The Irish standard., 1886-04-24

ssHaVo learO O1 Luem: siI, dAu u uiCo q
respectable family they are, by all ac-
counts. y
t.Well, yes; pretty much 50, | reckon,
for this part of the country--should be
glad to see: yon at Crohan, Mr.. Lee,
whenever you've leisure hour to spend.
NV cousins often wonder you amt
called and brought Miss Lee with you
of an evening"
'Your cousins are said to be very
1eious. and Of high literary acquire
ments," observed Mr.. Lee, not appear
ing to value over much the invitation 50
unexpectedly and patronizingly tender
ed, '.and tear quite out OF Miss Lees
sphere and mine We are plain people
here. sir. unambitious Of further inter
course with the world than what chance
sends in our way. Are you ready, sir?''
Gail ready; and now have the good
ness to remain just where you stand,
and look straight in the birds eye whilst
1 take aim.'' So saying, Weeks knelt
down. and resting the muzzle OF the
rife on projecting rock waited IN that
position for nearly FIVE minutes, giving
the bird time, as he said, to forget there
was second party in the play. "Now,
then, . he cried, at last, ''hold your hand
up, to attract his attention. and as Mr..
Lee complied, he took deliberate aim
and fired
ssCapital shot!'' exclaimed the light
keeper. s'Capita1 shot, by George-not
the first time you handled rife, l
suspect
"We-ell, no--not exactly the first, .
drawled out Mr.. Weeks, with q modest
complacency that well became his grave,
sallow countenance; GIVE handled the
article more then once I guess
Both now looked anxiously around,
where the bird might be likely to rise;
but no bird came up to dot the smooth
surface Of the water.
"Down rather longer than usual, .
said the light-keeper, at length breaking
silence, 'sand that's a sure sign yon
haven'tt ouched q feather of him. y
"Guess you are mistaken 2 responded
Weeks: she;s floating out there some
where as dead as door nail. Ah! by
cracky! there he is lying fiat on the
water; see!'-and he pointed with one
hand while he shaded his eyes with the
other-''see there he is!''
"Where? Ah, yes! by George! and
there he is, sure enough; we'll, now, who
could have thought it''' exclaimed the
light-keeper, seemingly much delighted
with the discovery.
The object, however, to which the
stranger pointed TO happened to be a
little whitish buoy, few fathoms be-
yond boat, that lay anchored Within
gun-shot of the island AS it rose and
fell on the light swells Of the sea, it
looked by no means unlike q dead bird
floating on it's back. Mr.. Lee saw the
mistake in an instant, and resolved to
humor it.
ssDead as a herring!'' he exclaimed
taking off his hat and rubbing up his
gray hair in an ecstasy Of delight. CHA!
ha! the villain! he's caught at last. ="
s'He'll never trouble you again, I'll
bet" continued Mr.. Weeks, coolly hand
ing over the rifle. Then laying his
hand quietly on Mr.. Lees shoulder. he
added, tsI'n make you present. of the
bird, my friend, for really think you
deserve it richly, after such al almighty
waste of powder.
The ight-keeper gravely bowed his
thanks.
"Well, there's one condition I would
make. MI. Lee, and I kinder think you
will not object to it; namely, that you
stuff the creetur, and hang it up here in
the passage among the fishing rods and
jack lines,''
Certainly. Mr.. Weeks, most certain
ly, sir, your wishes must be gratitied."
s.And look here; you'll have the good
ness to use this for label;;' and he
drew a card from Il richly chased silver
case he carried in his breast pocket, and
handed it to the light-keeper; "atfix
this, if you please, to the upper mandi-
BILE, that your visitors may know who
shot the bird--not that care to make a
personal boast about it-for did you
know me we'll, you would say if ever
there was man who despised boasting,
that man is Ephriam G. 3, Weeks. But
I've notion, somehow, that it would
be inst as we'll for the old European
countries here to know what sorter peo-
ple we are in the new world beyond, and
consequently think it's the duty Of every
free-born American, wherever he goes,
to enlighten mankind as to the character,