Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-15
An Irish Romance.


islands in cloud of wind-driven mist.
maze nae seek refuge in cabin. 1t
was Il crowded, busy peasants home,
and as [ sat by the tire-the warmest
seat being given me with the invariable
hospitality of these people-I found
abundant material for observation and
reflection. Whatever cleanliness was
possible in family of eight occupying
one huge room along with two pigs was
carefully maintained; at least, the
mother and children were neatly and
comfortably sttired, the hearth we'll
swept, and the pigs were confined to
the limits assigned them. An old wom-
an was csrding wool, child rocking
the cradle, and the mother spinning at
large wheel. The chickens, also
driven in by the rain. one by one
hoped up a ladder to their roosts
among the rafters, from which they
watched over their ruffled feathers the
busy family and the blazing hearth
with so much approval anu satisfaction
that am sure, if chickens be suscep-
tible to emotion, these were very tender
ones indeed. A dog sneaked in, and
seeing q stranger, went out into the
rain again. The dogs, which are not
numerous on the island, are of the
most miserable and condemned aspect,
and seem to feel their ignoble ancestry,
as they invariably jumped over wall
or ran into some obscurity on the ap-
proach of o stranger. While drying
my dripping garments, saw for the
first time, seated in corner, as If to
screen himself from observation, the
figure of young man clad in white
flannel, the costume of the island. His
face was thin and sad, and Of the same
color as the garments he wore, and he
gazed at the fire with such detected
and hopeless expression as led me to in.
fer that he was the fated victim of some
terrible disease-ccnsumpti per-
haps-and was feebly waiting through
the long hours of the day and night
the death he knew to be sure and near.
spoke to him, striving in my pity to
appear unconscious Of perceiving his
misery. Without answering, he ro7e
abruptly and left the cabin. The looks
"f c:cern snd inquietude in the faces
about LAG told Lac Of some unusual
sorrow, which the mother, leaving her
spinning wheel, explained to me in 4
low voice. She told me that the young
man, her eldest son, poor Owney, as
she called hin, had, until month be-
fore, been the most healthy and cheer.
full member Of the family; ready and
prompt at work, and the life of the
household. when a letter came from
America to a neighboring family inclos-
ing money to pay the passage thither OF
their eldest daughter. Itappeared that
the young man had long entertained q
secret passion for this girl, and when he
heard that he probably never would
see her again, he declared his love to
her, and besought her to remain. So
far from being unmindful of his affec-
ton, she avowed her willingness to
marry him at once, if he would accom-.
pany her to America Immediately after.
ward. This was impossible; his own
family were unable to assist him, and
the few people who possess money on
the island would not lend it without Sc
curity. The practical damsel saw on
the other side of the Atlantic every
prospect of improving her material
condition, and doubted not that hus-
bands were as plentiful there rs else
where; swhile, if she remained, she
knew the drudgery and hopeless slavery
that were the lot of all around her
would be hers also. Therefore she told
her suitor if he could not accompany
her she would not listen to his suit.
When the young man found his up
braidings useless, he gave way to de-
spair, and had not worked or spoken
siuco his cruel sentence had been pro
nouncej. Every day he grew thinner
and more wan, and he did not partake
of sufficient food to support life. ALI
the solicitude and tenderness of his
mother had not succeeded in arousing
withiE him his former self, and with
tears running down her cheeks she told
me she thought he had lost his reason
forever.
Some weeks previously the school
master had written for them to priest,
distant relative of the family, who
lived in Connemara; but they had re-.
ceived no reply, and she supposed he
pondered for long while, as [ SAT
by the fire. upon what often proves to
be the unfortunate sincerity of men,
and could not refrain from deploring
the no less frequent levity of my own
sex, Ia passing through the village a
week afterward | stopped to say good.
day to these kind people, when I found
the house q scene Of hustle aud confu-
siou. My erewhile lovesick swain was,
when | entered, making himself pair
of pampootees; and as he babe me
good.day over dangerously starched
collar, his face glowed with health and
energy. The now cheerful and happy
mother informed me that since my last
visit they had received letter from the
priest in Connemara, inclosing his
blessing for her son, and the money to
pay bis passage to America. She had
been very busy knitting him stockings,
and making him fine white flannel suit
to be married in, and which thereafter
he would not again wear till his arrival
at New York, 50 thai he would make q
decent appearance in the New World,
IS became the relative of priest. He
was to be married to the object of his
choice the next day, and they were to
start Immediately afterward upon their
long voyage. AS I left, the damsel
whose months delay to prepare her out
tit had given such fortunate respite tc
her lover, thrust her head i'll the door,
and called upon Owney TO be sure and