Frostburg mining journal., 1895-07-13
ORIGINAL STORY.
Kathleen O'CoOle.

That was the picture | saw that
evening, long ago, as | walked slowly
down narrow lane, past an ugly little
house that looked ready totumhle down
Under the big tree sat little Kathleen
OCoole, the girl wife of old miser
Craw, who owned the crazy little
house near the lane.
Cousin May, whom | was visiting,
and had always liked Kathleen, and
May, who was an angel of charity, had
often assisted her pecuniarily. |, Il
youth of about nineteen, lad fallen
very much in love with her pretty
face. But now she was married, and
to a man four times her age.
According to the neighborhood gos-
sips. this is how it came about:
The O'Cooles came to Cokeville four
years ago very poor and with Il large
family consisting of seven or eight
children, father and grandmother.
Mr.. O'Coole seemed to be shftless
sort of man who soon got into debt-a
little at first, but by de grees for quite a
large amount. He borrowed money at
very high rates of interest from close
old money bags who seemed disposed
to help him. When the money came
due Mr.. OCoole would say
"Just let me have a little more,
Meester Craw, an III pay it all back
in Il lump"
And he always got it.
But wonderful thing had happen
ed which explained the misrr's indul-
gence. Matthew Craw, who had spent
most of his days getting money, not
always in perfectly honest way, had
fallen in love with his debtors pretty
daughter and resolved to marry her.
One day, dressed in his best, he
went and had Il long talk with Kath
leen's father, and Kathleen herself
was the theme.
''If you will let me have Kathleen,'
the rich man had said to the poor one,
Il will release you from all your debt,
but if you don't-"
''iIl let you an welcome, Meester
Craw,' interpoSed O'Coole hastily;
"an' feel proud that u daughter O.
mine can do so we'll"
When he had gone O'Coole called
Kathleen and very roughly told her
that sold miser Craw would give up
the note the day he married her."
Kathleen was only sixteen and
"wee bit girlle."
She wept and re- monstrated to no
purpose.
81 hate him aud | shall tell him So"
she had cried passionately, and she did,
too, but the enraptured old fellow only
said
"Ah, of course you do now, my little
wild birdie but you'll soon love me-
you'll soon learn to love me-"
81 won't at ALL" stormed Kathleen.
x + X
| thought of all this as | stood look
ing over the fence at the sad girl face
framed in its luxurlant dark hair.
Dame Rumor whispered that old
Craw had time with her fierce,
strong will.
Just then she turned and looked at
me. Such look-I shall never for
get it A wounded deer brought to
bay might have the same hopeless,
despairing eyes. Yet when she saw
me those great black orbs seemed to
turn to Goals of fire.
That night she went away. She
had lived with her husband only three
months, but already tie pure, girlish
heart had changed to a woman's hate.
She hated Matthew Craw.
Her father was furious and joined
in the fruitless search.
X
Several months after this ! entered
one of the big dry good stores in S..
A golden-haired girl bending over II
box of lace raised her eyes to ask what
| wished. A strange thrill ran over
me as those eyes rested on my face.
| hurriedly searched the chambers of
memory to fiud when and where | had
seen them before. But | speedily for
got it in trying to select some lace for
cousin May.
Finally the girl picked up rich
pattern and said
81 think this would suit you, SIR"
and again the black eyes met mine.
This time knew.
kathleen ~ | gasped.
The little face grew white as death
and the hands clutched the box des.
perately, but her voice was steady.
"Did you speak to me, sir ?"
"Yes, Kathleen, for ! knew you in
spite of your gold-colored hair. l
thought you were dead
You are evidently mistaken. sir,