Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-26

Say what agaln7" she inquired, startled by
his vehemence.
'.Shad"
'.Well, there-shadl What harm ia there In
It? We're going to be brother and sister,
terrnined to be Mrs. Ryley?"
'.If am not, III live a single woman all the
days or my life.'
'.There's no help for it, then" said Shad, with
an air OF comic resignation. ''Give me kiss
on IT." He took one, without waiting for per-
mission--a loving, warm KISS which made her
palpitaIe. You are woman OF your word,
and, willy-nilly. must be satisfied"
She did not quite know what TO make of this
he accepted the loss of her too lightly, she
thought. He should have sighed and pulled a
long face: he should have gone on protesting
said to herself. "He shall have no more kisses. !.
But his ardent embrace had disturbed her:
never In her life had she been so paSstOnately
Kissed and she could not help thinking that
Shad Ryiey was proper man. If it had been
suggested to her that it was possible woman
could love two men at one time she would have
Indignantly repelled the insinuation. 1t is
really an open question. Love has never yet
been properly analysed, nor has limits been
accurately ascertained and defined.
From the date OF this conversation the aspect
OF affairs underwent change. Pat became les 4,
coy, although he still held off; but he appeared
to be warming and Rachel Cary absolutely
forced kiss from htm-that is to say she
Tor IT.. He twitted his brother in her presence
for his oEer-modesty, and said that women
loved men either to treat badly or to be little
TOO bold. Either course set them on fire, IL they
loved fellow; and Shad declared that to be
have as Pat was behaving. neither one thing
nor the other, was absolutely shameful.
nor. GIVE e her a kiss, Pat" he cried. for my
fngers. 81 love her better than you do, though
she'll not believe it, But what care l how fair
she be, If she be not made for me? That's what
the old song says, isn't II? Look here, now.
join your hands-Pat has pretty hand. hasn't
he:-andl give you both a brothers consent
and blessing. VIII that satisfy you, Rachel
Cary? Giving my heart away so freely? But
wouldn't give you TO anybody but my brother
Pat. Mind that. I'd fight anyone else for you,
that would, If he were the best man In the
even though you've set your heart on him, and
given him the place ought to hold. | know
by my own feelings that love can't be con-
trolled: You do like me little bit, don't you,
'.Yes. do Shad,r she said. somewhat con-
FUSED, more than little Bit" And she cast
Sleeps eyes at Pat, who was looking earnestly
at the pair OF them.
must be contented with that" said Shad.
u pelleve II Pat were out of the way. you
would Won say, shad, my man, here's my hand"
For you are bound to become Mrs. RyIey-
you've pledged your word to it. Come con-
Iess-if you are not so much In love with Pat,
| should stand a chance. Honest, now, or ri
never believe there's faith in woman
Indeed, ShSs1 Ryley," said Rachel, overcome
by his yehemence you are not entirely wrong.
Which means that I'm entirely right. KISS
IL.
Rachel looked SO bewitchingly and bew1tch-
tngly at Pat that he mustered courage and
kissed her on the cheek. Now Shad had kissed
her on the lips and was altogether holder and
more manly. Well, reflected Rachel Shad Is
Digger. aAd stronger, and older more used TO 1t
than Pat. The young one would improve In
time; she would help him to. And She tried to
make herself believe that she did not care much
Tor man who had such spice OF the devil in
him as Shad Riley had. Then why did she keep
thinking OF him SO much? Woman's riddle
But Notwithstanding that all was settled
there was no regular love making between Pat
and Rachel. The brothers never missed an
evening at the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle and
Sh la would sing his songs there, and make the
Nothing could induce Pat to sing. His speaking
voice was so musical THAT 1t was next door
10 certainty he could sing a beautiful song,
Dut ne could not be prevailed upon. Rachel
peStered and cOaXed, and worried him. until he
was at last compelled to give her promise.
III sing you song" said Pat, when the
Everybody On Jackass Flat knew about the
Bradys, and score Of young fellows, fired by
Shads description OF his friends, had made up
their minds TO lay siege to the seven Brady
lasses, the moment they set foot on the gold
diggtngs. 1t got to be the saying, when the
Bradys come out" When the event occurred,
other. Shad and Pat were already putting up
comfortable.
There will be seven wives for the seven best
be regular happy family Of u.s."
8. suppose, suggested Rachel Cary, with a
slight pa9g a you , VIII be marrying one of them
Some women are remarkably like the dog In
the manager. They won't have a man them.
selves, and they don't want any other woman
TO have him.
AZ might do worse" said Shad; ''they are
eomely lasSes. There's Norah-I defy you to
match her. A complexion like milk and roses.
Bless my heart" cried Rachel, In a tone so
fx-Q6h or hi
much OF It's sweetness. Then its NOrah you'll
marry?"
II viii If she will have me-and if you don't
80. never fear me, Shad Ryley." exclaimed
Rachel loftily; Il shan't object"
81 ~ s1aii ask you, anyhow" said Shad. "before
Suddenly one morning it was announced that
the overland mail was s1gnalled from the Heads,
and JackaSS Flat went wild with excitement
That That was always the way when the mail ar
rived with news from home. This present mail
had met with mishapS The steamer had broken
her screw, and there had been a delay of nearly
1our weeks. Hereit was. however, safe at last,
and 1t brought letter from Matthew Brady,
saying that he and his seven sisters and par
ents were In the good ship Joe and Willien
and the very day after this letter was delivered
port
Pat" said Shad Ryley, putting his arm round
his brother, "GOd bless YOU
.'GOd bless you, Shad," said Pat.
Ir you think there is anything unmanly in
two brothers kissing each other, you are, OF
course. welcome to your opinion. In certain
established forms of manlineSS there is a dash
OF SnObb1sm which, on occasions, could be adj
vantageouSly dispensed with. Anyhow a very
tender feeling existed between these two bro
theirs, and there was nothing unmanly In their
kissing each other at this moment.
Two days afterward Shad presented himself
at the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle at an unusu-
ally early hour.
Rachel" he said, 1.-The Bradys have arrived.
and are now In their tent, setting things In Or
der. Pat can't leave his friends and he wants
you TO come to The BradyS this evening TO shake
hands with them. Ii you like, I'll be mere at
O'CLOCK 10 show you the way.
Thank you kindly, Shad," said Rachel. "Ill
be ready for YOU"
"You'n be happy woman tonight" said
Shad, Ii a tone OF tender regret; "fOr says Pat
10 me, 'Shad, IL Rachel Cary, In the presence of
out moment longer. I've behaved cruelty to
her What do you think OF that, Rachel?,
Pats an angel" replied Rachel WAS I
right or wrong IN saying I'D bear no other name
than Mrs Ryley?"
Right, hope, y said shad, softly, as he took
his leave.
He presented himself at nine o'clock to the
minute, and arm In arm, he and Rachel walked
from the township TO JackaSS Flat. Ii was
beautiful night; the air was sweet, and before
them In the clear Sky, shown the Southern Cross.
(Which Is my starr" unused Shad, aloud, look
Ing up. :. Is 1t that one?n-he pointed TO the
brightest In the heavens-"or that?" His out
stretched finger traced the swift descent OF a
star falling into the black chaSm of space.
1T Is the bright one said Rachel.