The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-09-27
A GIFT.

IL might have happened in London
or it might not. II any one prefers to
localize this story of true love at Liver
pool or Glasgow Oh any other British
city where Irish do live, he on she is
quite welcome to do so. / am not going
to vulgarize q tender idyl by giving
with the fidelity of a county court sum-
mons the precise town, village or other
minute description of the scene where
the poetic events to be now told took
place. T..
Mat Casey lodged with Tim Brennan,
who occupied a couple of rooms in o
small house in a court OFF a passage in
an alley which branched ont of a lane
in a back street. ''Sure you're a gintle-
man, for you're as good as the pig that
pays his rint, - Tim used to say to him,
and Mat would" reply, True for yez,
an it's meself that's proud TO be that
same" And then, if either happened
to have a shilling about him, they
would go to the Cobwebs inn and
drink it. If in luck, they would per-
haps have a fight or two in the course
of the night. If things were depressed
and people were low spiritedly peaceful,
they would in most cases have o fight
between themselves and then fraternal-
ly pump on each others heads or repair
their faces from the same stock of stick
ing plaster.
Mat was a travelling tinker, middle
aged, joviaE ugly, a fine drinker, a
good singer, and, rs Tim said, "a dhiyil
of a poet. Tim was an odd job eharac-
ter--an auction porter and a speculator
in small lots. Mat was q widower. Tim
had an extensive wife and a scattered
family.
At the entrance to the court was a
sort of half shop, half shed, with q big
room behind and a small one above,
where Widow Moloney lived and car
ried ON her business, which consisted In
the purchase and sale Of anything from
an old bedstead TO a coverless diction.
airy and from q broken candlestick To
an indistinct oil painting. Her husband
had been an attendant at sales and q
broker in q humble way.
After the inquest ON him-now some
1S months ago-Mrs. Moloney continued
the concern. She found it unnecessary
to 60 to auctions, as Tim and others
brought their purchases to her, and she
had q tolerably ready means, of buying
and selling, merely to add from her
neighbors, but also, being well known,
among the inhabitants generally In 9
small way.
She was about 40 and weighed Is
stone. A big shawl was always crossed
over her opulent bosom and knotted be
hind. She had q bright eye, a ready
tongue, a heavy fist and a strong head.
Mat was deeply enamored Of thii
gentle lady. OF course Tim was In hi
confidence, and many an untruthfu
word I'm praiseof Mat did he drop, rs i
by accident. in her hearing, and mans
an nnveracious account of his broker
h-eartedness on her account did he sigh
ingly narrate, with the addition Of hi
own private opinion that Mat was dy
ing or would kill himself for love o
her. Tim was as loyal a friend as q 30
Der though truthful knight Of old.
Tim said Mat ON the eve Of Wild
ow Moloney's birthday. 81 want yez &
give her this birthday card from me
It's a great red heart. with a skewe
sticking in it. That riprisints NOME
the heart, / name. The skewer"
tits an arrow, Mat-that's wha
they do be calling i'll"
E# GtyYYuTf FSs- Am AE1-fo - ,11I Twfal
sound about that same. They can't d
without Ms anyway. you see."
"Sorra a bit, an you want me TO b
afther giving her that?"
Eyes; Tveimproved it. I've made ]
stiff with red lead an put i'm fey
dhrops, as If it was the blood Of n
J heart that was flowing for her, q
she's 90 scornful Of me sufferings."
ITS illigant'' said Tim, with grea
admiration.
} IAN see here, now. I've write
|, some yarses TO her to the tune I
sO'Shaughnessy's Hat. Bedad, an the
rowl as swately i q Jig an as delue
herring as the crayther."
He sang them over in his rich voie
| and delicious brogne, and Tim got q,
| cited and promised his most devote
! aid. Then they went 70 tho Cobwel
and i'm due course were violently ejec
ed had d tussle with some stranger
about something Of which they had j
! particular notion or recollection, Id
each other and finally got home sorn'
how, though separately.
Next morning they with ri
clouded and unaching hrows, and I'll
started ON his mission. Mat waited
the Cobwebs for his return