Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-02-25

"No, Mary he said, "it is not too
late. If you care for me, or think that
in time you could give me your pre-
cious love, { say again that it is not too
late
"Oh, Dan, shure You forget that
I'm to be married this night. His
reverence and Shaun are expected any
minnie.
I'm not forgettin' the fact, and it's
short time you have to decide Well
run away, an go straight to Father
Dutly's an be married, an wild you at
my side to give me courage I'll work
my fingers off to give You comfort
Then Mary, with love-lit eyes (oh,
so different from tho downcast Mary
of an hour ago. and blushing cheeks
consented.
III go wild you, Dan. My heart
you already possess, an you might rs
well have me wild it. Go round to my
bedroom window; I'll drop my mantle
ont, an you must wait by the old fort.
I'll follow as soon as 1 can without
raising suspicion"
Dan did as he was told, and Mary
went amongst her guests with Devil.
dered head and heart. At the first
chance she stole away, and in less
time than it takes to tell, they were
well on their way to Father Duify's,
regardless of any consequences.
The bridegroom and priest arrived.
There was much handshaking for a
while. and when the guests of hon or
were seated, john Delane, with shy
glance at the groom, asked where
Mary was. Nobody seemed to know.
"Och, shure,' said Mary's aunt,
"she saw We comm an hid away;
she's like the violets, she's that shy"
The bridesmaid-to-be, pretty girl
in blue, went to find her, but in vain;
Mary was not in the house.
CHATS strange said her now
highly excited father. "H ere, Johnny
Doolan, run as fast as you can down
to Dalton Sim shure she's there.
an tell her the groom has arrived"
On his way Johnny met Peggy Dali
ton coming to the wedding.
"Isn't Miss Mary wild yep cried
Johnny.
miss Mary is it? Faith, / haven't
laid eyes on her since Yesterday, an
its down hearted she was, be the same
token"
where can she be?' said johnny,
scratching Iii, red head. "Shure I'll
he kilt intirely if 1 go back widout
her.
"Oi, come back wild me, maybe
they're married by this Time said
Feggy.
But when they reached Delane's,
Mary was still missing, and confusion
reigned supreme. The groom was
wild, John Delane wandered, half
dazed, from room to room, calling
Mary. The music ceased and the
guests prepared for home, shaking
their heads wisely and whispering iii
groups. A few who knew of Dan
Reardon's love for Many, and missed
him also, shrewdly guessed where the
girl had gone, though they were care
full that John Delane did not hear
them discuss their well.foundcd sus-
picions.
The groom left the house vowing
vengeance, and the good priest COM
forted the lonely father as best he
could.
Two weeks from that memorable
night the runaways returned, aud
were welcomed heartily to the village.
Mary resolved to ask her fathers for
giveness; she loved him dearly, and
her conscience troubled her. She in
sisted on Dams accompanying her.
The old man grew white with anger
when he saw the culprits before him.
Away wild ye! You beggar--you
thief of the night-you come and stand
-ninst me, wild brazen impotence,
after stealin' the apple of my eye, my
only child! Away wild ye!"
"All right, sir" said Dan, his head
thrown back, "we'll go. Come on,
achulsha! but I'll have you know, sir,
that I'm no beggar; I'm well able to
make Twin for my wife, an I'll do
it wild Gods help"
Mary cried bitterly as she turned
away from her childhood's home.
John Delane stood sorely perplexed
between fatherly love and stubborn
pride, but love conquered, and scarce
had the bride and groom gone yard
when they wererecalledby him. They
turned and walked back. Dan reluc-
family, and Were met half way by the
father, who seized Dams hand.
"Perhaps it's all for the best; shure
7 didn't much like that same Shaun
Brady, though he had heaps of
money" with last sigh for the past
hopes. "But if my child is happy
wild you, Dan, TIL be contint."
81 am that" said Mary, with a
beautiful blush. "Shure I wouldn't
change my place for queens crown. "
Tho old housekeeper came into the
parlor n short time after, and was
much surprised to sec Mary sitting
close beside her father, Dan in the
best chair the house afforded, and all
three rs contented as they could be.
"Shure it isn't an hour ago." she
told the dairy maid, "since John De-
lane said, wild his own lips, I'D not
forgive thin. Mrs. Mccarthy, not il
they whit down on their blinded
knees!' An now look at 'en!"-Wav.
erley Magazine.