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

Jamesey felt mortified and astonishe
beyond degree, and almost doubted hi
own identity as he slowly wendell hi
way home, SO new and strange was tn
experience of being unappreciated.
After his anger had somewhat cooled
he began to think of Katy herself; to re
member her laughing eyes and saucy
bewitching ways.
And knowing now that he could no
win her, he straightway began to fame,
that he was madly in love with her AM
to look upon himself in the interestln.
light of broken-hearted lover.
In this romantic character he intro
duced himself on his arrival at home
where the eOmmotion he caused mus
have somewhat soothed his wounded
vanity.
His mothers surprise and vexatiol
were equal to Jamesey's own, and Pat
sey, though he said but little, went of
to bed with burden of trouble on hi
heart compared TO which theirs was a.
nothing.
"Sure, Mother Rooney" sale
Jamesey, few days afterward, rs tn,
little family sat at supper, Its into ,
decline I'm goin' fast; your Jamesey'l
die young"
"Oh, now, don't say thatr' she re
monstrated, passing HIM the last muffin
on the plate, which he took ant
ate with evident relish. "Jamesey
Rooney wouldn't lay down an die be
cause slip of Il girl, turns cold shout
der on him.
"But mother, We don't know what il
blighted love, I'm thinkin'." said
Jamescy, heaving prodigious sigh.
..No more | don't then, she answer
ed, laughing. 81 niver cared two
straws for your father at his best
though he swore he worshiped me
very shadder, and when he took to the
drink and bate the life out O. me, it was
tired of love was then intirely. If all
the men in the world was offered in q
row to me this night. l wouldn't take
the gift. No, nor me pick o. the best
They're bad lot and a dirty lot, al
ways a-comin' in with their muddy
boots an a-spittin' all over the clane
floorr'
But I'm man meself," mildly sug-
gested Jamesey.
''Sure. then, / always wished We
wasn't, for the matter o. that. If we
was girl, now, We wouldn't be frettin
the life out o me with your .blighted
love. as We call it. The men Is always
a-ravin' an a-tearin' about their love
and their hearts afore they're married,
but who liver heard o their bein' trou-
bled with anything O sthe kind after
wards. All the same ] m sorry for you,
Jamesey by" she fastened to add, see
ing his under lip begin to hang down,
'.for you're poor dilikit lad, and a
tUin." Jamesey was appeased.
1.-The strength Is clane gone out O.
me-" he remarked. presently. 1.-The
work drags me hard an I'm fearin' I'll
soon have to lay by"
Lay by, then; do. for spell. :"
urged Patsey, kindly. ats only a lit
tie rest you're needin' after all. I'll
work enough for the two of us"
He was glad to do something for the
brother whose suffering he felt respon-
sible for, and so he says again, Gag
erly:
LAY by, Jamesey, lay by a WHILE"
and his mother added her entreaty.
Jamesey was only too willing, and
the next morning, when
the mill-bells rang, instead OF rising as
usual, he turned over in bed with lux
urious grunt and went to sleep again,
while Patsey hurried through his simple
toilet, tiptoeing round over the bare
floor with painful care not to disturb
him. and his mother put the largest po-
tato and the choicest bit of bacon by
the fire to keep warm against his COM
ing down.
After his late breakfast, Jamesey
lounged about home awhile and then
betook himself to the street. where for
an hour or more he picked his teeth and
pared his nails, leaning against lamp
post and watching the passers-by. He
wound up the forenoon in the corner
grocery store, where he had friendly
chat and glass of beer with a fellow
loafer.
The summer days slipped by; Mrs.
Rooney sweating over her wash-tub and
her boy with anxious eyes,
her heart growing harder against Katy
Sullivan every moment.
Patsey, working like tiger, doing
double work as he had promised and
feeling a sort of relief in it, regarding it
as some slight atonement for his guilt
in possessing Katy Sullivan's love.
Meanwhile he Stunned Katy as he
would the plague, feeling every time he
saw her, as he said to himself, like
thief with stolen goods in both pockets"
And Katy, she looked at Patsey
sharply out of the corner of her eve
whenever she got chance, and her
loving heart ached to see that he was
growing thin and pale.
At last she set her white teeth to-
gether with true Irish grit and vowed
that this state of things should come to
an end. and that speedily.
One Sunday morning, as the two
brothers were returning home from
mass. they encountered Katy Sullivan.
She looked fresh and blooming as rose,
and one of the boys at least felt his
heart leap at sight of her. As soon as
she saw them she crossed the street and
came directly toward them, with the air
Of one who has purpose. Without a
word of greeting to either she stepped
in front of them, and, looking
severely at Jamesey, began:
''It's glad am to meet You, Jamesey
Rooney" she said; "an' now that 1
have the chance, name to spake out
me mind, and feel the better for it.
Aren't you ashamed of yourself now?"
she went on. flashing her black eyes
scornfully upon nina great strap
pin lummuck like you. to lave your
work and 60 whinin' and pulin' round
on to your mother and
brother for Twin! An pretendin' that