The record-union., 1898-11-27


way of many odors. followed by his
companions. 'Biddy," he called, some
of the ould stuff, God bless it!
The old stuff was poured from black
bottle and placed before the three men,
who drank it without water.
''Shure and this is the thrue dhrink,
said O'Dwyer; tbs like milk; it
soothes the timper-like woman he
added, contemplatively. Nov, thin,
Tom Condon.'' he went on, lis 1t TO
marry Kitty More yer afther, or what
ITO marry her, said Condon be
fore Father Rourke, wild livery convain-
yence for a good weddin', an all the
frinds there an the world to look on"
"Ochl be aisy,'' said John; the
frinds ull come afther. Ye've tongue
like sthrame.''
Didn't ye asst. me question:"
sI did,
And didn't 1 answer ye?"
Eye did, but it wasn't how ye'd do it
wanted to- know, but whether ye'd did
it at ALL
BE STILL" said Mick, land talk sinse.
What'll Kitty say?-thats the thing
He winked furtively at Mrs. Mulcahy
behind the bar Mrs. Mulcahy re-
turned the wink and poured out more
whisky.
aThrue for yer" said John; ''what'll
Kitty say?''
I'm thinkir'," said Tom, "of askin'
her this blessed day"
THE divvle ye are! Well, thin, and
I'll do the same, and here's to my own
luck, Mister Condon.''
And here's to mine," said Tom.
"And here's to the both of yer, said
Mick; "and may Kitty forgive US for
playin' like this wild her name"
They drank, O'Dwyer's queer eyes
blinking rapidly in appreciation of the
tickling in his throat. We'll go to-
gither Tom" he said, tand put 1T
plain and sWate to her-you, Tom Con-
don, or me, John O'Dwyer. ThatH be
fair to the girl, and no shame to any
one. And you, Mick he went on, can
come to see airs square and kape Tom
from maxim his long spaches I'd pity
the poor soul 'ud marry him; shure,
he'd talk the divvle dumb!"
"As for the talk said Condor, tbs
you have the gift; and yer father had
it before yer"
He was good man, God rest him!"
HE was-barrin' the talk.
Come" said Mick, 'if it's to Bally-
hinch we're goin', 'tis time we set out.
And lave the dhrink be now-no more,
Biddy; take thin glasses away. Ar
rah would ye want to be dhrunk whn
We spake to the girl? Come an, now,
while tis light" And Mick Moriarty
marshaled the friends into the street
They turned to the left and mounted
slight hill to- the barracks, where they
turned into the Ballyhinch road. They
gave the impression of men bent on Sc
rlous business, and the nearer they got
to Ballyhinch the more serious they be-
came. O'Dwyer's pace slackened; Con-
don's fell in with his; and the only one
who seemed in any hurry was Mick. His
backward face, as he turned to urge
them on, was gravely earnest; his for
ward expression was indicative of
budding chuckle, artfully repressed.
Have ye it all arranged?" he asked.
"What?" said ODwyer, sharply.
What ye're goin' to say"
"Av coorse; what'd / be comm for
at all if I didn't know that?''
We'll, well,' said Mick, "'tis some
times hard, I'm tould, to manage whin
it comes to the question Ye might
feel sthruck like and narvous All, no
doubt ye'n manage well, John; sure
y0 We Hdu 6ApdT1dHCS III IHItn IQdLI6TS.
Who's to asst f1rst?,
The two men stopped dead.
"Begorra,'' said Condor, II niver
thought O. that. ,,
WELL" said Mick t'ye must fix it up,
for two can't spaiA7to pnst, and it 'ud
be an ugly thing to quarrel before the
girl
"I'll Begin" said O'Dwyer
mo, but will,'' said Tom.
you shall, thin, an that's settled!"
Condor repented and looked appealing
ly to Mick.
"Toss up" said Moriarty, "and him
as win'll spake first. Hurry, now, for
there's Father Rourke just come away
from the1 house, andsKitty'll be alone"
The coin spun and O'Dwyer won; Tom
fell back a step with a relieved sigh
The priest paused as the men touched
hats. Boys" he said, did / see a
coin go up?"
"Ye did, father-but shure ye
wouldn't be- too partic'ler about the like
O. that said Mick.
"Who won?"
81 did, sor' said O'Dwyer.
How much was it?''
'Nothin' at ALL Twas only for who's
to asst question first, sor."
rs it a weddin' you're thinkin' Of
boys? Go on, then, and settle it, Don't |
stand there grinning at me, Mick. A
wedding, is it? All, but that's brave
news for a poor priest!" And Father
Rourke waved his hand and swung
heavily up the road.
The three men approached the house
in single file; first came O'Dwyer, then
Loo
small, but unusually neat; few new
outbuildings, with sound roofs, indicat-
ed certain definite prosperity, and |
there was a little garden, full Of care
fully tended flowers, before the door.
John tiptoed up the pathway and eau
tiously knocked; they all instinctively |
took off their hats before the door was |
opened. There was minutes delay, |
during which Mick saw the curtain of |
a side window move suspiciously and |
caught a glimpse Of a coil of black |
hair. Then the door opened and Kitty |
stood before them, flashing welcome |
from flushed cheeks and white teeth. |
and dropping demure eyelids over deep |
blue eyes that seemed always brimmed |
with laughter. Mick noticed red rose |
in her hair that he could have sworn I
was not there a moment before
"Ah, an welcome to We alll' cried /
Kitty. AN has it been a good market |
to-day, an did ye see father with the |
young calves? Come in, do, and sit |
down. Shure, ye're such big sthrong |
men the little room'll hardly hould we, |
and feel just like a child among ye |
ALL Never mind the workbox, Mister I
O'Dwyer; I'll pick up the things afther; |