Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-29

cunningly.
''Little enough, ma am, little enough, /"
said Terence, but I'll give Kattie's man a
hundred poun the day afther the marryin
Divil pinny more"
FAX, thin, tits no great match afther
all" said Mrs. Lyneham, gathering her
heavy coax closer about her as if to go.
Look at that, nowl" cried the other
woman, flaring up. maybe ye wouldn t
get an offer like it so handy agin Where
would tho likes av ye git hundred poun
or half av it,"
IAN where would ye git fine, hearty
lump av boy like my Andy? The best
smith that ever dhruve a nail in a shoot"
cried Mrs. Lyneham, fairly dancing with
rage.
How'd yero whisht, mother. Ye've a
dale too much chat out av ye," said the
bone Of contention, rising from the anvil
where he had been sitting chewing "a
straw in silence. IN take the CURL, Ter
cnce, ;" he went on. THE ovid woman
wants help in the house, an It's timo TUX
some one, suppose.
'''Tis, sure, said Terence Give Inc a
how'd av ye'rc hand, Andy. There, now, ("
shaking the blacksmith's fist heartily, Il
won't break mo word to ye about tho
money"
Il believe yc," said the blacksmith,
lounginS out of the door.
We'll, there, now, the match is made, "
said Mrs. Lyneham, smoothing back her
gray hair under her snow white mulch,
An divil a stCadier boy there is in Gurteen
than Andy. IT'S the lucky girl ye're
dartcr is this day, Mrs. Flanagan"
Fax, ma'am," answered Mrs Flanni-
gan, bridlng, Il knows thin as would
give golden guineas to be matched with
| Katie though indeed, ma'am, she add
| ed, softening, Il have no word to say agin
! Andy
Decd he minds his business well an
niver touches a sup of drink, said the
fond mother proudly. "Only if he
wouldn't spind so much time foosthering
about with thin little hins, bad luck to
thin, that lays an igg no bigger than a
marble" she added plaintively as the trio
started down the village street
The little hins" alluded to were the
one extravaganza, the sole form of dissipa
tion, that the burly blacksmith allowed
| himself and were thriving family of
bantams that he loved as his life. With
his own hands he had mado wire inclo-
sure for them behind the forge, and none
but himself might feed them. His thrifty
mother had huge contempt for his lit
tie ovid chickens as she called them, for
by their fruits she valued them, and Julia
Bralligan at the corner shop gave only
fourpence dozen for the dainty eggs.
But while tho plotters plotted in the
grimy forge the victim of their machina-
tions was out on the green demurcly foot
ing it opposite Patsey O'Rourke, her part
ner in the pattern. "
She was a tall, slim maid, with the jet
black hair and exquisite gray eyes seen so
often in the south. He was an immense
young fellow, red haired and freckled like
wren's egg, with eyes that looked as in
| noccnt and as simple rs child's. He was
perfectly happy now, going through the
intricate figures of the dance clumsily
enough while be Toasted his silly blue eyes
on his pretty vis-a-vis, who seemed
strangely absorbed in her own thoughts
just at present. When at length the trip
pings to and fro, the linking partners"
and mad whirls in the middle of the floor
and the stately curtseys came to an end,
Katie whispered to her big partner as he
handed her cloak to her:
Come here beyant, minute"
Patsey's eyes danced with joy at the
prospect, and seeing an air of mystery in
the girls manner he assumed such a
knowing expression on his guileless coun-
tenanco as made him look more like n
very wicked baby than anything else.
Soon the pair had wandered away up the
hill behind the old gray chapel and stood
by the wishing well, where thousand
little rags of all COlOrS and texture tlutter-
ed from the bOughs of the hawthorn bush.
each the record of some wish accomplished
by the good St Bridget for one who drank
of her holy well in perfect faith. Then
they halted, the girl sitting on the low
wall that went half way round the edge of
the water, whilo her companion stood
awkwardly by, with a dumb alteration
written in every line of his simple, manly
face.
Tuesday is Shrove," said Katie sud
denly, intently watching the fall of pob-
BILE into the clear water.
"Eh?" said Patsey mystified, and he
bent over to watch the rings that formed
where the stone had fallen looking from
them to Kattie's face in a vain endeavor
to see how her speech applied
Katie gave a short sigh and tried
again.
Dye see the chapel below" looking
down herself to where it leaned against
the hill.
Il do thak" answered Patsey, with re-
lief, feeling that he had failed miserably
before.
Then there was a pause.
"Well?" said Katie, little Grossly,
flinging a whole handful Of pebbles into
the water.
Patsey's face fell again. He thought it
easy to look down at the chapel, but he
evidently had not done all that was ex-
pected of him.
"'Tis mortal nate roof, " he hazarded,
looking inquiringly at his companions
face. Twas "=ddy Collough's father
in-law put the states on it.
Katie blushed to tho tips of her pretty
ears, and her lips trembled, while Patsey,
who, dense as no was, saw her distress,
looked piteously around him for inspira,
ton, finally hurting out:
Pm almost sure he was his father-in-
laru "