Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-06-05
ANNIE O'BRIEN.
A TRUE TALE.

DSibS NdiiiSN """J ~ eHSAA A''~A~'S -
by the boarding. house keepers who
always lie in wait for them. Those yet
uncallcd for sat about the decks. Wist-
full eyes turned shoreward anxious to see
a familiar face and form among all those
steerage ores.
Pat Nolan had come aboard in all his
bravery-a new blue coat flung open
that it might not conceal the shining
watch chaiu dangling from his vest
pocket, his hat tipped to one side in true
Connaught fashion, with mighty show
of white collar and cuffs and blue neck
tie, and his boots for once polished by
an "Eyetalian." He threw his shoulders
back and looked his best, for "1idn't he
come aboard to bring his sweetheart,
Annie O'Brien, home, and wasn't she the
purtiest girl in ten countries and hadn't
she crossed the ocean for his sakel'
Pat felt as though every one that saw
him must know his business there.
Standing still he looked about him,
expecting to see his little Annie sore-
where not far.
"Sure, an wouldn't she be as anxious
m MATE him rs he would be to mate
hcrl'
He was a little late, for there had been
a delay of train in which he came down
from the place where he was working as
coachman aud gardner. But surely
Annie would never have gone ashore
without him. lie walked about for full
ten minutes, looking everywhere, but
still missing the face he wanted.
Every now and then gay ribbon or
bright coil of hair would make his heart
dance, but it was never Aunie's hair or
Annie's bonnet. At last he made up his
mind tina. she had gone ashore; but in
that case she had left word for him, of
course-word where she had betaken
her.elf.
~ beg pardon, sir" he said, step
ping up to man who wore a gold band
upon his cap, and was presumably an
officer; ~ beg pardon, sir, but I'm Pat
Nolan. Is there a bit of a message left
for nc, do you know: sirl"
Not that l am aware" the officer re-
piled.
'I5 was Annie O'Brien," said Pat.
"She came over on this steamer; she
expected me to mate her. We're to be
married, you know, sir, and she'd lave
word where ShO is gone--Annie
O'Bricn."
The officer turned a curious, startled
gaze upon him.
"Annie O'Brien,' he repeated. "a
steerage pas:engerl"
'In coorse, sir" said Pat. "She' S
comm over to marry me, and she's
workin' girl. We're nayther iv US
rich"
The officer looked at him again.
al know the name," he said.
"You couldn't help noticing the
GIRL" said Pat. "She's a purity crayther,
is Annie, wild eyes like the sky and gold
en- hair and waist ye could span wild
yer two hands--barrin' she wouldn't
permit ye to do it-and foot light as a
birds upon the floor. A little jewel is
my Annie. You'd not fail to notice
her"
"Sit down a moment, Mr.. Nolan"
said the officer, ~ will make some in.
quiries. Wait here for me-"
"A mighty polite gentleman, though
he's as solemn as a funeral" said Pat to
himself. al hope he'll not delay long.
I'm wild to see Annie. wonder is she
cryin' her eyes out for not seein' met 1t
was what she had a right to expect-the
first one aboord." "
The officer was returning.
lie looked more serious than ever.
"Mr. Nolan, he said, gravely, "the
captain would like to speak to you. 1
will take you to him. We have had
very stormy voyage, as winter voyages
often are"
"But you come into port on as pleas
ant day as there is in the calendar"
Pat said, cheerfully. "A Christmas
couldn't be brighter
"But we have had very unpleasan t
voyage" said the officer grayely.
He opened the door of the cap tain's
cabin. Pat entered with his hat in his
hand.
The captain--a grave, brouzed man
with iron-g gray hair-sat at a table before
an open book, on which his hand lay.
"Sit down" he said.
"Thank you, sir. It's as easy stand
ing said Pat, with bow.
"You had better sit down." said the
captain. 81 may have to talk to you for
some minutes. l have ;omethinq very
very particular TO say if your are the
right man. Your name is"