. The Lord only knows what
tempted him to do the like I"
Bet. once more urged the poor girl to calm
herself. As she could excuse fraity of one sort
so she could that of another and i: did not
surprise her that Nelly should, as she thought,
resort to falSehood to screen herself from shame
Therefore she did not press her to give par
ticular account of her late adventures so firm
ly was she convinced that dark blot, which
nothing could remove rested on her character
Appearances were all against her. No story
that she might frame, however plausible, could,
in Mrs Fagan's estimation, and to use her own
phrase, " deceive the people out of their seven
senses :" and when the girl took her by the
arm, and solemnly recounted the daring act
Fogarty had been guilty Of in carrying her for
chilly from the Cappanick hills, and the after
events, which the reader already knows, the
widow listened incredulously, though kindly,
thinking st the same time, that it would be far
better, and more likely to awaken the compass
sion of the neighborhood, if Nelly stuck to the
truth, and confessed her fault repentantly. As
the Young girl went on with her narration, she
only nodded her head at appropriate periods.
and calculated now and then. Dear dear y
" Is it possible ?" and so forth But it was
only when she slyy observed, Wasn't it the
poor story that you met Fogarty at all that
day !" that Nelly suddenly became aware that
her words were doubted Starting up, she ex-
claimed, Gou don't believe me, Bet Pagan
you know you don't !" and Bet, taken very
much aback, made as JeSuitical reply as pos
sible, which, might neither offend her poor
friend, or endanger her own knees by one of
Father McCabe'S penanceS for downright lies.
Without crediting anything whatever of the
story Mrs. Pagan, nevertheless, remembered
every word of it, from beginning to end and
being much of a gossip, as web as kind heart
ed, lost no time in telling it over again to some
of her particular friends, and among them to
Kitty Dillon, Nelly'S sister, who earnestly wish
ed it might be true, though she could hardly
dare to hope it was.
There's only one bein' can clear Nelly"
said Mrs, Pagan, as she spoke upon the subject
TO Dan PheIan, a neghbor 10 whom she gen
orally applied for advice in time OF perplexity;
for being, as she often observed, "a lone wO-
man." she frequently fancied herSel: in want of
assistance This was considered decided de-
lnsion on her part by the neighbors who were
opinion that she was perfectly capable of man.
aging the affairs of the whole country, without
help from any one, man or woman. There
wasn't such a stirring woman" for miles
around Us Bet Fagan she was the best dan
Ger and the SwifteSt walker in the neighbor-
hood she could sit rp with the sick night af
ter night, without once snatching 4 wink Of
sleep: she was the merriest joker at . wake,
and the most Skillful layer-ouJ of corpse
an accomplishment much priced in Ireland in
short, in al! times of need, Bets presence was
very much in demand not a christening, fu-
neral or wedding, could be complete without
her aud her large, good-na,ured face was Of
ten the most cheering sight that met the gaze
Of many dying one. So she said to Dan Phe-
Ian, Theirs oaly one bein' that can clear Nell
ly an that's Petty Fogarty. himself You see
he's in gaol at Conmel, an maybe if you'd ride
over there, Dan, you'd get him to tell the truth
to you
I'm willin', to do it," replied Phelan,
SCRATCHING his head. doubtfully " but l mis-
trust. Bet-it'Il be Of no use
+" Go, any way, whin | tell, urged the Wild
Ow and Dan WAS obliged to say be would.