Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-08-23


only me size an reputation for hghtin'
qualities saved me from a beatin'.
81 went back TO report to the agent, an
me heart smote me. As ] was passin the
barracks ! thought of the small sum they
were evic'ed for and said TO meself: Mike,
it's a dirty trick We did the day, to put old
Loughran. and Kitty on, in the world, an
now that yer duty's done, ye'd better put
them under the thatch again an not have
yer fathers curse on ye.' An witt that !
went to me room an got the price Of the
rent to take to the agent.
when ! walked in he says We'll, Muir
ply, did We put them out" 4 did that,
says !, AN ! never did a worse Job in me
life. 'How's that? says he. Never
mind says /, an with that he laughed, an
says in KNOWN way: 'Kittys a fine bit
of a girl, sweetheart, maybe?' not a
bit, sir, says l, for the members Of the
constabulary can't marry, do We mind, an
I'd never thought OF Kitty for a sweetheart,
but l did then, an her big eyes. an rosy
cheeks, an sweet voice came between me
an the agent, an l couldn't see him for a
time, an before ] thought OF payin the
rent. he spoke:
well says he, itll be hard fndin'
another tenant for the old place, but had
to make an example of some one
Maybe could lind ye tenant, says
/, If yed tell me the rent We want, thinkin'
quick
"'There's little land, an it's not worth
much. an tenants are scarce, so if We can
get me - year for it, it will do says he.
1T might be- long before We get ten
ant, says l. True SAYS he, An If | can
get We one at once would a do9' says |.
"He thought Tor a minute, an then
says: Yes, if it's a good tenant. Then
says /: I've a friend that wants me to get
him place, an if yen rent it to me for
him, l n take it at - an hold it till he
can come
"'Will We be surety for the rent, says
he Aye says !. make 1t in me name,
an before l left had the old place rented
an the papers signed an in me pocket. an
so he could not object ! paid him down the
money l had in me pocket before ! left.
~ went back an found Kitty an the old
man sittin' on their traps, an every one
cursing me an the agent an the lord thai
owned the place Il was some time betOr,
/ could make them understand that / had
rented the place, an when drew the nails
from the door an asked them TO help mt
carry the things in again they let out q
shout that the agent could hear. an viii
/ the things in they went
"Wheu everything was i'm ] went tC
| Kitty, an says /. 4 carried We out the frs
/ thing. an now I'll carry We in the las
/ thing, that Scripture may bee fulfilled a
/ Father Gilhooly used to say. She was TO
/ gett.n' away from me, but the womeI
wouldn't let her, So ] picked her up in m
arms while they all laughed an shouted
/ an a, ] passed over the sill again with he
| stopped me head to get in the door, an j
was then ! whispered, Can the fly come
/ back for the Crumb again" If he don
wait till the law sends him. says she
/ openin her great eyes, an a She looked a
/ me | knew I'd have 10 get out OF the con
| stabulary. the precious burthen that SIN
was.
"Oh, but there was a time when tn,
agent learned that the old man an hi
| daughter were back again, an as be wa
strong with the officers, ! was put to do al
| that was dirty in the county. After
/ while he had me transferred to LongtOrd 5,
/ that / couldn't see Kitty, an we so hot il
/ love that We were dying 10 see one anothe
every day. However, one day ! got leave
an had Kitty meet me in Dublin. an
there We were married. Kitty went bacl
to Ballinamuck without her husband
name, an l to Longtord to try an get free
of the service. When the agent heard
was tryin' to get free he interfered, be
cause had the lease on the place, an h.
/ felt sure Of gettin' the rent.
Il got a letter last winter from Cor
RYAN. that's in New ork, tellin' me al
about the strike on the cars in Brooklyn
an l says: Mike Murphy, now's We
chance. Goto America: We can get worl
at once, an then We can send for Kitty an
the old man ! thought it over for day
an then, says !, If they won't accept III
resignation, I'll accept it meself So
called meself into executive session, pre-
scented the resignation, accepted il unami
mously, an that night. bein' free man,
| cut for Dublin. From there / went t,
Southampton, shipped as a stoker, an,
reached New York while the strike was on
l came over to Brooklyn, was put on car
an there, thank God, I've been ever since
an sendin money to Kitty to pay tn
rent.
"Was afraid of theIstrikers? Me, tina
| had been evictn' at home! Ridiculous
man alive
SIS Kitty anxious to come here?"
"Sure she's countin the days. | have
! little house along the road, with bit 0
ground around it, picked out for her an
the old man, an, please God, I'll hav
! enough money saved come this New \ ca
| TO bring them over an put few traps o
| furniture in the house, an then
Snap. Bang. Whizz. and the car cam
TO a standstill.
bad cess to the fuse, it's burned on
again exclaimed Michael Murphy, as h
| jumped from the car.
While he was adjusting a new one t
| continue on his trip, a car came along il
the opposite direction. The reporter bad
| Michael goodnight, and rode back 10 tn
city, thinking OF the Joy there will be il
that little house with "bit of groun
around it, after New Year.