The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-03
But she met the at.

we are satisfied, whose business ~ w
aNobody's, So said Shad Ryley, sand I'm
a fool for my pains. Forgive me-" lie
held on, his hand; she accepted II. lie
gave her fingers a brotherly squeeze; she
returned It with sisterly pressure. $50
you have tinaIly and positively made up
your mind TO be Mrs. Ryleys"
"That 10 lust II. shad.o
"Say u againlv be cried. IL was the
first time she bad addressed him by bis
Christian name alone; hitherto u bad been
sbad Kyley or Mr.. Ryley.
Say what again 2" she inquired, startled
by his vehemeucc.
"Shad."
Wen. there-Shad! What harm /.
there Il II? We're going to be brother ana
sister,"
And there's no turning yon? You are
determined 10 be Mrs. Ryleyf"
an am not III live single woman al
the days Of my life." :,
"Thcre's no help for 1t then" said Shad,
with an air OF comic resignation. Give
mo a kiss on It," He took one, without
waiting for permission-a loving, warm
Kiss, which made Der palpitate. " 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 light-
ly. she thought. He should have sighed
and pulled long face; he should have
gone on protesting and appealing. "Pll
1unjsb him for it, she said 10 herself.
81 He shall have no more kisses" But his
ardent embrace had disturbed her; never
in her life had she been passionately kissed,
and she could rot help thinking that Shad
Ryley was o proper man. III 1t had been
suggested 10 her that 1t was possible a
woman could love two men at one time she
would have Indignantly repealed the in-
sinuatiop. IL is really an open question.
Love has never vet been properly analysed,
nor have its limits been accurately ascertain
ed and defined.
From the date OF this conversation the
aspect of affairs underwent change. Pat
became less coy, although he still held OH (;
but he appeared TO be warming, and
Rachel Cary absolutely forced kiss from
him. She had TO thank Shad for 1t. lie
lwtted bis brother in her presence for his
and said that women loved
men either to treat badly or to be a little
too bold. Either course set them on fire,
II they loved a fellow; and Shad declared
hat 10 behave as Pat was behaving, neither
one thing nor the other. was absolutely
shameful.
"Giye her kiss, Pat" he cried; "for
my part, | don't care tig!" Here he
snapped bis fingers. 81 love her better
than you do, though she'll not believe it.
But what care how fair she be, ii she
be not made for me?' That's what the old
song says, isn't il? Look here now. /
join your hands-Pat has a pretty hand,
hasn't he land gave you both brothers
aud blessing. VIII that satisfy you,
Rachel Cary. Giving my heart away so
freely? But | wouldn't give you TO any
body but my brother Pat. Mind that! I'd
fight anybody else for you, that would. II
he were the best man in the world! But
emit fight my own brother Pat, even
though you've set your heart on him and
given him the place | ought to hold. |
know, 10y my own feelings, that love can't
be controlled. You do like me little bit,
don't you, Rachel: 2"
eyes, do, Sb1d," she said, somewhat
confused, "more than a little Bit" And
,be cast sleeps eyes at Pat, who was look
ny earnestly at the pair OF them.
:" must be contented with that" said
,had. 81 believe il Pat were out OF the
gay Won would say, 'Shad, my man, here's
ny hand For You are bound 10 become Mrs.
Ryley-you've pledged your word to it.
Come, confess If you were not so much in
owe With Pat, | should stand chance.
10 TEST, now, or I'll never believe there's
aith in woman
"Indeed, Shad Ryley," said Rachel, over
come by his vehemence, "you are not en-
.irely wrong"
(which means that | am entirely right.
Kiss her, Pat, and seal the bargain. I'll
urn my head"
Rachel looked so bewitchingly and be.
;eecbingly al Pat that he mustered c0ur-
ICE. and kissed her on the cheek. Now,
,Dad had kissed her on the lips, and was
altogether holder and more manly. "Well,"
effected Rachel. "Shad is bigger, and
stronger, and older-more used to 1t than
pat.v The young one would improve in
.ime: she would help him to. And she
ried TO make herself believe that she did
not care much for man who had such a
,pice of the devil in him as Shad Ryley had.
Then, why did she keep thinking OF him so
much? Woman's riddle.
But, notwithstanding that all was settled,
here was no regular love- making between
Pat and Rachel. The brothers never missed
a evening at the Rose, Shamrock and
Thistle, and Shad would sing his songs
here, and make the walls ring with his
resi-, clear voice. Nothing could induce
Pat to sing. His speaking voice was so
musical that it was next door TO a certainty
ne could sing a beautiful song, but he
,ou;d not be prevailed upon. Rachel pes
cred, and coaxed, and worried him, until
be was at last compelled TO give her pro-
mise. "l'll sing you song" said Pat,
90 when The Brady come out"
Everybody on Jack Flat knew about the
Bradys, and a score OF young fellows, fired
by Shad's description OF his friends, had
made up thcir minds to lay seige to the
seven Brady lasses the moment they set
foot OH the gold diggings. 1t got 10 be the
Saying. "When the Bradys come out"
When the event occurred, so much was TO
he donc-this, that and the other. Sbad
and Pat were already putting up tent for
them, and preparing TO make them COM
Portable.
"There will be seven wives for the seven
best men on Jack Flat" said Shad.
"Tbere WILL be regular happy family OF
U.S."
81 suppose" suggested Rachel Cary,
with slight pang, "you will be mar
rying one OF them yourself, Shad Ryley."
Some women are remarkably like the dog
in the mauger. They won't have man
themselves, and they don't want any other
woman TO have him.
~ might do VERSE;" said Sbad; "they
are comely lasses. There's Norah-I defy
you to match her. A complexion like milk
and roses!"
"Bess my heart !" cried Rachel, in q
tone so tart that it must have deprived her
blessing OF much Of its sweetness; "then