Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-25
How long have you been plough

How long have you been plough
ing?' said the officer.
'Sence daybreak, sir. Woa! An
hard work | have had, every one run
min to me sence breakfast, akin me
did | see the man that run away
Steady, therer The laborer sulkily
keeping his back towards the prison
warders.
'Sorra haporte | see, sure, if he
did; an he must be a brave swim
mer to come across that river this
time O. year, and the wather like ice,
said the ploughboy, with an incredu-
lous grin; sure he might land down
farther, it's a grad'al narrer, but any
how | see nothing. Conshume ye,
straight 7 he growled at the horses,
and bending double over the plough
furrowed on. The officer called his
men hurriedly back to the country
road.
The long day drew to close, and
when Kate came to call the plough
boy to his supper whispering that
there was no one in but her father
and mother, he felt as if he lived a
lifetime in the past twenty-four hours.
The farmer laughed heartily in tell
ing some of the stories which were
rife about the prisoners disappear
ance. His body had been picked up
four miles down the river, his clothes
had been found by a turnkey under a
bush, and his handouts had been pick
ed up-filed half across-in a bog
ten miles away.
Faith | bursted laughin',' said Pat
Moran when knew that Martin Lea
ry had 'em welded into linchpins, an
that Kate had the clothes buried in
last years manure haper
So they chatted pleasantly and Sc
cureiy, while the rescued man sat ST.
lent from thankfulness and gratitude,
only casting side looks at Kate and
signing heavily.
'Musha, man, don't be sighin' !
cried the farmer loosely; you'll be
kickin' up yere heels at your weddin'
in Ameriky this time twelve month,
plase GodP
No, Misther Moran, I'll never mar
ry any one in Ameriky,' answered
Welsh.
Kate got up to put on fresh fuel
Immediately.
Och, niver fear you WILL replied
the farmer, with good natured obtuse
ness.
'Mush, Misther Moran, 'tisn' t every
man nd give his daughter to one like
me- said Welsh, in a low tone.
'Arrah, Tim, agra, who'd think the
worse O you for havin' got into throu-
BILE an got out agin ? pursued the far
mer.
'Ah, 'tisn't every one is like you,'
said Welsh, signing.
'Oh, sure no one will know anything
in Ameriky, Tim; that's where you're
goin' | suppose?' said Mrs. Moran
gravely and coldly.
Yes, ma, am, answered Welsh, Il
hope So
The good woman was far more
acute than her husband, and disliking
the turn the conversation was taking,
began to introduce other topics; but
with little success, as her husband
grew sleepy and stupid, Kate sat quite
silent and Welsh was sad. Thus they
sat until twelve had struck, and then
Welsh and the farmer rose, to walk
On to the crossroads, where the car
was to be in readiness, with his rela-
tives as convoy and bodyguard.
Welsh shook Mrs. Moran's hard
hand and kissed it in the fuIness of
his emotion, uttering broken words of
gratitude and blessing. Then he turn
ed to Kate who was weeping silently;
be strove to speak, but words failed
him, and he grasped her hand passion
ately and turned away.
1'll shut the gate after ye,' said
Kate following them out into the dark
ness. So she did, and Welsh delayed
a moment, helping her to find the loop
and staple, probably; though he
strove to put few hasty words to-
gether, which had no reference to the
gate
"Keep up yere heart, Kate agra"
he whispered; "I'll send ye lether
when | get safe over plase Godw
Welsh sailed for England in a small
coasting vessel, and thence from Liv-
erpool, where he remained concealed
for some weeks until the ardor of
the pursuit after him had abated, he
embarked on board a fast sailing ves-
sel-for there were no steamers in
those days-for America. When he
landed he sought the home of rela-
tive who had been settled in the new
country for some years, and, by indus
try and strict honesty-for the dread
full lesson taught him was not wasted
he very soon became Independent
of his cousin, and had his own snug
house and thriving farm.
He wrote regularly to the Morans )
to the father first, then to the mother,
and, lastly, to the daughter. When
he had amassed a little money he
wrote again to the farmer, telling the
astonished man his hopes and wishes
concerning Kate. Peggy Moran an
grily declared her husband to have
been blind all along-as there is no
doubt he was--but she positively re-
fused to listen for moment to the
audacious suitor. However, slime
works wonders" Her violent oppo-
sition died away gradually, and Kate
waited patiently. At the end of five
years, her father being then dead, she
and her mother departed for the land
beyond the sea.
/ This true story was related to the