The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-06-21

for; what fortune are you going to
give Katie2"
Peter took out his pipe, emptied it,
proceeded to refill it, poked the
| fire, relit the pipe, settled himself back
in his corner, and said slowly: "For-
tune, Cornyl Katie is fortune in her.
self I'm poor man, an the times is
bad an beyont new gown, couple
of heeces of wool, an a hank or 50 of
yarn, | can't give her any fortunep
] Corny looked astonished, and push.
ed back his stool, as much at to say
that all further negotiations we're use-
less; when Tom Dillon said: "Never
mind, Pether; there's them as1l be
willin' to take her without any for.
tune, an can afford it too 70
"True forge, Tom Dillon, an zone O.
them is Dermott O'Bryne. We're not
dependin' on few bare pounds-not
but what it's well to have something
to put by for the childer," he added
cautiously.
"To be sure, Corny, to be sure"
Peter ascented.
swell, Pether, is it to be me or Cor.
ny? Is a Dillon to be put behind the
door for an O'Bryne? Isn't my Martin
as likely a boy as there's in the baro.
ny? He'll take your colleen without
brass penny, an do well for her. What
do ye say to that?" Tom asked, slap.
ping the table.
"Bedad, then, Tom, I'm in a fix in
tirely. Here's Corny, a dacent old
man, with fine steady gassoon of a
son-he's first; and here's yourself, an
honest man an a good neighbor-sorra
better-an' sure Martin is the pride
of parish on Sunday I'm bothered
intirely, an what can 1 say, but settle
betune yel Whichever of ye can do
the best for her, take her, in the name
of st. Patrick" and Peter resumed
his pipe, and sunk back into his cor.
ner.
The two old men eyed one another
silently for few minutes, then Dillon
pulled little bag from his pocket
opened it deliberately, and took out
another, from which he drew forth a
third, made of purple stuff, fastened
with piece of red braid. Very slow
ly, his eye still fixed on Corny, he
pulled out sovereign, and laid it on
the table. "Show Pether Linskey
what ye name to do, Corny O'Bryne,h
he said.
Cony smiled scornfully, produced
his old stocking, and taking from
thence five pound note, put it beside
him, and nodded his head deiantly.
Tom drew forth four more sovereigns
clinked them one after another on the
table, and nodded his head. Old Pc
ter smoked away in his corner with
out t'uttering a word.
fCorny waited for moment, and
then said; "Is that all you're goin' to
do, Mister Dillon?" Tom threw down
another sovereign-Corny followed
his example, till they had each laid
twenty pounds upon the table.
sis that all you're goin' to do, Mis-.
ther Dillon?" Corny repeated.
"In ready-money, it is, Misther
O'Bryne."
"Then l bate ye at that" Corny
cried, throwing down another pound.
"I bate him in cash, Father; do ye.
mind that?"
Peter nodded, and smoked away.
"I'll take the girl in and share the,
hest we have with her, an give Mart
in two acres of land, an a couple of
6oniues, Qittle pigs), announced Tom
Dillon.
"Dermott II have my land when
Tn gone, every rood" cried Corny.
"Pll give a heifer in! Twenty
pounds, share of house, two acres Of
land, an heifer What do ye say,
Pether?" Tom cried. "Not bad for q
colleen without a pennyp
"Thrue for you, Tom," Peter assent
ed. "What'll you do Cornyi"
"Twenty-one pounds-down, the
day there married, house an home,
feather bed, an the finest mule in
the parish--that's what I'll dol"
"But the laud--Tom is giving two
acres" Peter observed "think Of that,
CornyW
"Dermott'll have the land afther
me, an enough to eat Of it till I'm
gone. / have no one but him. Tom
Dillon has three more to provide for"
can plenty to do it with an I'll
make it three acres, Pether, Of the
best upland in BallymoyneP Tom re-
piled.
"It's very fair, an I'm obliged to
ye, Tom," Peter said slowly.
"I'll make it twenty-five down, an
throw in heifer2" Corny cried
"Its very dacent, Corny, an I'm
obliged to ye," Peter quietly observed