The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-12-27

passed as SAILOR. lie CLAIMED 10 U6 one
of the survivors of the battle between
the Merrimac and the Cumberland,
and that it was he who fred the last
shot on board the latter vessel, when
it, with colors still bravely flying, sunk
beneath the waves. Dearly did he love
to tell of the affair, particularly of the
part that concerned himself, of the
three hours spent under the water be-
fore rescue was effect. At the close Of
the war he took up "a claim" in Ne
braska, aud by slow degrees, in loneli-
ness and privntion, had accumulated
not a little wealth. Out of perilous-
ness he had seen peace come. A friend
ly and familiar figure was he to all.
Somehow people always smiled at old
Ratferty--tordially, too. There was q
comical kind of fascination in the face
visible between the shabby felt hat and
the huge comforter. of purple, red,
and yellow yaTn-a shrewd, sallow old
face with grizzled beard, bushy brows,
and youthfully alert, bright eyes. Then
his accent was delightful, his OWE
broad and hearty brogue being flavor
ed with Western infections wholly for
eign to it.
''On time, sir"
A whistle-another. A puff of smoke;
a distant roar; a vibration of the rails;
a shrek Of steam; a glare of light
then the train was laundering up-had
paused, painting, snorting, disgorging.
A girl stepped out and down on the
platform. ....
Hi, thar!' called ed Rafferty,. She
turned at the sound of his voice, and
went towards him.
YOU'RE HANNAH"
''Yis, sor."
Without alighting he stopped over
the side of the wagon and extended a
big hlue-mittcned hand.
''Glad to see We. Willum's comm
down to a dance tonight. He'll fetch
yer box. Jump up!m
The train trembled, screamed, pulled
out, and went swinging westward,
and old Rafferty,, with Hanna perched
up beside him, headed the horses fol-
home.
"An' how did We lave all the frinds
in Coolathogle, HANNAH Is Fathe,
O'Flynn still parish priestp Dead! An
Tom GradyP a noice little bye Tom was
must be most a mar now. What
married-an' ten childther! Bless me,
Hanna! An the Murphys-how's the
Murphy's. HANNAH
They We're beyond the crush Of coun.
try vehicles. The horses were SLOWLY
pounding their way up the hill, which
might be the boundary line of the
world, the jumping off space for al
save sky she could see over its sweep
ing curve. A rabbit scudded across
the road aud away through the shor
dun grass. From the creek below
came the cheerful chirp of q quail.
"All well, sor-the Murphys, the Nor.
ans, the Shechys-"
"Hanna!"
Something of shrinking came into
Hanna's fresh young face, but she
turned to him eyes wholly questioning
and innocent.
"Sors"
Hanna" and his voice was appall-
ingly stern, almost threatening, "nivel
let me hear We mention them individ.
uals again-niver! The Sheehys all
the natheral born enemies of our fam.
bly,. Me grandmother told me tho
GOODNESS began at the battle of Clon.
tart. Our ancestors were rival Kings
/ believe. However, the feud grew
downwards. Tim Sheehy's father.
bull thrampled down my fathers
wheat, an my father had the trcspassel
fined at the Assizes. Then there was
Tim an me. l beat Tim at hurlin' an
whatiyer does he do but go an marry
Sarah Connolly, a Joiner girrul Y.
couldn't foind in the three parishe.
good enough fur his betthers. Don
you talk of the Shechys to me. Hanns
DON'T"
Hanna didn't. Her full red lip.
were set in Il stubborn line, but hel
eyes, genuine blue grey Irish eyes they
were, blazed with mntinous indigna
ton. Westward, past the bare new
Methodist church, the square solemn
school-housc, a couple of little box-lik,
houses, then they were out of the tow
proper and driving directly northward