Evening star., 1896-07-18

or else. III come betune us-an good ayen-
in 10 ye- Misther Patrick Brogan," seq I,
an off 7 marched. me head in the air ex-
pectin' livery minnit to feel the weight av
his black thorn an the back av me Sconce.
Afthsr that IL was long enoof before / got
another sight av Ailsie. They sint her
away to the aunt's. at Kfliabegs. an hard
aftherwo-dS there was the diyoles own
rumpus before she whit Amy way she
wrut me wan or two letthers. an ondher-
stud she wasn't too we'll PLACED with the
way | spoke up to her fadher. 1T was
worse for her now. nor iver" she said an
they watched her night an day an she
thought it betther I'd give over thryin' to
see her Tor awhile. an, an let things take
their coorse. But. Connie, dear she said.
IN the letther. its not forgittin' the word
THAT'S passed betune us an niyyer will
Could ever dhrame she wud forgit it, the
lovin' harrt she he'd?
Well. the weeks wint an, an the months
wint an, an L wurreked as constant as the
Gays KEN round. but the money was thar
SLOW count!n up, that / was harrt-sick
rnannys the time, an seemed fur1her away
than iver from Ailsie. An whin she kem
nome again, she was afraid ay her life to
mate me, or to pass a civil word, neiphbor-
like. an the road. for fear the our Turk
would hear ay it. an rage like a haythen-
so we didn't we'll know what to do. nor
what would become av u.s. at all at all,
But there was wan comfort had through
lvery thing. wan help that niver failed me,
an that was me comrade by. Rafe O'Neil
re was far up In the world aboove me-
with a fine CROWN farrum ay his own and
cattle to the fore, but some way I was
niver too low for his likin', an we wint to-
either, man an by, for fifteen years or
more l used to be thinkin' times back he
was thrifie too fond av A.lsie. an she al
ways had laughin word for him. but
there was nothin' could Law to haart nor
iver did against them. till wan marnin'.
reminder II as if it was yestherday. an
the cap ne mad an. an the roguish smile
In ms eyes when he KEN down to the forge
he knew it was an idle day with mean
stud. lanin' at the dure looiin' In
come away up he the gap, Connie" sez
ne 1 hev somethin' to tell ye" 1t was a
gray mornin with the mist risin out o. the
bogs. like big wdlIops av smoke an the
taste av the rain that was comm, in the
air as plain as the salt in the saw We
crossed be Andy's MEDIA, and STARTED
along the road to the sap-Rafe 18th his
arrum about me shouldEer-a thrick he had
since we were b'ys.
Connie, sez he. stopp!n' in the middle
av Hit he was whistlin'. I've a foine
hit az news for ye-Tm bespoke in mar
riage." sez he
'Betther late than nivver." seq I. giyin
him the joke. for he was a year oldher than
meself An 1 hope the br.de'll say the
same
Il hope whatever the bride'l sayu PLACE
ye. Connie: / hope 1t will" seq he, pattfn
me shouldter Once or twice. friendly like
for there's no gairl In the town land We
think more ev. an nope deserves it bet
ther The parents is agreed" seq he; 1.-THE
whole clan-Jeffrey met a Sunday at Billy
McCormick's an talked It up an down. an
unless some strange thing happens i,II be
a match"
An. sure. she'll be lucky woman" sez
l. lookin' roun' at him. walkin' han'some
an sthrappin' beside me. "An' I wish We
Joy"
Wait bit-wait. Connie" seq he. with
9u1re S 'rt av laugh: "ye must hear the
brides name first, before We spake av 10y
What would ye say to-Ailsie BroganY'
Ails.e Brogan?' I stood still, starin' at
him. ''Not-not my Ailsie?"
iis. or-mebbe-m,ne, May the best man
win. sez he. ITS five years we've coorted
her. an what's to show for it? It's time
the gairl was settled. her hav.n' no mod
her an the udher gairls growin' up. An
why but Sne'd take her chance?" seq he
Sure. ye'd not stand betune her an a COM
Portable Twin" seq he. IAN IL can mex
her happy. an if she's willin'. would We
thry to prev'rt it?'
''Ye're jokin'. Rsfe" seq T. but he wasn't.
an knew IT well, Quit, now. an tell me
what yer manin' is."
"Amn't 1 teilin' ye?' sez he I'm manin'
to engage mes,R to A:lsie Brogan, to be
marrit afther Lint, IL she's contint to give
her word, but for ouP friendship. Connie, 1
wouldn't DO II unbeknownst. An IT'S for