The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-07


rods in silence. Pity for Jamesey an
love for Katy struggled together il
Patsey's breast. He wanted to sa
something consoling, but before he ha,
hit upon just the right thing Jamese
, spoke.
It's true what she said of Mrs. Cot
ter, he remarked, doggedly. can
fine woman she is, and knows gintle
man when she sees one. No doubt She,
support me like Prince, and say thanl
We besides. have thought her trifl
old for me; but what matter? I'll be a
old as herself if live long enough
Patsey. believe to me soul ri tak
her"
Patsey stared in open-mouthed aston
ishment.
but your heart! your heart. Jamesey
b'y!' he exclaimed, wildly. "How cal
We marry one woman and your hear
a-breakin' for anotherr'.
"Oh, shut up, will We nowr sale
Jamesey peevishly.
Light began to dawn on Patsey's
mind. They had reached their owl
door now. He burst into the room
where his mother sat, hauling Jamese,
after him.
"Mother, motherI' he cried, ex
citedly, ''here's the by as good as new
heart and all! Tell her about the widde
Cotter, Jamesey.'
at nothing, mother" says Jamesey
sheepishly, only I've about made up m,
mind to marry the wilder Cotter ant
let Katy Sullivan go hang"
HIS mother threw up her hands in de
lighted surprise.
"Glory be to God now'' she cried
''What have l said many's the time tC
you, Patsey Rooney Haven't saif
that woman loves your brother like hel
own soul'-haven't I?'
'.You have, you have, indade." as
sented Patsey, rubbing his hands ex
citedly.
"An' fine thing it'll be for We,
Jamsey, me by! Her first husband
niver did stroke of work from one
years end till another, an died at last
a-sitt!n' in his aisy-cushioned chair,
with a bit O. pork and cabbage in his
mouth. All! she supported him like q
gintleman. What won't she do for q
dilikit, handsome lad like yourself?"
Patsey gazed from one to the other,
and an expression of great satisfaction
spread slowly over his flushed, eager
face, which concentrated itself at last
INTO radiant grin.
"An' now" says he. with business.
like air lifting his head in unconscious
eXultation, .'an' now there's clear
field for the other lad, if I understand
the case rightly. How is that, Jamesey
by? How is that, mother?''
"Who cares for the other lad?" said
Jamesey. resentfully. "Hemay take his
Katy Sullivan now, and 90 to the deuce
with her, for all o. me!'
"Who is this 'other lad Patsey
out for him?" asked his mother, sharp.
ly.
81 know. mother" answered Patsey,
dropping his head in embarrassment,
while he tried in vain to steady his
voice; "the lad 1 speak on is but poor
stick, l know; and his well-bein' is not,
and never has been, anything to aitheI
of us, compared to Jamesey's; but now
as he will have nothing more to say
to KATY mean as she will not-bother
the wOrds!-but you know what
would be sayin'-as Jamsey is going to
marry the rich wilder Cotter, why,
now, there seems to be chance for
me.n
"Your" screamed his mother. "Oh,
that l should live to see Patsey Rooney
goin' ag'inst his own brotherr'
And she lay back in her chair, as
near to Mysteries as a healthy Irish
woman ever approaches.
Jamesey's heavy under-jaw fell, and
he stared sullenly at his newly-discov.
cred rival.
Patsey pulled himself together for 3
final effort.
Eyes; l am the lad as Katy Sullivan
likes" said he, humbly. ave liked
each other years ago. before liver it en-
tered Jamesey's head to court her: and
whin l found out what he was after,
took myself away to onct, though it
broke me heart to do it, and hurt Katy's
pride that much that I'm fearin' she'll
never forgive me in the world. But j
did give Jamesey n clear field, to try
his luck-I swear it, before God-and
Jamesey will bear me witness
"You did, you did. Patsey: never
dreamed that YOU had likin' for Katy,
or she for you," said Jamesey, dim per
ception of his brothers noble self-sacri-
flee penetrating his selfish m nd at last.
Patsey turned to his mother, but she
met his pleading look with an angry
frown. He could not bear it.
"Mother Rooney!'' he exclaimed, pas
sionately, "God thought your heart
was large enough for two or He
wouldn't have given you twins! Oh,
mother. mother! will there never be
room for me? Do you mean to shut your
poor Patsey out in the cold for always?"
It's meself that II go away intirely"'
He leaned his head on her chair and
gave way to bitter tears.
The mother-heart in Bridget Rooney
was touched. She sprang up i'm
pulslvely, and opening her arms, took
both boys to her ample breast.
''No, nor she cried; you are twins
both twins. God forgive me if have
left out one of yer
That evening Patsey went to make
his peace with Katy Sullivan, and he
did not find her difficult to appease.
As he was about leaving, still feeling in
the seventh heaven of happiness, she
thought best to lower his temperature a
little.
I'm fearin' to trust We, Patsey
Rooney" she said, pouting and laugh
ing, ''for KNOWN what We have done.
how can be sure that We won't give
me away again to the first man as hap
pens to cast a longin' eye toward me!
Who ever heard before Of lad so GIN
erous as to give his sweetheart to his
brother? All, but you do need lookin'
after badr'