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

i l<et III Uc - SuOIt WOIO, tACAs SnS
!. said, somewhat GROSSLY, taking hel
l. dripping hands from the tub and wip.
ing them on her apron. "What with
Jamesey's billed shirt to be ironed for the
party tonight. and me days. washin'
still forninst me, I've little time fol
1 talkin'."
Il know, mother, know" said Pat
sey, deprecatingly, ..but it is of Jamesey
1 would be speakin'."
s.An' what's the matter with
Jameseyp" she asked in quick alarm.
''What come to the by?"
"Be aisy, mother dear; nothing s
come to him yet; and for the matter o
that" he added, laughing, 81 m fearin'
that it's what 'front.' come to him at all
that II work him the trouble"
"Patsey Rooney, tell me now in plain
words, what are We manin'?"
"Well." says he, cOncsely enough,
our Jamesey is settin' his heart on
marvin Katy Sullivan, and l hap
pen to know that Katy Sullivan has set
her heart on marryin' somebody else.
That's the long and short of it, mother. ="
"Oh. we hear enough. Don't be a
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 sniff of dis
dain, started off.
Patsey detained her.
But. mother" he persisted, s'every-
body don't think O. our Jamesey as we
do, mayhap: and it's the truth I'm tell
in We, 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. 1
don't like to have trouble come to the
lad no more nor you do. and I've always
stood 'tw.xt him and harm whenever l
could. Don't forget that, mother, what
ever happens; and. praise God, I'll do
it now! though, bedad,n he muttered,
scratching his head with a perplexed
frown, 81 wish to me soul there was
two of me.
"Oh. WELL" says his mother, "girls
is a crooked, contrary lot, anyhow
though / haven't a word TO say as vet
agin' Katy Sullivan, and | wouldn't for
git the whole bottle o medicine she
fetched me when l was sick o the faver.
! It's warm heart she has, and sinse
enough in her head, I'll warrant. An
| if she has the two, she can t turn away
u nice. gintlemanly b Y like our Jamesey.
But" she added, firing up with sudden
jealous wrath, may the divil fly away
with the other one as stands atween 'em,
whoever he is!''
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 girl like Katy
Sullivan. would We, now?"
His voice trembled in spite of his eff
forts to speak lightly.
swell, thin, an 1 would" she per-
sisted. IAN more, too, when it goes
agin' my Jamesey. My curses on him,
whoiver he be, Isay! But lave me alone.
now; l must go to my work." and she
put him away little roughly, and went
out of the room.
"My own mother would curse me-"
he muttered. mo. it must not be!''
He looked up to the colored print of
and made silent vow of remuneration
Whatever happened, he would never
stand between Jamesey and happiness.
Poor. laundering, supplemented Pat
ssyl 1t never occurred to him that his
Lrn+ ,o~l% lo
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 own claims
upon her and speaking a good word for
Jamesey.
He could not stife 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, Il have come to spake good
word or two for me brother Jamesey.
Ye see-he has taken fancy toto
marry you; an | was fearin' that l
might be in the way like; an bein' as
he is so much more suitable for girl
like yourself-so much more of gin
tleman than me. We know-1 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 l can't niver, niUer
marry We myself, since Jamesey has
set his heart on We! God S curse and
me own mothers would be foriver up
on mer'
"An' do you think because you have
always given up everything to Jamesey
Rooney that you will find me willin'
to do the same?" exclaimed Katy, bit
terly. ..Let me tell you, then, that all
the curses of purgatory should not
brighten me into marryin' him!''
aAh, now, that is no way to speakr'
said Patsey, with some show of dignity;
I'm sure you might do worse than
marry a nice lad like Jamesey."
"Nice lad, indeedr' retorted Katy.
with grimace of disgust. clark now''
shaking her finger saucily in his face
81 wouldn't marry him-no. not if he
had mine O. diamonds in both of his
flabby cheeks! An more, too!" she
continued, boldly: Il should hate him
ii he wasn't the twin of the dearest boy
in the world"
She beamed on Patsey in one OF her
brightest, tenderest smiles.
Poor Patsey trembled and covered his
face with his hands to shut it out.
katy, KATY he murmured, help
lessly, ..your smile warns me heart like
cup o tay, in spite o me. How can
We love the likes O. me?"