The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-28

The Luck-penny sucks her thumb
and crows contentedly; womanlife,
she knows she is the center of attrac.
ton.
When the last visitor has departed
the Dog" picks her up, and says, en-
phatically:
"Kinchin! It's you as brought the
luck to the old man. Now, look here,
three parts of that Slain belongs to
you, it does!"
And he meant it.
1892.
A bright, fresh morning, with few
white clouds scattered about the heav-
ems, the better to enhance the blueness
of the sky beyond. A happy spring
breeze dashing round corners, and
playing the very mischief with silk
hats and dainty skirts, whistling
through telegraph wires, and covering
the harbor with a coating of continu-
GUS white foam. A morning on which
to feel thankful for existence.
1t is easily seen that something I'M
usual is affecting the inhabitants Of
Potts Point, that fashionable suburb
OF luxurious Sydney.
At st. Mary's church door l find a
large crowd assembled, representing
all ranks of society, and, for the first
time, obtained some dim idea of the
event | am about to witness. In order
to make doubly sure l question an
ancient lady, whose dress suggests
connection with some charitable insti
/ tuition.
At first she seems inclined to treat
my thirst for information with con-
tempt, but finally a desire for gossip
overcomes her reticence. and she con-
descends to tell me all in one breath
that This ere is to be the weddin' o.
Miss Athelwood; not but that 'er name
amt Athelwood, but Kellarey. 'Er as
'dow'd the alms'ouses down the street
which times bein' bad an lone wild
der as 'ad no husband an whose son is
doin' is last stretch, bein' as innocent
as a babe unborn. An rheumatic
bein' that bad, she would curse, only
she wouldn't. And Miss OSullivan, as
lives in No. 9, said as 'ow Miss Athel-
wood was worth well-nigh 'alf million
of money if she was worth penny
not but that she shouldn't be, seem as
'ow she had been born on the gold dig
gins, and every one knowed them was
good times. And a prettier and better
lady never stepped, Begin 'er pardon
for sayin' So
The old woman, once started, was
hard to stop. But l was interested in
Miss Athelwood, SO ventured an in
quiry as to her parentage.
"Ah. well may yer say that not but
what yer mightn't understand, seem
as 'oW ye're a stranger in these parts.
The poor young dear never 'ad no ia
Their to know but Mr.. Athelwood, the
lawyer. | card tell she were Just
fetched up from them gold fields by
Teller called Kellarey-a miner chap,
who give her to Mr.. Athelwood along
of fortune which e said was 'ers
That's twenty year or more now-the
same year as my good man was took
by the perlice fer the Orange BUSH
rangin case, an i'm not never so much
as 'avin' a 'alfpenny of the money,
but"
l stopped the dear old lady's family
history by asking whom Miss Athel-
wood was about to marry. AS put
the question an old and villainously
dirty swagman placed his roll of
blankets down at the church door and
pushed his way toward us.
in begin yer pardon" my lady
went on, Miss Athelwoods a-goin to
marry, as it's not in my mind to re-
member-a dock or hearl, but | can't
say which on 'em. Haide-de-camp to
the governor, they do say e is. But
look! look, ere they comes!''
Carriage after carriage rolled up to
the church door and set down its load
OF fashionables. Then, amidst contin-
nous cheering, Mr.. and Miss Athel-
wood arrived. She looked surprising
ly beautiful, and l noticed that the old
swagman was so overcome with as
constituent that he kept his eyes star
ing at the door long after she had
passed through it and we had rushed
into the church to see the ceremony.
My whole attention was devoted to
watching the bride. I could not drive
her romance out of my head. She went
up the aisle homeless girl, the prod
uct of a gold field, and returned to
the music of Mendelssohn's wedding
March" a countess and a member of
one of the Oldest families in Europe.
After all the carriages had rolled
away and l was turning to go the old
swagman touched my arm, saying:
"Miste-! I'm a-goin' to get yer to do
me favor!'
Asking him what it was, he replied:
Lets go somewhere out of this,
where we're alone, an I'll tell yer!"
When we had adjourned to more
fitting place my companion spoke.
II guess you'd call me a liar if 1 told
you that was The man as brought up
that girl as we've just see married?
Bat l amin Dog Kellarey, sure
enough, i'm as give 'er into Lawyer
Athelwood's 'ands twenty years ago,
with er share of the mine that PANIED
out so rich"
why don't you go to her, then? l
hear she's been hunting high and low
for your"
That's Just 1t; l know she has. But
dyer think I'm a-goin' into the com
pany O. the likes O. 'er friends? Not
me! I'd be maxim fool o. the girl,
and she'd be ashamed O. 'erself. MOI