The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-10

the gardenin'P And it's yerself that
knows what swate voice that is, CAP
tain"
/ followed him into the garden and
found that under Miss Maud's instruc-
tions he had cleared a corner previ-
ously given over to waste and weeds
and was rapidly bringing it into some
thing like respectability He worked
hard that day and earned a right to
rest and be thankful at night
aye see, captain" he remarked con-
fidentially to me, as | met him wash
ing away the marks of toll at the
pump, Eye see. Pm that soft-hearted
wild the ladies. Divil bit of me that
doesn't do me best to oblige thin when
they come to me with their murtherin'
illigant talk and sez: Michael, will ye
do this?' and Michael, will We do
that?' All, it's mesilf that always was
a favorite wild the ladies"
The man from Colooney was per-
haps not far out in his assertion.
There seemed to be movement in his
favor among the females, from the
mistress to the milkmaid. The mas
ter looked up with true English dis
gust.
Because the mans impudently good
looking and picturesque you rave
about him. Lazy fellows, all his sort.
Who ever saw him run or get out of
his lazy shuffie?"
81 have" said Miss Maud. He
worked like a horse when brought
him into the garden"
l ventured to hint, sotto voce, that
anything would brighten up under the
influence, and so on.
"That's foolish, and it isn't true.
The man from Colooney," said the
young lady, "is good worker if you
only manage him right"
One morning a hullabaloo arose in
the vicinity of the stables. The mas
ter, Miss Maud aud myself were close
by inspecting the young lady's ponies,
and we hurried up. A stable boy had
lost five shillings from his coat as it
hung in the stables, and was loudly
lamenting the fact. The men stand
ing around looked suspicious. The
man from Colooney slept next to the
stable. The foreman, distrustful of
anything Hibernian, gave voic e to the
public sentiment:
NJim thinks the Irishman has taken
it, SIR
The man from Colooney was close by
and heard it. A flush of crimson shot
straight to his bronze cheek, and he
took half-step forward. Miss Maud's
clear voice stopped him.
"What shame! How dare you say
such thing! He would no more take
it than l should"
The man from Colooney held his
head high. Somehow we forgot his
rags as we looked at him.
aGod bless you, MISS" said the man
from Colooney. "Thank you"
Nevertheless the Englishman looked
askance at him. The man from Co.
looney went solitary for a few days.
The last day of harvest came. We
all went forth to see the last loads
brought home. Miss Maud drove the
ponies afeld, two vicious little brutes,
that ought to have had Hercules tc
hold them. She drove on before US
with confident air. The master
anxious, shook his head. He did not
like the ponies, but he was as wax il
his daughters hands.
The man from Colooney was in his
element that day. He talked anC
laughed with the women, his impuden
good humor bubbling up like fnt
champagne. He worked, too, with thu
best of them, making light of toll, al
which he usually would have looked
aside.
"rl be going on my way tonight,
said he, as stopped by him once tha
afternoon. "It's pinin' for new adven
lures 1 am, so you'll see me no more
Maybe I'll go along way Off"
Towards dusk the last load was filled
and dispatched homeward amid cheers
Miss Maud and the ponies headed tn,
wagons round by the road; the rest o
US sought short cut through thu
wood, SO as to reach home in time tt
welcome the little procession on its ar
rival. Going through the wood th'
man from Colooney burst into song
tender and Irish. The women husheC
their clatter and listened, the bundle
of cleaning on their heads swayins
harmoniously with the tune.
A startling sound came upon US a
we struck the lane-the sound o
horses feet dashing along the hare
ground in uncomfortable flight. TIL,
lane ran down hill there, terminating
at the foot by an old lime quarry
hundred feet deep. We gazed up tn,
hill to the turn, the noise coming
nearer and nearer. The man from
Colooney had ceased his song and stooC
watching.
"Maud's poniesw said the master
and clinched his teeth hard.
They came round the corner like +,
whirlwind, galloping together like
the demons they were, their mistress
holding to the ph@ton, but helpless.
thought of the lime quarry, thirt.
yards away, and turned sick TIL,
women screamed and tainted; the mel
stared at the coming whirlwind anC
groaned. What could stop them in 81
short a distance?
| "Stand clear" The man from Co
looney's voice rung out sharp an
strong. He had gone step or tw
to meet the ponies as he spoke, an
stood there, fair and square, turnin
up his ragged shirt sleeves.
Crash! The man from Coloone
went down before that awful rush, bu
his hand grasped the brides. Up, an
down again, the blood flowing froI
his face, and again up, and agai
: down, but still hanging on to the ma
beasts until they paused, tremblin
i. and wild, on the very edge of th
quarry.
: "My poor fellow" The master ber
over the man from Colooney as he la
on the bank, painting and ghastl.
crushed to death. He turned his fac
} round and smiled feebly.
7 "'Tis young miss he wants." said
9 woman.
r Miss Maud,was at his side Instant.
She laid her hand on his damp for
t head and then, with a womanly in
, pulse, bent forward and kissed hin
L | think that kiss was his passport fC
: the long journey he had spoken of, fc
n when the girl raised her head the ma
e from Colooney was dead.
v She BI O3e Him.