Dodge City times., 1889-12-26

faced old woman, clad in the inevitable
| print wrapper of the Western house
| keeper. A brisk, quick, weary, good
he earted little soul, worn. out as are most
| American women by overwork, burned
| out by over-an anxiety to do more and do 1t
better And how here was aid, here re-
| lief, here younger, stouter arms.
so this is Hanna" She went up to
her and kissed her. How do you do,
my dear? I'm tickled to see you: You're
tired out, l expect. Is she like your
cousin, Pat?"
-Loike." echoed old Rafferty,. She's
his dead livin' image. She's as loike my
cousin Moike as a young cottonwood is
loike an old cottonwood
You remember William, don't you,
Hanna?" Mrs. Rafferty, said, as from an ad-
joining room came a spruce, trim, dandi-
fed young man. He was dressed for the
dance" to be held in town that night.
Speckless his clothes, black mirrors his
shoes; he wore a white shirt, q white col
lar, and sanguinary cravat.
A year ago he had been in Ireland see
ing after some property left his father,
and there he had met his cousin, Hanna
Rafferty,.
Hanna nodded and extended plump
hand, which Will came forward and shook
awkwardly. Then he retreated to the fire
and covertly surveyed her.
A round young figure clothed in q
dress, skirt rather, of bright blue cash
mere, which was surmounted by a snugly
fitting Jacket of scarlet flannel dark
hair, parted straightly and brushed back
from full, fresh-colored, girlish face,
face with thick black brows and brilliant
eyes, and a mouth which, if a trifie too
la1 uhi faofh an1
quite mirthful and risible.
"S'posin' you take Hanna to the dance,
William?" suggested Mrs. Rafferty,.
Can't" (more curtly than courteously).
I'm engaged" And he carried his fine.
erect, handsome young self coolly away.
His father followed him out. The door
remained ajar.
William, why can't We take her, too?"
"Her!" in calm scorn, ito dance in
Bubble! Why. she amt got gloves-nor
no style to her-a freckle-faced little
thing, whose words curl up at the end like
a shoat's tail-no, sir" The women with
in heard. Hanna crimsoned.
Don't mind, dear. Set down and drink
this tea And now, Pet, ask Hanna if
the boy obeyed you when he was in
Coolathogle.
L want to know, Hanna, did William
he was homer"
His father told him if he spoke to one
of them he'd leave this farm. which We
homesteaded before the Indians were out
of Nebraska, to some one else.
Should she tell? How he had spoken
of her? Why not?
He wasn't ever away from young Sarah
Sheehy while he was in Coolathogle!"
she answered deliberately.
"Ah, now!"
The young desaver!"
What"
Hes a-goin' to so homo next summer
an marry her"
Never"
Old Rafferty, leaped to his feet. His
wife sank weakly into chair.
A queer, he-' look came into the girls
face. She did not hesitate, though. She
] ~ her hand in her pocket and drew out
a letter.
Sarah Sheehy gev me this to give
Willum," she said.
Hand it here!" roared old Rafferty,.
He was fairly furious, stamping, foaming.
A fit desciDdint she of Tim Sheehy-
thryin' to inveighle nv 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 Raj
| ferty and his wife perused the brief but
loving epistle. When they had finished
| they turned to Hanna. Both were trem-
bling with excitement-actually speech
less But suddenly old Rafferty, jumped
up, and went spinning around the kitchen
like one possessed.
Il have it," he roared. 20. Ellen Jnnei
| 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.
20, no, sor; o, no."
He mus.," still keeping up his frantic
| dance of delight. -Ye must make him,
| Hanna. Yell have the farm one of these
days, and yell live here with the old
| woman an me, an we'll show the Shee-
| over the Raffertys-not by George Wash
| ington and the banshee of the
| O'Rourkes! Well show 'em, Hanna,
Be married on Twelfth Day. You an Will
| can drive up to Father kishalender at
| Hebron an be back by supper. Not
| a wurrd, Hanna; we'll show the Shee-
hys,"
The day after Christmas old Rafferty,
told his son he must marry Hanna. In
vain the young fellow protested, en-
treated, refused. But his opposition
| added fuel to the fame. If he wouldn't
| he must stsrve, be disinherited-and the
farm was worth $1,000! BY New Years
| Day the father had succeeded III wiring
ing from him q most reluctant consent.
| A blizzard blew up. The roads were
blocked, almost impossible, but no ex-
cuse would avail with old Rafferty,. Goto
| 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
we're married. They drove home. At the
kitchen door they we're 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, Willum, now! Well let the
Sheehys see-now! Thinkin' they could
thrap my son. I'm proud of We, Willum!
Shake handsi Good gurrul, Hanna!
Ouch, but the Sheehys can't come any of
their thricks over ould Rafferty,. He's
too smart FOR them. The fight is still on.
Whatll they say? o, Hanna, this is o
happy day! You amt changed yer name
though you air married"
| -Oh, yes, she hasl"
Wills 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 of this morning,
that erect, laughing, glowing checked
young man? And was that forlorn and
frightened and protesting Hanna? That
lovely, smiling, crying, blushing, alto
gether happy and winsome little creature.
-Wh-a-ht do We mean, Willum."
%, jest that she did change her name
| that's all! She was Sarah Sheehy-
now she's Sarah Rafferty,
sWillumi"
\