Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-10-01
Lucky God-Child.

p'oSdh''E' Idi Da'h Ill tIic Iocal HIS
tory Of Ballycarney, it was said, an
| O'Farrell had betrayed Malone TO
the English. A second version of the
vendetta's origin was that generations
before II Malone had been suspected Of
purloining certain hens, ducks and
other poultry from the or arrell farm
yard. Whichever account was the true
one, the fact remained thai. beyond the
memory of the oldest inhabitant, the
O'Farrells and Malcnes had been at
odds. Indeed. but for the humorous
schemes, and kindly withal, Of the Rev.
Peter Walsh. the families might have
continued foes to this day.
1t came to pass that the head Of the
Malone household was one Shaemus
Veg. or little James," Wiry. urgu-
mentativc old farmer, who still wore
the Anticipated knee brooches and
buckled shoon Of the early century. At
the same period the opposition faction
was headed by Maurya OFarrell. an
elderly widow; who, being an Oar
rell, both by birth and marriage, natur
ally cherished double dislike for the
Malones. Her hatred was fully re-
ciprocated by old Shaemus Veg.
| For years Father Walsh, the village
pastor. labored earnestly to make
peace between the warning households,
but in vain. Shaemus Veg positively
declined to meet Mrs. O'Farrell half
way in the negotiations for peace;
while the widow was equally lie
| termined on the opposite side Father
| Walsh would have given up the at
| tempt In despair had not fate come to
| hi int II a.
| upon the scene.
kathy Ryan was n baby-and q TO-
markably plump and vociferous baby
at that. Her father and mother were
well-to-do farmer folk: but newcomers;
to Ballycarney. For the latter reason
they had no ties of relationship with
the people-trnly Il singular fact in
| Ballycarney district, where almost
| every family is related or connected in
some way, near or distant, with every
other The Ryans. having no kin in
the parish, asked Father Walsh to
choose for them suitable sponsors to
act at the christening of their daughter.
At this the good priest smiled hap
PLY: and proposed the names Of Shae-
mus Veg Malone and the Widow O'Far-
rell
StraiShtway to Shaemus and the
widow went Farmer Ryan. 1t was
quite compliment in Ballycarncy to
be asked to stand" as godfather or
godmother; so that, since neither was
told the name of the other sponsor,
both leaders in the O'Farrcll- Malone
feud consented to be present at the
baptismal font Of Baby Kathy When
the truth did leak out, they were too
proud to withdraw their promises, be-
ing fearful withal that such a with
drawal might be regarded us cow
ardice.
The christening day arrived, ana half
Ballycnrney assembled to witness the
meeting between Shaemus Veg and the
widow. But If Ballycarney expected
any undue display of temper or the
like. Ballycarney must have been bit
terly disappointed. Little Kathy
Ryan's sponsors bore themselves with
the utmost dignity. Not single glance
did they exchange throughout the cere-
money; and when, in the churchyard
afterward, Father Walsh tried to use
the joint sponsorship AS an excuse for
making peace, they merely declined his
kind offices with thanks, and went their
several ways
Years passed, and Kathy Ryan grew
out OF the stage OF babyhood into that
of fiower-picking and blackberry hunt
ing.
One day when the sun looked down
with his kindliest smile upon the young
corn In the valley. Kathy's mother tied
sheltering bonnet about the child's
head and sent her across the meadows
toward the farm house of the Widow
O'Farrell
Not finding the widow mt home.
Kathy went on to her gotlfa TIERS, and
he was absent also. She marched off
more intent upon explorations Of her
own.
Into the fragrant .ields she went; and
the raptures there were more alluring
than ever; so much so. indeed. that she
strayed out Of the beaten track into the
Kileesha woods, and even across the
boundaries Of Castle Carney Park.
The Widow OFarrell came back
from marketing about noon; and Il
veXed woman she was when she
learned that Kathy had left the farm
without seeing her.
An me bringin' her sweets from
Rallycarney fair. too she cu.n-
planned. after dinner I'll put on M
cloak and so across the fields to Mrs
Ryan's."
@At'Ni Wv ho'u'us
the widow donned her heavy black
cloak. and carrying sundry delicacics
for her godchild, set forth towards the
Ryan farm.
IT happened that long before Shae.
mus Veg had returned from his mead
owing t. hear of Eathy';, fruitless
visit.
"Afther dinner" he said. "IH take
my stick am walk down to kyan's."
The two sponsors arrived at Farmer
Ryan's yard gate about the same
time, and great was their consterna-
ton when they discovered that Eathy
had not returned from her journey.
"'Wirra. Wirra,' walled Mrs. pEar-
rell. TITS lost the child is elost or
carried off by gipsics"
"I'll &" out an search for her. ex-
claimed Shaemus Veg. starting Off ut 4
round pace down the horeen.
Faith an il be searches for her.
Ill search for her. too cried the wild
Ow. "'Tis me she came to see, any
~ II