Evening star., 1896-07-18

slip av a Brooklyn gairl. slendher as
sally rod. with ankles like a goat. an lips
as thin as siXpence, an her as full ay
fun an divolement as a comb is full Of
honey. an as Swate. She bewitched us all
with her pretty talk an ways an she took
to Ailsie an the child like they were her
cwn kith an kin, an it's sorry, indade, we
we're whin they gev us goodbye and sailed
back to Ameriky.
The night before they wint, Rafe an me
tC ok danther over beyant the gap, an
look about at the our fields an, Places. him
Lot KNOWN but mebbe he'd see thin no
more, an we were spakin' many a
Sc rape an frolic we he'd, an how he
brought it about for Ailsie an me to be
married, an the fine weddin we had, an
all. an it an me haart to tell him how
thankful we'd been to him for what he
done.
We were walkin' in the duskn's down the
bend av Andrews bank, his arrum hang
in roun me neeck like two b'ys idlin' home
from school together as often we KEN an
wint be the same way.
Connie" SEE he. the minnit 1 begin to
spake, an stoppin the words in me mouth
don't be thankin' me. Ye niver knew
what done for We. nor the half av it. It's
over now, an hev good a wife as iyer
fell to the wish ay man. so it's mebbe no
Harrum TO spake. 4e niver guessed it, Con-
nie, we oma lhan. an no more did she, but
there was only wan woman in Gods worr
TOR the manny's the year. an that was
Ailsie Oh, yis, yis Me haart was sore an
heavy for her. bat knew well had no
cfance as long as yer six foot two stud in
ahoe leather. / niver was the fool to
Ghrame ft-but wasn't 1t haard, df We think
to ask her for me bride. that anodher man
I'd get her! Ar whin the day KEN. was
there no temptation. I'm askin We, to take
TIE place beside her, an put the ring an her
fir CHER, for she wasn't the gairl to 90 con-
thrary to her fadher an her friends. An
knew as we'll as was livin that she cudn't
stnruggie nor stand agin them ALL What
cud aither av We do if the divle was that
sthrong in me that I'd demand me bride
seem 1t was known 1 he'd her promise an
ter fadher's word? l spint the night an me
knees, Connie. prayin' for what KEN at last
1t was only at the brack O. day I could
hour up me head an look at meself for .n
annest man. Whin the Light begin to come
ever the hills beyant, where we used to 90
In the airly morEins, afther the hares an
rabbits, df ye mind? couple ay wild pos-
soons, an that fond av odher, it was haard
to paart us for the lingth av day; the re-
membrance KEN over me like 1t was q big
river, floWin' an carryin' everything before
1t. knew l looved Ailsie from the crown
av her purity head to the sole of her purty
foot, but didn't 1 loove me comrade too?
Wasn't there times whin thought 1 wud
die for him. an wasn't one loove as good as
anodher! 1t was, Connie. dear, an betther
For av wint be me loove for Ailsie an
TUX her from We, what 'ud be but a black
haarted villin? So. all was settled whin I
ruz from me knees. an wasn't afeared to
face the sum in the sky-nor frind nor
neighbor afther that But listen to- me.
Co:n-e, sez he. standin' still in a ridge
"niver. for yer life. tell Ailsie this. Dr. We
mind what I'm sayin'-an' will We gimme
yer word?"
1t was long we talked. but av coorse 1
gev him the promise he asked. and 1 n.ver
bra1thed the word to Ailsie. but, somehow.
Its often since thought she knew it ALL
The end)