New-York tribune., 1880-04-06

The neighbors looked strangely into each others
| faces and at length one vontured to say
| "Sure the man has lost his mind via trouDle anu
| hungerV ,.n n -
| Maggie now asked what had brought them all to
| the cabin at that especial time. r.
"Sure am wasn't it an invitation ye sint ont Tor
US to come and heY one good meal NJ yer OOaru oFon
| if we niyer had anOtherp
There was no invitation sint from this house.
Sure an its not a mouthful we've had ior tneSe
| eight-and-t thirty-hours "
"ISe the powers, thin, but there's one has been
| playin' a cruel joke in yer name, thln =,
| " And who could hev been so maneW
Sure. It's not an hour ago that Happy Pat was
| gOin' around among all of us blddln ave us come 70
O'Mara's where we'd hev bit to ate and to drink ~
d" Ii's name thing for Pat Ranleagh to be playin
| joke ave that koud mt such times as theseV
When the true situation became known, loud and
btter were the heaped upon the head of Pat.
Pat Rancagh was reckless, harlll1-scarum young
man. who had been Oftener before the civil justice
Oh one charge or another, than any Young man In
the district.
| He was a happy.go-lucky brave, reckless youth,
the son of a couple who had died many years before
leaving him. lad of thirteen, to take care of him
SELF
There were strange rnmors abroad concerning
Happy Pat. and there were those who whispered
that if he had his rights there would be new land
Tic parish priest, good and dcvOut old man, had
attended 10 Pat Ranleagh's education, and-a-
though the young fellow was but rowing tramp
taking odd Jo6s betimes-there were those who SAID
that he had 4 most excellent cducation as good as
some Of the heightened college chaps.
In tho meantime Pat lived on-2 VIII, 1oXllke S0rC
of lIfe
lie was fine looking youth a little above me-
dum height. broad-shOuldcred and as strong as
an
IL was claimcd that he was tho best boxer and
wrestler in the country; the young man, however,
was 80 jOvial and good naturcd that it was seldom
he took advantage Of an opportunity to display his
strength and skill.
Happy Pat was an object of special dislike to the
az mt McAlann. ,,..
rEe two men had never come to an open collision,
but Mcilann had been heard go boast that some day
he wonl,l send Pat RanlcGgh across the sea III
Government gang, .
Girls OAlara became very angry upon learning
that Pat Rapleagh the author OF the cruel
Joke that had been played upon number OF starv-
ing families. o,,,.u.
Pat had been great favortc withthe PAlnra
family until the poor boy let on that he was III love
with Maggie
Ii was then that he was bauished from the house
and hidden never TO enter tie door again.
The dismissal had occurred while the O'Maras
were still occupants of the farm and before they
had been cvictcd ~
Pal Ranleagh had proved himself proud, il he was
ONnra'S door until the hour of eviction came, when
he was on hand TO assist i'll any manner that he
could.
is cOud ever play such trick as ths" &" growled
OMara.
Al this moment Maggie spoke mp, asking:
Father. dear, what did W ever know Pat to do
that WAS manc Faith, he may be reckless and do
bad, but niVcr was he known to do name thingU
The father glarcd at his child lie did not like
the defence Of Pat to come from that quarter.
There was Il lull in the STORM, the good but hun
gry nc.hbO \ had risen 10 depart III u body, when
a most curious incident occurred.