The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-04

lOr u IdCt, tndJ MS sister was as pretty
as Vivian herself If knew of anything
prettier, | would compare her to it, but |
do not; and in these declining days /
am not likely to find it. Whose is the
hand which shall, by the aid of movable
types, describe a pretty girll If / say
that each of these young ladies was raw
ishing, nineteen, and Irish, l would have
done my best. Like Rasolind and Ce-
liza. they learned, played, ate together,
and whereso'er they went, like Juno's
swans, still they went coupled and in
separable. 1t happened that if Phil
Durgan had known as much as his sister
Julia, he would not have known more
of Vivian's likings than he knew. In
that case the ineffable satisfaction which
commonly illumined his foggy features
might have dimmed little. Yet, why
should triumph over ugly Phil? Your
story-teler is rarely contented unless he
fogs his rascals. Dickens, for example.
gloated over the buffets dealt by his
popular to his unpopular people. With
what gusto he fogs Squeers; how re-
joicingly he throws Wegg into the scav-
tllScl CdIt, Wlttl WuhU lic
tells the story of Pecksniff's thrashing
1t is in my power to administer to Mr..
Philip Durgan such horsewhipping as
yet never mortal man received; but as |
am strong, will be merciful, Phil, as the
late Lord Lytton, said of somebody was
uglier than he had a right to be. There
is certain Irish face which trenches per
alx II hn nd
Phil, who was naturally gifted in tins
direction, improved his chances by the
disposition of his hair and whiskers He
had all the graces of a lady-killer, as an
initiative ape ight have them. He had
brogue a man might have hung his hat
on, and believed that he spoke with the
purest of all possible English accents
'Oi was niver taken for an Orshman
but wonce in my loife, Phil was known
to say, 'an' that was be Polish Jew who
met me in Hongary; an after we'd been
talkin' form an hour or tcw, 'Mr. Dur
gan, says he he, yell be an Oirishman.
'An' what makes ye think that!' says Oh
Your speech, says he AN Oi lated
at the man.
1t was before the days of the discs
tablishment and discndowment of the
Irish Church, and the Bishop of Bally-
kill was prosperous and happy pre-
late. The Bishopess was fruitful vine,
and the quver of the Bishop was some
what tightly packed. His lordship's
youngest son, Jack, was terror to the
hearts of his parents. His lordship was
an Englishman, and Jack, to his horror,
had acquired a brogue which rivalled
Pills The lad was always in mischief
of one kind or other, and his mothers
anxious heart daily foreboded that he
would be brought home upon shutter.
Yet there was no harm in Jack, and he
had as staunch pluck as a bulldogs.
And. be it known, he knew and loved
the Major.
And now, the dranatis perso,,oe is
introduced, let the story 60 smoothly on.
The good Bishop was rarely without
guests; for if his own instincts slumber-
ed tor a day or two, his sons or daugh-
ters brought their own chums or com
panions to dwell within his gates Kate
and Mary were rapturously in love with
Vivian and Julia, and were continually
paying and receiving visits to and from
them. Miss Blake and Miss Durgan
were beneath the Bishops roofs, and Mr..
Phil Durgan, who was intimate with
the Bishops second son, had no difiicul
ty in securing quarters there. The Ma
| ior knowing his rivals chances, and rec
ognizing the hopelessness of his own pas
sion, was torn by vain desires. He walk
ed and rode about Ballykill, encounter
ing the Bishop often, but avoiding the
ladies so persistently, and anybody who
was fool might have thought that the
meetings with the Bishop were the spe,
cial object of his journeys. Master Jack
who was acute and discerning, knew
better, Meeting the Major one day h,
took the bull by the horns.
Gay, me boy, said Jack, 'whoy dom
ye come up an have a shoy at herr
The Majors name was Geoghaghan
and Gay was the friendly contraction
| We'll, yA see, said the Major dubious
ly, your mothers not too fond of me.
%, don't mind her ledyship, sal,
Jack; 'oill pull you through ut.
I'm not liked Jack, said the Majo
sadly; and it's not of any use to go.
would be coldly treated.
We'll, look here, Major, cried Jacl
with a look of triumph; if oi give ye
welcome from the governor an the oul,
ledy, will ye Gomez
Faith, said the Major with doubt
| full smile, i will!
'Roight! shrieked the young gentle
man, and threw a pair of skates into tn
Majors dogcart. He was in after then
at bound. Droive to the Black Roo
Pool, Gay he said.
The Major shook the reins and ava
they went.
What is it, all1' asked the Major.
Pull up at Murphy shebeen, sal
Jack, and returned no other answer. Blu
there was a world of hidden meaning i
the wink with which this order was az
companied.
The shebeen arrived at, Jack leaI
down and staggered in with Save a
here!
It's yew for breakin' of the boy
hearts, Mrs Morphy, said Jack. M
own is sore with you.
, The plump and pretty Mrs. Murph
, laughed.
, Sixteen takes foine leps these time:
, says she in allusion to Jacks age.
. Jack beckoned her on one side, an
! spoke to her for moment in seriol
!, whisper,
'Shamus, said she with a twinkle
, her eye, be fetching the clothes line.
Shamus, like a well-trained husban
, obeyed
'Ye won't tell, said Jack,
Not synnable, be thin five crasse
said Mrs Murphy
Jack handing up bottle of whisk'
and clothes line to the Major res
II cended into the dog cart, nodded
r friendly fashion to Shamus and his wi
}; and requested his companion to drive G
g The mystifed Major obeyed, In t
o course of a miles drive they came up
g the Black Root Pool, and Jack began