River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-09-28
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Comparing to Paddy'S land.
Then fare ye well. Ould Ireland,
I'm 'fraid I'll never see We more,
An it's now me heart is breakin'
Through lawn me native shore.
A peal of laughter so delicious and un-
expected greeted the conclusion of the
song as caused the singer to sit bolt
upright in the long, lush grass in COM
ic bewilderment.
The delinquent, a slim, bare-headed
girl, with the humor still lurking about
her scarlet lips, returned his stare with
interest.
Brian Hennessy's mouth quivered
into a smile beneath the brown mus
tache.
What is the joke?" he asked.
The girl struggled to regain her com
posture.
II really must beg your pardon" she
said in a Gear, sweet voice, but your
lament was so exceedingly dolorous,
and $3.50"
Remarkably tuneful."
''Thank you!" gravely. $50 remark
ably untuneful, that could not refrain
from laughing at you. 1t was very
rude of me-
And very NATURAL said Brian, quick
ly struggling to has feet.
The sun was beating down with fer
vent heat. Great lazy butterflies sailed
slowly by. Away at their feet the coun-
try unrolled itself in panorama of bog
and moorland.
Behind them, long, low, half
T.
along the hill.
Hennessy looked at his companion
critically. He saw a girl, rather above
the average height, clad in a cream
colored frock, which somehow even to
him bore the impress of fashion. Out
of pure oval face pair of wide, dark
eyes gazed fearlessly.
Il am afraid you are counting an at
tack of sunstroke," he observed, note
of concern in his voice.
Sac laughed again-a low, ripping
laugh.
1T is your song which is TO blame, y
she said gayly. Il left my sunbonnet
over there in my haste to see the-er-
singer" a mischievous CLEAN in the
dark eyes.
He hurried around the little clump of
bushes and found the bonnet lying be-
side a book, which had fallen open at
the fyIeaf. He could not fail to see the
inscription: "Olive NJ. Dalrymple.'
He sighed dismally.
"A grande demoiselle a-rusticating,"
he murmured below his breath. Put
on your very best society manners, Hen
messy, my boy"
The girl stood where he had left her,
p soft smile curving her lips.
at is he-I know it is he she thought
quickly; "the man whom Mrs Dolan
said could coax bird off tree with his
blarney-poor Brian Hennessy."
Il have brought your book, too, Miss
Dalrymple," he said politely, pushing
his battered straw hat to a more sober
angle on his fair head, land perhaps
ought to introduce myself-Brian Hen
messy, at your service"
She started and gazed at him in puz-
zled way.
"The book lay OPEN" he said, half
apologetically, land hence my"
''Ah, yes, thank YOU" she said, de-
murely, hiding her laughing eyes be-
meath her bonnet. you are the land
lord aren't your"
'Er-well, yes; | suppose 1 am"
agreed Hennessy, a trdfie grimly, ''at
present"
"Oh!'-and she faced him quickly,
pain and pity in her eyes = show
thoughtless of me! Mrs. Dolan has
spoken of you. l am so very sorry"
The mans strong, virile face softened
into an indescribable sweetness.
Il thank you" he said, simply.
''Do you know, Mr.. Hennessy," she
said presently, that l came here this
afternoon with purpose?"
Really! with a quizzical smile.
"Yes''-gravely-"I came to see your
home"
He bowed low.
81 have heard so much about it, and
you, from Mrs. Dolan," she continued,
''that / am consumed with curiosity"
SIS it not that natural in a woman 2"
he veutured.
perhaps without relaxing her
gravity. But, believe me, it is not
impertinent curiosity. / know the Mr.
Darlington who is foreclosing, and his
daughter, very well indeed. Possibly
l might"
The man stiffened perceptibly.
''My dear Miss Dalrymple," he said,
81 must beg of you to dismiss any such
idea at oGce. Mr.. Darlington is quite
within his rights, and | should be the
last person in the world to question
them. My loss will also, l regret to
say. be the tenants loss. A man who
can deal so harshly with me will not
spare them. As for Mrs. Dolan, fear
she allows her tongue to wag much
too freely"
1T is for love of you!" she cried, i'm
pulsively.
He turned his back to her f. mo-
ment. and his voice trembled little
when next he spoke.
Il know" he said, softly: ''she is my
foster-mother, and is prejudiced.'
But ali your tenants are alike. she
said.
lie did not answer her, but led the
way through a hole in the stone fence,
ard across the old-fashioned garden to
where the great oaken door stood wide
open, revealing a cool, dark haa be-
yond.
Three or four dogs rushed boisterous-
IL out. leaping up at him in an ecstasy
of canine JOY.
Mrs. Lyons will give us some tea,
| have no doubt" he said. quieting the
dogs with word.
The hour that followed was one of the
happiest he had ever known. And the
walk back TO Mrs. Dolan's in the cool
evening, with the sun sending long
shafts of yellow light betwixt the slen-
der stems of the frs in the plantation,
and across the purple heather, WAS like
q glimpse of Paradise.
And the spells OF sweetly dangerous
silence were sweet to both alike.
IL.
During the weeks which followed
Brian Hennessy was torn by conflicting
emotions Consumed by a passionate
love for the girl who was staying with
Mrs. Dolan, and recognizing, as he did,
the utter hopelessness of fostering such
an attachment, he was by turns reck-
lessly gay and deeply respondent.
A few of the rougher spirits on the
estate did not fail TO notice these fits