Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-05
CUNNING MRS. QUINN.

1t was quite an open secret in the
Brannigan family that Mrs. Brannigan
had taken villa down at Clamville-by-
the-Sea for the express purpose of offer
ing her eldest daughter Tilda extra facil-
tiles for securing husband
Both Mary Cadogan, Mrs Brannigan's
twin sister, and Mrs. Della Quinn were
aware of this, and as the summer began
to wear away these two old worthless
laid their heads together and decided
that they must hurry matters on bit
and bring Tilda's matrimonial quest to a
satisfactory conclusion.
I'D loike to do Julia favor, l would
exclaimed Mrs. Quinn, beaming as she
discussed the matter with Mary on the
back piazza. ''She's been mighty good
to me this summer.
"Julia's queer and she gets highfaultin
notions now and then, but her hearts
in the right place. 1t amt many girls,
now, when they've made their pile and
got as foine place as this, as would be
askin their ould time friends to come
down and stay all summer. Faith this
is the first time in me life that for two
months runnin I've had puddin every
day."
"Yes." declared Miss Cadogan. "Ju-
las good hearted, there amt no use
talking But she's enjoyed havin us
here. She told me if it hadn't been for
Tilda's COINS on in that old shed. there,
she wouldn't have had nothin to COM
plain about all summer"
After moments mature deliberation
Mrs. Quinn exclaimed, impressively,
with a broad sweep of her large right
hand
do you know what I'm goin to do.
Mary? Well. III tell you now. I'm
goin to get rid of that barn for Julia and
get an engagement ring for Tilda atthe
same tonne. or else me name amt Della
Quinn. and me invention has gone back
ON me-"
The shed in question stood at the bot
I tom of Brannigans garden and was a
most dilapidated cross between stable
and pigsty. entirely out of keeping
with the other portions of the villa.
The landlord seemed to have entirely
overlooked it when he was repairing
and repainting the other parts of the
establishment, and though Mrs. Branni-
gan had entreated him with tears in her
eyes either to pull it down OF make it
reasonably respectable, he had kept put
ting it off from day to day, until here it
was the middle of August. and not so
much as coat of whitewash had been
administered to the shed.
You'll have to help me, Mary, as
much as You can," pursued Mrs. Quinn.
First thing we want to do is to get a
halo for Barney McGivern He's foine,
honest, good lookin fellow, Barney, but
he amt romantic enough for Tilda. Ii
we don't she'll be hitchin herself to that
putty faced young Eugene Wyncoop. the
man wild the pedigree.
But what does Barney be wanting
wild halo round his head? He amt 10
angel"
"Oh, Mary, can't you see things at allp
don't mean halo Of that kind. But
it's like this: There's that Eugene Wyn-
coop, as is just travelin on his manners
and his pedigree, as he calls it. which
he's always carrying in his pocket
Tildas so struck wild the name and the
airs of him that she won't as much as
look at Barney.
What Barney needs is little of what
the poets call the light which never was
on land or sea. call it halo just to
save tonne"
That evening Clamville-by-the-Sea
was treated to two sensations. The new
fire engine arrived in town and Miss
Tilda Brannigan announced to her as
sembled family at the tea table that she
was about to go on the boards of the
Granville theater in the capacity of a
star
The fire engine had cost good deal
more money than had been expected
and therefore the amateur fire company
to which both Eugene Wyncoop and
Barney McGivern were shining lights
decided to give a performance of ''Se-
wanaka. the White Squaw," to defray
the expenses. Wyncoop. who was the
fire chief. Immediately offered Miss
Brannigan the leading role, and that
evening after fire drill he came up to
the Brannigans to talk things over.
They were all sitting ON the piazza
when he and Tilda appeared. He talked
to the company and then went over and
sat down by Mrs. Quinn.
"Here's something that perhaps you
would like to look at. Mrs. QUINN" he
remarked as he presented her with a
roll of parchment. I've just been
showing it to Miss Brannigan, and !
thought perhaps it might interest the
rest Of you. It's my coat Of arms, you
know, and my genealogical tree.
II trace my ancestry back to 1854"
he continued, with smile of pride.
1.-THE first Wyncoop, as you will notice,
was Archbishop of Canterbury in Henry
Xps reign"
Mrs. Quinn handed the parchment to
him without saying single word. But
no sooner were she and Miss Cadogan
alone than she astonished that good
woman by droning to herself:
civilian |, 1865; William II, 1887;
Henry |. 100; Stephen. 11S5; Henry IL.
| 1854
"Therel" she exclaimed triumphantly
ii knew that he was lyin somewhere.
J didn't learn much at school but know