The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-12-28
Old Rafferty, leaped to his feet His

drew out letter.
Sarah Sheehy gave me this to give
William" she said.
Hand it here." roared old Rafferty,.
He was fairly furious, stamping, foam
ing. "a fit descindint she of Tim
Sheehy-thryin' to inveighle my son
into marryin' her. Hand it here!"
He snatched the letter from her. She
sat there white indeed, with painting
breast and glistening eyes, while old
Rafferty, and his wife perused the brief
but loving epistle. When they had
finished they turned to Hanna. Both
were trembling with excitement -
actually speechless. But suddenly old
Rafferty, jumped up and went spinning
around the kitchen like one possessed.
Il have it, he roared. 20, Ellen
Jane, o, have it! we'll make him marry
Hanna-faith we will"
The blood came back with rush to
the girls face. She half rose:
30, no, sor; o, mop
He must" still keeping up his frantic
dance of delight. Eye must make him,
Hanna. Yell have the farm one Of
these days, an yell live here with the
old woman an me, an we'll show the
Sheehys they can't come any of their
thricks over the Raffertys not by
George Washington an the banshee of
the O'Rourkes! Well show 'em, HANNAH
Be married on Twelfth Day. You an
Will can drive up to Father Kisha-
lender at Hebron an be back by supper.
Not wurrd, Hanna; we'll show the
Sheehys"
The day after Christmas old Rafferty,
told his son he must marry Hanna. In
vain the young fellow protested, en-
treated, refused. BuA his opposition
added to his fathers anger. If he
wouldn't he must surely be disinherited
and the farm was worth $1,000. On
New Years Day the father had succeed
ed in wringing from him most reluc-
tant consent. A blizzard blew up. The
roads were blocked, almost impossible,
but no excuse would avail with old Raj
ferty Go to Hebron on Twelfth Day
they must. And go they finally did,
both silent, both pale, both evidently in
utter protest against the world, the
Raffertys, and each other. The sixteen
miles between Bubble and the county
seat were traversed. They were mar
ried. They drove home. At the kitchen
door they were welcomed by bright
lights, the congratulations of invited
neighbors, the steam of roasting turkey
and odor of pumpkin pies. More than
all by old Rafferty,. He was positively
wild with pleasure. He was capering
around the room, laughing, shouting,
explaining, now putting his head back
to roar the better, now bending double
to slap his leg and writhe in ecstatic
and speechless contortions.
Now, William, now! Well let the
Sheehys see-now! Thinkin' they
could thrap my son. I'm proud of We,
Williaml Shake hands! Good girrul,
Hanna! Ouch, but the Sheehys can't
come any of their thricks over ould Raf-
ferty. He's too smart for them. The
fight is still on. What'll they say? Oh,
Hanna, this is a happy day! You amt
changed yer name though you air mar
ried"
''Oh, yes, she has!'
Willis voice had peculiar ring. A
silence fell on the gay clamor. Blankly
old Rafferty, regarded his son and heir.
Was that the dismal and frowning
young fellow who had driven off this
morning; that erect, laughing, glowing
checked young man? And was that
forlorn and frightened and protesting
Hanna? That lovely, smiling, crying,
blushing, altogether happy and win
some little creature.
''Wh-a-ht do ye mean, William?"
''Oh, jest that she did change her
name-thats all! She was Sarah Sheehy,
now she's Sarah Rafferty,
'Williamr
"WHATr'
But Will put his arm around his
pretty wife and bravely held his ground.
''We fell in love with each other
when I was on the trip to Ireland. I
knew you wouldn't hear of my marry
ing her, so we planned I'd get mother
to send home for Uncle Mikes Hanna
and she, who was a great friend of
Sarah's, would let Sarah come in her
place. And we thought we'd wait till
you and mother had learned to love her
and then tell you the truth and ask you
to bless our marriage. But" with burst
of irrepressibIe laughter, you wouldn' t
let us wait"
But, William" family and bewil-
deredly broke in his mother, you said
an she heard-an' she said"
Ringingly he laughed again. "Of
course we did. That was the plan.
Father!" he held out his hand.
The old man, mute, wild-eyed, dis
mayed, looked at it in hesitation.
"But-but," he faltered, ''she is Tim
Sheehys choild, an Tim he went an
married Sarah Connolly"
"Well," cried sharply Mrs. Rafferty,
senior, so sharply old Rafferty, jumped,
''what differ did that make to you-eh?'
80, Monochrome at all, Ellen Janew
Fiercely he grasped his sons hand, fer
vently he shook it. IL hardly knew
Sarah Connolly-just by sight Ellen
Jane-O, no, that made no difference at
all-O my, mol"
And then he kissed the bride, and
laughed, and wiped his eyes, and told
the neighbors to draw in to supper, and
assisted on hugging Ellen Jane on the
sly till she smiled back at him.
MAY be- she said to him when they
were a moment alone, may be you
didn't bear that man a prudge on ac-