The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-07-29
like eyes, lilnping slightly as she crossed

like eyes. lilnping slightly as she crossed
the room.
"Girls alive, don't be fustered," said
Lanigan, breathlessly. "Cissy, stir up
the fire; be quiet, Peg, there's young
man outside lookin' for wife; he must
get married this Shrove, an he's wait
in at the door,"
"Who is he, eroo?" asked Peggy, the
youngest.
"Spake aisy-Phelim McCaul," replied
her father, with nod, at once threat
ening and explanatory. I'm goin' to
give him the pick o. We, an tits long
time till We get as good chance again."
'Shure, he's runnin after Mollie
O'Rafferty,' interjected Cissy, pausing
in her operation of sweeping the ashes
under the CRATE.
eyes, but that's all broke off now"
| answered Lanigan; hes tearin' mad
an 'ud marry the divil's daughter for
satisfaction. Here, don't waste any
more time 'ramashin' there, but sit
down. all of We, about the table, Kitty
here, an Cissy at that side, an you,
Peg, at this, an don't We get up when
he comes in, or lave on to be surprised,
but be nice an pleasant to him, for ]
said We were all gone after him, be
| jabers."
And, silencing the litter with which
the young ladies took their places, he
hurried out to Phelim, who, when he
was introduced a few minutes later,
found the maidens demurely seated in
the positions indicated by their fond
parent.
| There was a decent interval filled oy
improving the conversation, while
Bridgie, the handmade of the estab-
lishment, brought in materials for
punch, and it was only when the tum-
blers were half emptied that Mr.. LAM
gan preached the subject which occu-
pied the thoughts of all.
"Now Phelim McCaul," ne said, rising,
and unconsciously initiating the man
ner of a gentleman he had once seen
| auctioneering cattle in Killarney,
''these are my three girls, the same l
was tellin' We about. That's the eldest,
Kitty; I'll give her 6 500, dry money.
and there's the second eldest, Cissy, and
she has e 300 to her name; an here's
Peggy, the youngest, an the man who
takes her now will have 6 200. So there
you are, me bouchal, an which of 'em
will you choose?"
Mr.. McCaul rapidly worked little
sum in mental arithmetic; naturally,
he decided on the E 500 damsel, then he
glanced carelessly at her face.
| fhi,,l, CT bo ,,ov1,o1 5ofocor
TALLY, iii take the eldest young lady,
if she'll have me. The other two are
very nice, indeed, an it's not the first
time I heard of EN- Che was only dim
| ly conscious of their existence until that
EVENING" "but think tits only proper
| to give her the refusin' of me-"
There was brief silence, cinder fell
| from the glowing mass between the
CRATE bars, Cissy Uttered furtively,
Peggy leaned forward, her elbow upon
the table, her dimpled chin crushed in
the palm of her hand, watching the
episode with the pitiless eyes of Is.
Kitty sa5 perfectly still, but her demure
mouth was lifted at the corners, ard
there was light under her half-closcd
| lids like the CLEAN of knife loosened IN
it's sheath.
The disinterested Phelim rose and ap-
preached her.
"Will you have me, miss?" he asked,
| gently--perhaps at that exact instant
he forgot the 500; hope he did.
Kitty's head sank lower; there came
spot of scarlet on her cheeks.
ooh, yes, indeed" she whispered.
"Begor, that settles it," cried Lapi-
gan, drawing quick breath, "she's me
own favorite child, the first of the
| clutch, Phelim, an say it without any
shame to the others, you've got the
pick of the bunch. Sure, don't know
what we'll do at all, at all, without her:
but, anyway, I'm glad she's settled, and
| has good husband, an since she was TO
go. there isn't wan I'd rather have her
before your own self. Take her, an
| God bless We, an may the first boy be
bishop! Cissy, girl, run an get up the
tea; help your sister, Peggy, avick,
while Phelim an mesself settle little
bit O business here, as our heads are
COOL"
And overruling very faint protest
| on Mr.. McCaul's part, he drew the young
| man into a corner, where a little, old
| fashioned cabinet stood, and presently
both men were deep in the examination
| of a bank book, greasy with long use,
| and also mysterious ledger which the
girls knew to be opened only upon the
| most momeHtous occasions.
The examination Of the books con-
cluded, Mr.. Lanigan remarked genially,
as he pointed to an empty chair ut the
head of the table on whose snowy cloth
the scanty array of household treasures
was already glittering:
l ct sent over For Rather Pat nc was