The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-03-28
SHAMROCK.
CONTINUED from third column first pagel

blind and pennlleSS! IL he was only mortar
he had been cruelty treated. SO to make
amends they gave him the fiddle that had
belonged to the dark man-that is the blind
man-of St. Budgets well, who had late
" starved. There was still a feeling that
he was unfit for holy WELL 50 he took
up post ut the LiScannor crossroads, and
there levied a toll on passers with the pro-
fessional heart-brokcn cry:
Remember the dark man! For Gods
sake. remember the dark man."
For nearly twenty years Andy haunted
1.-THE crossroads; he came to be honored as
one of the institutions of Moner, though
the folk considered there was much that
was uncanny about him, he was so 81
lent, and he hated the smell OF whisky.
He went to his post every morning with
such steadrness that Mary Shaughncssy
used to say that the noise of his stick on
the road was better than q clock TO her.
And every one he met gave him kind
and respectful Erecting. He spent his
evenings alone, lying curled up like dog
on his hearth staring at the spluttering turf
with blind eyes.
This was his best time. vet even then
he had lonesome and hard life. Often
I'm winter he came very near starving. for
the passerS by the crossroads had then
seldom a half penny to spare. He never
begged from any one except at the cross
roads. and his dog BOnaparte would not
have taken aims in his tin can anywhere
else. But Larry Roman. the blacksmiti.
is childless and has stern wite-needs
some one to protect and has made himself
guardian of every cripple and WitleSs III
County Clare: neglected children look to
him for sugarsticks and pelted dogs fly
to him for refuge. When the snow sheet
ed the mOors and had like to have soaked
Andy's roof it was Larry climbed up and
cleared the thatch. When the window
was broken it was Larry that mended il
with an Old pair of trousers; "f0r sure,
afI l., ~ On as through
them as through glass. When the bind
man was starving Silently, it was Larry
who stocked the cabin with meal and po-
aatoes that himself could i'll spare, but he
told me he did it "uubeknowDst, for Dark
Andy was terrible proud.
Now these were the times when Corne
Illus Desmond ruled Mohcr III the old kind
u haphaZard way, never troubling DenIi-
less tenants. Tut torhey died ana the
daisies grew over him. and then Madden,
the agent. speedily evicted Dark Andy
lie did not seem 10 know his misfortune;
he spent the day Of his eviction. as usual
mt the cross roads. and came back at night
10 Il ruin. Larry Roman saw he took the
change as a matter Of course, and after that
.rropiEg in the four corners of the cabin,
lie sat on the window ledge as if unaware
that nothing was left of his home but the
walls.
Next day it WAS rumored that Bridget
McCaura, of NIoher farm. had sheltered
Dark Andy. Bridget was warm woman,
a woman of three cows, a maSterful old
maid, who in her time had refused many
a pretty fellow, perhaps because she sus-
pected them of hank"ring after her live
stock her poultry, and her sixty acres OF
rocks. Then Father Peter flannery rode
over to see her Bridget was called out OF
her house to speak to him; he was AFRAID
10 dsmount. She stood in the narrow
gateway in front Of her farm, with her
arms akimbo, ready to defend her home
against all Corners. Peters heart trem-
bed he has a great dread OF angry
women.
us it thrue?" he asked-and was so
frightened that he looked even sterner
than usual-''is it tirue what I'm atther
hearing, Bridget AIcCaura, that we've
taken the dark man, Lonergan, to live with
rs it thrue? lis so.' said Bridget
But we're not going to keep him, are
We uowf'
Keep him? I am that" said Bridget.
Peter screwed mp his courage and told
her warily, thar though it was well meant
OF her, and Ills you have the KIND, warm
heart. Bridget, me dear still, that pro
priety forbade il.
He was afraid to look at her as he spoke.
Bridget was purple.
what. Il msfortnit ould omadhann the
likes of that she cried.
L know. | know" said Peter (this is a
pet phrase of his and usually means that
he does not know, Il know, | know. but
It's because we're 4 lone woman, feIl me
now are you listening to me? If yed been
married now, 'twould have been another
thing"
.'Niarricdr' cried Bridget with infinite
Married! If that's all. I'll marry
the craythur tomorrow.
And so Dark Andy was married to the
richest woman in ALoher. He seemed ia
different; as for Bridget, she had made up
her mind To shelter him. and there was IN
cid of il. she took pleasure III astounding
her nciGhhJrs.
There was never such excitement in
Glare as when those banns were read.
Every one si,W that poor Bridget Net aura
-"dacint WoInan"-had been bewitched.
All the old stories about Dark Andy came
to lfr. there was 10 room for doubt now
and the brarcst unbeheyers tre1nbed be-
fore him. There was many Il woman
would never hear his name without cross
ing herself. and he got the credit of every
misfortune between kIlkce and Nlnyarrd,
though some doubted whether blind man
could have the evil eye. 1t was felt tuat
he should he asked To give UP his post by
the cross roads. since i vas IHconH eiiehi
for the ncighhorS 10 have to climb two stone
walls to avoid passing him. However, no
one could he found 10 suggest this 10 hun.
so he still sat there daily, tor he liked to
feel thar he was earning his own HYeh-
hood
His dog still took coppers because no.
body dared withhold them. But l nave
been told that ne made no use OF TINS grujS-
eL tribute and buried the coins under the
trees.
One rough afternoon during my first visit
to Glare | was caught in Il storm OF ram,
and took refuge at the LlscaDnor cross
roads under 1t thick clump OF trees that
are stunted and bent eastward BY covering
from the sea wind. As l reached them l
heard a shrill cry, Remember the Dark
Man" Then | saw the blind beggarman
sitting huddled In a ragged great coat 80
much too big for him that till lie stood up
did not see how tiny he was. He bad
eoleful. peaked face, set in shock of gray
hair BY him sat n little brown dog-the
ouocrest of lnougrels-Wdth Il tin can tied
around his neck.
Andy was friendly that day. and talked
eagerly III shrill stammerins voice. |
found later that he WAS Vreteh"d in still
weather and loved the malicious rlsiI 81
the rain: he was bappiest when the wind
ratified III his oars and the rain whipped