Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-12-14

IA OuO 1Nk0U
caused his bosom to swell with ioy and
triumph. But at the same time the CON
slderation that he himself was the n
= stand between Jamesey and his "will''
struck terror to his heart.
He lay awake half the night. and in
the morning, still troubled and con-
fused, he resolved to go to his mother.
having the instructive feeling that
Jamesey's interests were always safe in
her hands.
So after breakfast he followed her out
into the little shed where she was wash
ing.
Mother says he, reckoning mys-
teriously, ''come into the fore room a
minute; I'd have a word with ye."
"Let it be a short word, then" she
said, somewhat Grossly, taking her
dripping hands from the tub and wip-
ing them on her apron. .What with
Jamesey's billed shirtto be ironed for the
party tonight, and me days. washin'
still forninst me, I've little time for
talkin'." ~
IL know, mother, 1 know" said Pat
ssey' deprecating y, ''but it is of Jamesey
l would be speakin'."
can what's the matter with
Jamesey?" she asked in quick alarm.
"What's come to the byp"
"Be aisy, mother dear; nothine's
come to him yet; and for the matter o.
that he added, laughing, "I'mfearin'
that it's what Won't come to him at all
that IL work him the trouble"
'Patsey Rooney, tell me now in plain
words, what are We manin'?"
"Well." says he, concisely enough,
" u Jamesey is settin' bis heart on
marryin' Katy Sullivan, and 1 hap
pen to know that Katy Sullivan has set
her heart on marryin' somebody else.
That's the long and short of it, mother.n
ooh. we hear enough. Don't be q
fool, me by. AS if Katy Sullivan, or
any other girl, would miss the takin' of
our Jamesey! Give her the chance! If
this is all you've got to say to me, clear
out and lave me to my work"
She gave him a little impatient push
toward the door, and with a sniff of dis
dain, started off.
Patsey detained her.
"But, mother" he persisted, .every-
body don't think O. u Jamesey as we
do, mayhap; and it's the truth I'm tell
in ye, Katy Sullivan will say NO when
he axes her; an how do you think he
will bear it? That's what worrits me.
He's little used to bein' refused his will,
an I'm fearin' he'll take it to heart. I
don't like to have trouble come to the
lad no more noryou do, and I've always
stood 'twixt him and harm whenever [
could. Don't forget that, mother, what
ever happens; and, praise God, I'll do
it now! though, bedad," he muttered,
scratching his head with a perplexed
frown, 81 wish to me soul there was
two of me-"
"Oh, WE'LL" says his mother, "girls
is a crooked, contrary lot, anyhow
though 1 haven't q word to say as vet
agin' Katy Sullivan, and I wouldn't for
git the whole bottle O. medicine she
fetched me when 1 was sick O. the faver.
It's a warm heart she has, and sinso
enough in her head, I'll warrant. An
if she has the two, she can't turn away
anice, gintlemanlyb'ylike our Jamesey.
But" She added, firing up with sudden
jealous wrath, ''may the divil fly away
with the other as stands atween 'em,
whoever he isl"
A droll look came into Patsey's face
a mixture of pain and amusement.
"Ah, now, mother DEAR" he said,
coaxingly putting his arm around her
and looking up into her face, "you
wouldn't be that hard on any poor lad
for fallin' in love with a girl like Katy
Sullivan. would we, now?n
His voice trembled in spite of his eff
forts to speak. lightly.
"Well, thin, an I would" she per-
sisted, sam more, too, when it goes
agin' my Jamesey. My curses on him,
WHOEVER he be, Isay! But lave me alone,
now; 1 must go to my work. and she
put him away a little roughly, and went
out of the room.
"My own mother would curse me-"
he muttered. .sNo, it must not be-"
He looked up to the colored print of
the Virgin hanging over the mantel,
and made a silent vow of remuneration.
Whatever happened, he would never
stand between Jamesey and happiness.
Poor, laundering, supplemented Pat
sey! 1t never occurred to him that his
brothers. welfare might not be as dear
to another as to himself; and so, with
the spirit of martyrdom strong within
him, he went to see Katy for the express
purpose OF resigning all his OWL claims
upon her and speaking a good word for
Jamesey.
He could not stife a throb Of happi-
ness as they met at the door, and he
held her hand for one moment in his;
but, fearing lest his courage might fail,
he sat right down before her and
plunged at once into the middle of the
subject.
"Katy," says he, clearing his throat
loudly, 81 have come to spake q good
word or two for nj brother Jamesey.
Ye see-he has taken a fancy Toto
marry you; an l was fearin' that l
might be in the way like; an bein' as
he is so much more Suitable for a girl
like yourself-so much more of a gin
tleman than me, ye know-lh have come
to tell you that I am willin'-I mean,"
said poor Patsey, looking up suddenly,
and seeing by Katy's face that he was
going wrong-"I mean," he repeated,
desperately, ''that can't niver, nicer
marry We myself, since Jamesey has