The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-12-01

ye; It's little sinse av We re own We have.
said Katie. looking with love in her eyes
at the eager face that confronted her.
.'WeTl. I'll be said by We, said Patsey,
firmly. Only spake the word.
We'll, thin said the girl. looking down,
..be mkt to me overnight the althar a
Tuesday. an bring-a ring wild ye, .
.Ay, faith, will I. said Patsey. em-
phaticalIy; an what win happen thin n
Gave that to me, ye omadhaun, =
said Katie, giving his hand the tiniest
squeeze as she turned to go. But Patsey
laid his hand on her arm, and with
his honest face full of joy, asked in an
ineredulous tone
An is it me ye want, Katie dear ?
Divil another, said Katie looking
up fondly.
Look at that now |! exclaimed Patsey
delightedly; an ye love me Pas if it
were too good to be true. me An
the red head av me an all p he re-
peated.
-Ay; do | Have conduct, now will
YEP
But it was too late, and there was moth
ing left to do but to smooth her hair as she
walked on by his side.
A bright March sun shone ON the little
gray chapel on the morning Of Shrove'Tues-
day, making the states look as new as they
did on the day that Paddy Cullough 5
father-in-law had put them on, and bur
nishing the sullen old Atlantic until ii look
ed as if it, too, had put on glorious
wedding garment in honor of its fisher
children. And they, old and young, alike,
light hearted as the veriest children,
thronged the street that skirted the beach,
or assembled in noisy groups on the green.
Everybody was there, and in holiday dress.
Even Judy Bralligan had put up the three
shutters, on which she kept her accounts
in roughly -chalked sketches of the various
coins owed her, and had left the corner
shop looking as if its eyes were shut; and
little Timsie Dwyer had come all the way
from Berehaven, wearing the whole of
his wardrobe waistcoats and three
coats-which was his conception of gala
costume. He was the merriest soul on the
countryside, as ready for fun as many man
at half his age, and now he was come by
special invitation of the bride elect, to see
Terence Flannigan's daughter married.
Katie was on the green with her people,
who were reinforced by Andy and his
mother, but she gave little heed to them,
for she was busy warning Patsy o Rourke
away with her eyes, and eagerly looking
for some one in the crowd.
Andy did not force his attentions upon
her--in fact he never looked at her at all
but stood staring moodily out to sea,
while his mother sang his praises to all
around At last Katie eyes frightened
and leaving the others she went quickly to
a little man, who came to meet her with a
series of curvets like rather stiff but
high -mettled steed, at the same time way
ing his hat around his head. II was little
Timsie, Gho stroye TO express his cOngratu
lations thus by dramatic action; but Katie
soon put an end to this spirited display,
and turning him sharply around, led him
away among the people. When they ap-
peared again the girls eyes were full of
eager expectation, while Timsie 5 comical
old face was screwed up to an expression
of intense enjoyment. Then there was a
general movement toward the chapel, for
the all-important hour had come.
With jokes and laughter the crowd slow
" crushed itself in through the open door
until the building was densely packed
but with different congregation from that
which few minutes before had chatted
outside. for in his church the Irish peasant
is the most devout and reverent of Worship
pers. As she entered, Katie had.called
Patsey to her side with look. and now
he stood close behind her at the altar steps,
while behind him Terence Flanagan and
his wife were helping Mrs. Lyneham to
lead her son forward.
Timsie Dwyer had disappeared.
Presently the ceremony began, and the
priest, stranger doing duty for Father
Murphy-who was in Macroom, marrying
his sister daughter to policeman-began
at one end of the row of couples before
him. Katie stood trembling, and casting
glances of agonized expectation over her
shoulders toward the door; Patsey still kept
his position behind her, Watching her in.
tently. and by her stood Andy, but he
seemed to listen to something outside.
Father Gallagher had come within two
couples of her, and was putting all import
ant questions to the man in his rich Kerry
broeue. In another minute it would be
for him who was to marry Katie Flanni-
gan to express his willingness to receive
her as his lawful wife according to the
rite of the holy mother church, for this
part of the ceremony is gone through with
every couple before the good priest blesses
the rings, sprinkling them with holy water,
in MEDIUM crucis.
One last despairing glance over her
shoulder All her face brightens at last
and her pale cheeks glow once more, for
there is movement in the crowd that
packs the aisle, and little Timsie Dwyer
forces his way to where Andy Lynehaln is
standing; he gives tremendous wink that
completely obliterates half his face, at
Katie, then, standing on tiptoe, whispers
in Andy ear As he did, the lazy black
smith seemed reused from his lethargy ut
least, and, muttering, Sure, ] thought |
heard thin, turned incontinently from the
altar and fairly plunged through the people
down the aisle, followed by Terence and
Mrs. Flanuigan, who besought him in loud
whispers to come back, and, pulling his
mother after him, who with great presence
of mind, had firmly grasped the tails of
his coat. Meanwhile Father Gallagher
had reached the spot where the truant had
stood, and while he paused for the little
tumult to subside, Katie quietly motion
ed her Patsey to the vacant place next
her; so when the crowd closed behind the
4 I ]