The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-08-07

Now, Shad had kissed her on the Inns
and was altogether more Dol er ana
manly. "Well, reflected Rachel, "Shad
is bigger, and stronger, and older-more
used to it than Pat" The young one
would improve in time; she would heir
him to. And she tried to make herself
believe that she did not care much for 9
man who had such spice of the devil in
him as Shad Ryley had. Then, why did
she keep thinking of him SO much? Wo.
mans a riddle.
But, Notwithstanding that all was set.
tied, there was no regular love-makino
between Pat and Rachel. The brothers
never missed an evening at the Rose.
Shamrock and Thistle, and Shad would
sing his songs there, and make the walls
ring with his clear, loud voice. Moth.
ing could induce Pat to sing. His
I speaking voice was SO musical that it was
next door to a certainty that he could
sing a beautiful song, but he could not
be prevailed upon. Rachelpestered and
coaxed, and worried him, until he was
at last compelled to give her a promise.
"Ill sing you song" said Pat.
/" when the Bradys come out.
Everybody on Jackass Flat knew
about the Bradys, and a score of young
fellows, fired by Shad's 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 Dig
I gings. 1t got to be the saying, "When
the Bradys come out. When the event
occurred, SO much was to be done-this.
that and the other. Shad and Pat were
already putting up a tent for them, and
I.
There will be seven wives for the
seven best men on Jackass Flat" said
Shad. There will be a regular happy
family of u.s.
8 suppose, suggested Rae pel Cary,
with slight pang, you will be marry
ing one of them yourself, Shad Ryley.''
Some women are remarkably like the
dog i'll the manager. They won't have a
man themselves, and they don't want
any other woman to have him.
: might do worse, said Shad; "they
are cOmely lasses. There's Norah-I
defy you to match her. \ complexion
like milk and roses
Bless my heart !" cried Rachel. in a
tone SO tart that it must have deprived
her blessing of much of its sweetness;
+" then it's Nora you'll marry?"
:" viii if she'll have me-and if YOU
don't see any objection.
"Oh, never fear me, Shad Rylevl"
exclaimed Rachel, loftlly; 81 shan't OBJ
iect.'
g shall ask you, anyhow, " said Shad,
i" before l ask Norah.'
Suddenly one morning, it was an
noUmced that the overland mail was sig
nailed from the Heads, and Jackass Flat
went wild with excitement. That was
always the way when the mail arrived
from home. This present mail had
met with mishaps. The steamer had
broken her screw, and there had been a
delay Of nearly four weeks. Here it was.
however, safe at last, and brought let
ter from Matthew Brady, saying that he
and his seven sisters and parents were in
the good ship Joe and Willie: and the
/ very day after this letter was delivered
came the news that the Joe and Willie
was in port.
pat, said Shad Ryley, putting his
arms around his brother, ''God bless
you.
" God bless you, Shad,' said Pat
If you think there is anything unman-
! ~ III two brothers kissing each other.
You are. of course, welcome to your
opinion. In certain established forms
Of manlmess there is dash Of snobbism
which, on occasions, could be advan-
tageously dispensed with Anyhow. a
very tender feeling existed between these
two brothers, and there was nothing I'M
manly in their kissing each other at this
moment.
Two days afterward Shad presented
himself at the Rose, Shamrock and This
tie at an unusually early hour.
Rachel" he said, " the Bradys have
arrived, and are now in their tent setting
things to order Pat, can't leave ms
friends, and he wants you to come to the
Bradys this evening to shake hands with
them. If you like, I'll be here at 8
O'Clock to show you the way"
"Thank YOU kindly, Shad," said Ra-
thel, "Ill be ready for you"
Z" You'll be a happy woman tonight, ;"
said Shad, In tone of tender regret:
''for, says Pat to me, 'Shad. if Rachel
Cary, in the presence of the Bradys,
asks me to marry her, I'll not hold out
a moment longer. I've behaved cruelty
to her. What do you think of that
Rachel?"
''Pat's an angel" replied Rachel.
"Was [ right or wrong in saving I'd
bear no other name than Mrs. RyIey =? f."
Right, | hope, said Shad, softly, as
/ he took his leave.
He presented himself at 9 o'clock to
the minute, and, arm in arm, he and
Rachel walked from the township to
Jackass Flat. 1t was a beautiful night:
the air was sweet, and before them in
the clear sky shone the Southern Cross
Which is my starr" unused Shad
aloud, looking up. is it that one -
he pointed to the brightest in the heav-
! ems" or that ?" His outstretched fin
ger traced the swift descent of a star
falling into the black chasm Of space.
" 1t is the bright one" said Rachel.
g / hope So"
F." You are full of hopes to-day, Shad. "
You never spoke truer words,
Rachel. There's Brady's tent
1t had been set up on an elevation,
and through the canvas walls came the
soft glare of lights.
"Any one in - cried Shad
He was answered by chorus of Joy
full voices, and he and Rachelwere cheer
lily welcomed. She was at home In a
moment. She kissed the girls and the
mother, and shook hands with the old
gentleman, who was Drumming over with
pleasant fun, and with Matt, who was
almost as fine a man as Shad Ryley.
This is Norah, y said Shad, pulling
forward a lovely lass of eighteen, whose
saucy eyes had already made many a
heart ache
Somehow or other little cloud came