The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-09-19
rom BASSETT'S LEAP.

-athleen O'Meara was one of the pret-
Test girl in the county Tipperary. Ia
the words of the old song;
"iIer hair glossy black. her eyes were dars
blue,
Her color stil changing, her smiles ever new;
Sopretty was Kathleen, my sweet little kath- |
loon,
My Kathleen O'NIorel"
Only she was Kathleen O'Meara instead |
Of Kathleen O'More.
Kathleen had many suitors, but she
was wilful, capricious, and hard TO please,
and there were only two who could boast
of receiving any encouragementfrom the
captivating damsel. Between these two
favored oues fierce rivalry existed and
they were constantly endcayoring TO
drive each other out of the field; bat
each held his ground manfully, aud
would he neither intimidated nor enticed
to yield an inch.
Tom Bassett had the advantage in
wealth ana position, and furthermore,
he was favored By Kathleen's fnthcr.
The other. Denis OHallorau. had youth.
good looks. and a dashing, brilliant man
ner tkat went long way toward win
ming girls favor. Although fairly well
Off, Denis was poor in comparison 10 his
rival. who, however, was handicapped
in his turn by his age. Not that Tom
Bassett was an old man, or eycn what
might be termed middle aged, but he
was a good deal older than Denis. In all
other respects the two men were fairly
matched. and Kathleen herself could not
tell which she liked best. She encouraged
first one and then the other in the most
rg, ravating way. 1t was clearly case
Of
"How happy could be with eithes
Wero t'other dear charmer away!"
However, neither dear charmer would
70 away or give place to the other, and
Kathleen was perplexed as to what she
should do. This position of affairs con-
tinued for some time; but at last the cul-
ni.aling point was reached, and Kath-
leen saw that she must speedily decide
in favor of one or none.
One evening, at a dance, Tom Bassett
resolved to test his fate at once by pro-
posing to Kathleen but fortune was un-
kind, orperhaps Kathleen suspected his
design and purposely foiled him-any-
how, he did not find an opportunity to
ask the momentous question, and was
obliged to content himself by begging for
private interview the next day. Kath-
leen demurely granted his request, and
demurely named II o'clock in the fore
noon as the hour.
Bassett's elation at this concession was
so great that O'Halloran noticed il cnd
became suspicious; so he, too, resolved
to try his luck. But fortune-or Kath-
leen-was no kinder to him than to Bas-
sett, and he also asked for an interview
the next day. Kathleen was at no loss
to guess the intentions of her suitor5.
and, influenced by spirit of mischief
she told O'Hallorau that he might call at
| II o'clock the next morning. Then
O'Halloran grew elated, and his triumph.
ant looks were regarded by Bassett with
misgivings; and for the remainder of
the evening the two men kept strict
watch and ward over each other,
each determined not to give his rival Il
chance of speaking first. Kathleen took
in the situation pretty accurately, and
had some difficulty in restraining her
mirth, as she saw how the rivals glowered
at each other,
The next morning Tom Bassett, ire
proachably dressed and mounted ON his
favorite horse, a big bay, rode forth gayly
to keep his appointment with Miss
O'Meara. Garryhougla, where Kathleen
lived; was seven OF eight miles distant
from his own home, and Tom COM
menced the journey full of hope and
joyful anticipation. His pleasant
thoughts were, however, put to flight
when, on arriving at four cross roads, he
came upon Denis O'Halloran, arrayed in
great splendor, and riding his famous
black mare, Shylie Bawn, which was
coveted by every one who saw it.
Involuntarily the rivals drew rein, and
glared at each Others and then, after ex
changing a suspicious salutation, eacl
waited to see in which direction thu
other was going For nearly a minute
both sat slil ON their horses, and then, a!
if acting under one impulse, they wheeled
their horses simultaneously into the roat
leading to Garryhougla.
This evidence that their destination
was the same was too much for O'ElauV
ran, and he turned sharply to his rival,
~Where are you going, Bassett;r Ii,
angrily inquired.
40 Garryhougla.
$50 am II"
Again the rivals stared at each othel
with increased suspicion and annoyance
for neither had any difficulty in guessin;
the others object in making SO early
visit to Miss O'Meara.
"Well, goodbye; must be off I'm il
a hurryl" Tom Bassett said at last, urg
ing his horse into a canter.
$50 am II" retorted Denis, giving hi
mare her head.
Side by side the rivals galloped on, try
ing 10 outstrip each other, until at las
they were flying along at racing speed
All doubt and pretence were now throw
aside, both men feeling that it was d
truth a race between them. On the,
went, mile after mile, the ground seem
ing to move beneath the horses hools, q
80 terrific pace were they rushiE
through the air
who wins uhe race wins Kat lean
tho loser quits the fieldl" yelled OHalle
ran, almost maddened with exci5sHea
and the rapid pace al which they wcy
going.
"Be it SO; it is a bargain sl,aute
Bassett iu return.
He was no less excited but more sell
contained than Denis and he dosgodlJ
] resolved to win or die in the attempt
"Goodbyel YoI may wish me JOY
already, old fellowlH screamed Dsuis ,
: moment later, as his mare put ona spar
and gained lead of q doaaa ypGs.
Bassett made no reply, Lut his fact
assumed a look Of deadly tmial,iln
and he concentrated his attention ou hi
horse, which soon regaihed lis ll..us hc
side the black mare An instant late
they swept round curvem the road, an,
right ahead of them lay the entrance I,
| lfQrrVhOupla. but fhp rate was -hnt