Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-10-09
KITTY'S STRATAGEM.
Why She Did Not Join the "Nun-
merry Business"

merry BUSINESS.
There was no doubt on the subject,
Kitty Maloney was the prettiest girl
III Shamrock-dale. Her eyes were the
blacklist, her teeth the whitest, and her
dimpled chin and full red lips were
certainly the most charming and al
Turing in all the village, so all the
young men had agreed long ago; but
they had also decided that Kitty was
saucy-no doubt about that either.
AS she stood in the morning sun
light in her simple costume, consist
ing OF a striped wooden petticoat. blue
and white striped calico short gown,
with a white apron tied round her neat
but perfectly misunderstanding waist,
and her trim ankles covered with
black stockings Contrary to the Gus
tom OF the villagers) appearing above
her rather strongly-made shoes, she
looked a perfect picture OF a sweet viii
lage maiden; good to look at, and
quit as useful as she was pretty.
Such, indeed, Kitty was.
Any of the villagers could have told
how she had worked hard, hiring her.
self out TO be maid-of-all-w to
Father Quin, when she might have
married, like the other village girls,
just that she might support her "ould
father in dacency;'' but now "ould
Pat" had been laid to rest a twelve
month ago, and the inhabitants of
Shamrock-dale were much exercised,
In mind to know why Kitty Maloney
did not marry now. Kitty could have
told them the reason had she been so
inclined, but she was not, and so they
concluded she was ''saucy."
Saucy Kitty may have been, but she
did not look it on this bright morning
as she stood with large wooden dish
under her left arm, out of which she
was feeding the hens, ducks, turkeys
and pigeons owned by old Father
Quin.
Some of the latter, their beautiful
wings flashing like silver in the morn
ing sunlight, alighted on the girls
head and shoulders, for Kitty was we'll
known to the birds; but to-day some
grave thoughts seemed to occupy her
mind, for she did not call them
"Cushla Machree," or any other of the
endearing names which usually
dropped 80 naturally from her lips.
There was wistful look in the soft,
dark eyes, and the pretty mouth
dropped just little at the corners.
Plainly, something in Kitty's little
world was not going to her mind.
When the food in the dish had been
exhausted and she had chased away
the wrathful old turkey-cock, calling
him "a greedy old gobbler," Kitty
stood for some time looking towards
the low, rather tumble-dowr looking
building which stood at the farther
end Of the one street Of the village,
and which served as the village smithy.
From its wide, blackened chimney
the puffs Of smoke apd flame were al
ready issuing, showing that the days
work had begun inside.
"Och, bother; II he wud but spake,"
said Kitty to herself. "But 1ts a
quare worl' altogether" she added;
them that you don't like likes you,
and them that you do like won't speak
their mind. Ohonel II Is Quare," and
with a long drawn sigh she turned TO-
go indoors.
The house Of Father Quin. the parish
priest OF Shamrock-dale, stood on a
slight eminenoe at the end of the one
long. struggling street of the village.
1t was q plain, substantial looking
house, without any pretensions to the
ornamental in It's style; in this charac-.
teristic the house resembled It's occu-
pant. for Father Quin was plain
man, and much beloved by his parish
toner's. most OF whom bad Ut some time
met with kindness at the hands of the
good priest.
just as Kitty reached the door her
master came out, bis round, genial
face lighted up by his usual pleasant
smile and his gray eyes twinkling with
genuine Irish humor.
well. Kitty, how are your fowls
this morningp" he asked Che was very
fond OF pet fowls).
Kitty looked confused, for truth to
tell, her mind was still running on the
"quareness" Of the world; but gradu-
ally the drift of his question dawned
upon her, and she ansv cred Il, but the
hearty old man must enjoy laugh at
her expense.
I'm afraid Mr.. O'Doherty has been
turning your head last night" he said
and then walked of laughing heartily
at Kitty's confusion.
Much care about Mr.. O'Dpherty.
said Kitty, with bounce as she en-
tered the clean, tidy kitchen. which
her willing hands had made briehtand
home-like. ''rd rather have Pat with
his ould leather apron than Mike
ODoherty with all his airs. goold
chain an all. Ohonel ohons< WHY
doesn't Pat spake" and poor Kitty
fairly broke down over the ..quare-
ness" OF the world in generap and her
lover in particular.
Now Kitty was by no means, a bold
girl, FAR from II, but. as she herself
put 1t. Pat was downright pro-
vokin'.r
Patrick Riordan. the young man
who caused Kitty so much trouble.
was as fine specimen OF manhood as
maiden ever set her affections on. He:
was the village blacksmith, and his.