Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-11-23
A ROMANTIC BxrRoTHAL

A ROMANTIC BKTROTHAL.
Luke Whelan was what is known III
the Gteen lrlc ~ "A "rthrong farmer.
lie farmed about two hundred acres of
gooi land, paid his rent pretty regularly
and -crapcd. aud saved, and pnchcd.
In order Ia give his only daughter,
Brigid, a boarding -school education. and
10 rlacc his elder snh. Philip. in the
ecclesiastical college at Maynooth.
Luke had one other aon James. who
was eventually a. succeed his father in
the management of the farm. James
troubled himself little with domestic
Affairs. and wa. indeed possessed of
rather moro.c temperament. His
parents never thought Of consulting him
on any subjects except the weather, the
crops, or the live stock and IL some
times required good deal Of tact to
elici, from the young man his opinion a.
to the relative prospects Of rain or
weather.
At eighteen Brigd Whclan was re-
leased from the bondage Of the board
ina-school. and being n sensible young
girl and extremely unromantic, she
settled down without murmur under
the paternal roof, and cndcavorcd 10 in
itiate herself into the mysteries Of milk
ing, churning. poultry and pig feeding.
Her brother Philip came home from
Maynooth three times every year,
namely. at Easter, Midsummer, and
Christmas. lie was quiet, easy
going, well.built young man, whose fist
closed more naturally and lovingly
round the handle Of n plough than round
his well-thumbed praycr-book.
During one Of Philips midsummer va
cations. Papa Whclan said one morning,
A. the family. not including James, sat
down ta their frugal breakfast:
"Brigid. me darlin'. I'm goin' TO
make match for you wud young Tom
Morrisey-wan Of blind Jack Morrisey's
sons. You'd better he talkin' TO your
mother about your clothes and wan
think or another, in case meself and
ould Morrircy can come toterms."
Bsigid's heart INDUCED in merely an
apology for q flutter at her fathers
speech. She knew the Morriseys
slightly, but she could not call to mind
which Of the family Il was 10 whom the
name was Thomas.
Her elder brother simply observed:
"Ay, twouldn't bc bad match at all
for you. Brigid, for ould Morrisey il as
rich ~ Crmsus. by all accounts. I'll he
getting orders next Faster, and" with
= feeble smile, "l'd like ITO make my
maiden effort nj matrimony on one Of
my own family"
After breakfast Luke Whelan put on
his Sunday best. took a stout black
thorn from the chimney corner, and
disappeared down the whclan boreen.
accompanied by the future soggarth.
Mrs. whelan then confided in
Brigid that blind Morrisey-no\ blind
Morrisey's son, mind you-had been
greatly struck with Bripid's mate figure
and generally illigant appearance, and
had determined that his eldest hope
should. with Mr.. and Mrs. whelan's
consent. Of course. claim her for his
bride.
Luke Whelan and Philip returned in |
the afternoon, looking not altogether
happy, and after some hours silence
hours occupied by the elder Whelan in |
interviewing hS pigs, cows, and stacks,
and by the yosager Whclan in reading
The Nafsow-Luke entered the kitchen
and said 10 his hclpmatc:
Gould Morriscy AMI mcsclf cant hit
II Of somehow. lie wants seven hun
hundred pound down on the nail wud
our girl. an cant make up my mind
TO go beyond six-hfty."
"An' In II broke of then, Luke"
asked Mrs. Whelan. dolefuly.
mo. not quite. we're to meet and
thry to settle the matthcr Mt Mr..
O'keiliy's next Saturday. You're to
come wud ur and bring Brigid. for tits
a. like NJ not Mr.. OReilly will make a
match Of Il; It's u great hand he il at
match-makin' an no mistake
"Thrue for you. Luke. Divil wan
In the country II his aiqual nj it,"
Mr.. Okeilly was the owner Of pub
lie house In kitloguc. much patronized
by the farmers belonging 90 the same
barony ~ the whclans. and when pre-
nuptia' difficulties arose in the barony.
he was invariably called upon Ia arhi-
trate. II Was Mr. O'keilly's interest To
see that things fundamentally were ar
ranged satisfactorily. for II the intended
couple belonged 10 comfortable" fam
lilies al order for tcn-gallon cask Of
whisky. wherewith 10 celebrate the
nuptials. was what sporting men term
"a moral
The killo9ue publican was possessed
ri goo'l deal of native wit. and he gen
rrnlly ron,rived a. set matters straight.
and at the same time Ia put his clients
under a load 81 obligation To- him for
having adiadi Gated 80 cleverly in their