The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-04
Ais Well That Ends We'll

down. the lane leaOinS 10 JUN DGieAlAC
farm house, one beautiful June evening.
many years ago, could be seen a steady
stream of vehicles of all descriptions. EV-
cry farmer for miles around had been
invited 10 the wedding of Mary Delane,
and tonight the suspicious event was 10
take place. Preparations had been MADE
on a grand scale; John Delane mad de-
termined TO make this. the wedding OF his
only child. memorable event
The match between Mary Delane and
Shaun Brady had been brought about
and perfected by Pat Mulcahy, renown-
ed matchmaker. Mary was an exception
ally pretty girl, and as good as she was
pretty. Shaun Brady was twice her age,
possessing an unenviable name and ma
ny enemies; but, as John Delane remark
ed, "a moneyed man has many jealous
friends" and money Shaun had in plenty.
that covered all deficiencies, moral and
physical, in John Delane's eyes.
Mary Delane had no love for Shaun
Brady, she well knew that her life would
be in many ways a hard one. but she
had been badgered by her father until
she had said yes with a heavy heart.
The bridegroom and priest had not yet
arrived but the dancing began. Tom Har
ty. the fiddler. playing THE Wind That
Shook the Barley" in finished style.
Mary did not participate, reserving her
first dance for her future husband. She
received the guests as they came, stand
ing proudly beside her father, her face
white as marble.
Her thoughts were wandering far and
wide when a voice aroused her and sent
the blood to her cheeks.
God save all heret'
God save you kindly. Dan" she heard
the company respond in unison, and then
Dan Reardon was shaking the hand which
she mechanically outstretched.
In moment he had gone, mingling
among the guests.
More power to ye," he said to the i'd
der, as that worthy man finished.
AN shure," answered Tom, its hav-
ing the loikes of a fine bouchal like yer
self beside me that gives me the power"
Dan joined the general laugh.
TITS about time the groom and his riv-
erence were here" said Mary's uncle.
'Oh, they'll be here directly now" said
John Delane. "Shure she'll be taken from
me soon enough"
Dan Reardon sat by the porch door,
gazing abstractedly into the darkness out
side; Mary watched him from her place
beside her father and as that good man
arose in answer to a servants call, she
Slipped quietly over to where Dan was.
"A penny for your thoughts, Dam said
she.
They're priceless, miss" said he. "for
I was just thinking of the wan 1 love best
in this dreary, bitter world"
"1ndade," said Mary. AN shure it's
a nice girl she must be, to win your
love"
She said this lightly, though her heart
was heavy.
"She is the sweetest woman that ever
put a foot on the ground"
AN I suppose she returns your love,
DAM" she asked, interrogatively.
''Oh, no, no, missI Shure it's little she
knows of the love I have for her, and in
wan way I'm glad. It's impident she'd
think me, widout a pinny to me name, to
have serious thoughts about her.
IF I'm not too bold, DAN I'll be after
akin you who she is, an it's anxious I
am to know"
But this question seemed to cause Dan
the greatest confusion. and. strange to
say, when Mary looked at him and their
eyes met she also grew confused.
Och, shure, Miss Mary" he stammer-
ed, you'd be the last one I'd tell. Don't
ak me no more, shure it's only folly on
my side
well, thin, Dan, you can tell me wheth-
er she is dark or fair?''
We'll, I'll say this much miss, that to
me she's the fairest girl in Kerry"
GIVE me her initials, thin" coaxed
Mary IAN maybe can guess"
''Arrah, now, don't say no more about
It,"
But you must tell me-" she insisted.
'I'll not let you alone till you do
well, thin, since you're so determined.
I'll take the consequences an tell you;
her name is''-here he waited for a mo-
ment-"Mary Delane."
Mary blushed like a wild rose and STAN
mered
"Oh, Dan, shure you can't name me?"
Dan looked her full in the face as ne
said, quietly:
IT'S you. I name, Mary; but don't be
angry; shure ] thought I'd cut my tongue
out before I'd tell you. but you drove
me to it. Oh dear, oh dear. an on your
weddin' night. too, Don't mind me, miss;
I'll not trouble you in any way again.
but call Gods blessing down on you this
night an my constant prayer viii be
for your happiness"
An do you think could be happy with
Shaun Brady?" asked Mary, with an up
ward glance.
well, I hope you'll be-" he answered,
vasively.
AN what's the good hoping any such
lnluS. Nnen you KNOW, Wen as 90, I0dL
happiness and I will part forever when
1 marry Shaun? I have been forced into
1t. an shall try TO do my duty; it's too
late now to turn back"
Dan looked up. with determination IN
every line OF his fine face.
mo. Mary" he said. ITS not too late.
If you care for me, or think that in time
you could give me your precious love,
say again that it's not too late"
"Oh, Dan, shure you forget that I'm
TO be married this night. His reverence
and Shaun are expected any minute"
I'm not forgettin' the fact. and it's
short time you have to decide. Wen run
away. an so straight to Father Duffy's
an be married, an wid you at my side
TO give me courage I'll work my fingers
off TO give you comfort"
Then Mary. with lOve-lt eyes (oh. so
different from the downcast Mary OF an
hour ago. and blushing cheeks, consented
III go wild you, Dan. Ny heart you
possess, an you might as well have me
wild it. Go round TO my bedroom win
dow; I'll drop my mantle out, an you
must wait by the old fort. I'll follow as
soon as I can without raising susDi-
cion.'
Two weeks from that memorable night
the runaways returned. and were wei
coined heartily 70 the village. Mary re-
solved - ask her fathers forgiveness:
she loved him dearly. and her conscience
troubled her She insisted on Dams &C
companying her. The old man grew white
with anger when he saw the culprits be-
fore him.
Away wild yei You beggar-you thief
Of the night-you come here and stand
forninst me. Wild brazen impotence, after
stealin' The apple OF my eye, my only
child Away vid yet'
All right, sir,' said Dan. his head