The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-07-13
CON MFFERNAN'S ATONEMENT

| eAC Win 10 Stlll. SAID ne.
| lis no credit to man, anyhow, Coz
returned. land I'd rather have a squeeze fl
the wrestling than all the songs that eve
were sung"
Then have your wrestling, Con-" tn
others cried out eagerly, for it was laz.
| day with them.
| Con rose to his feet. shaking his shout
ders to free the muscles from stiffness
iii stake a pair of new oars agains
any man." he cried, looking at Martin.
Il have bit of frfeze at home and will
lay it against your oars, if you are will
| ing" said Phil
! "I'll need a coat for the winter" Cor
| returned
"A pair of oars would be useful" sale
| Phil, land so l am ready. Is it the fair.
green you're for?"
'Tis too far away Con returned: fol-
his heart was full Of fury and the harde,
! the ground was the better he liked it, since
+! he was minded to throw him heavily.
I'm agreeable" said Phil, taking off his
coat and smiling very pleasantly
50 the fishermen gathered round to make
ring, and having little doubt of the issue
for Con had never yet met his match in
the wrestling, and. truth to tell, they were
glad to think that Con would make amends
Tor MS loss OF the prize for singing, seeing
that he belonged to Malbay, while Martin
was but stranger
IN moment the two men were in the
grips. Backward and forward they went,
each striving to find out where lay the
others weakness and the sand was tossed
up beneath their feet. But those who
watched soon saw that Con was we'll
matched at last, and would have to fight
hard for the victory, in spite of his stature
and great strength. Several times he
strove to lift Martin from the ground, but
could not; and still Phils face wore a
smile that maddened him. Now he forgot
his skill in anger, and tried to force his
opponent to his knees. For an instant vic.
tory seemed to be within his grasp for Phil
yielded. bending down as If beneath a
weight Then, suddenly shaking himself
free OF Cons grasp he seized him by the
thighs and hurled him over his shoulders
Striking his head against the sand, Con
Heffernan lay as one dead
So amazed were the fishermen at the fall
of their companion and at the skill of the
stranger that they knew not what to say,
put stood gazing at Cons long form
stretched upon the yellow sand as though
a stupor had seized upon them
But Phil caught his antagonist by the
shoulder and set him upon his feet again.
NOR did 1t seem any longer strange to them
that he had the strength to do it. But
there was daZen look in Cons face. and
no little fear of the man who had worsted
him, but he was not a man, but an evil
spirit sent to humble his pride
The luck is with me again." said Phil.
"Ay, the luck is with you again" Con
repeated
1T will not be for long" said Phil again.
"For long enough. 1 think I'll be going
horne,' Cbn returned. And his voice was
as weak as a child's So he left them. and
began mounting the beach, and the yellow
sand shcne like gold in his dark hair, for
he had no thought to shake it out
When he had come to the village he met
Eileen O'Connor, and would have passed
her by, for his eyes were turned to the
ground. But she stood in his way.
Tfsnt like Con Heffernan to pass a
friend without wishing her good luck
Tis little Con has to do with good
luck, Eileen he answered. and the sound
OF his voice filled her breast with pity.
"Sure, it's the singing match that lies
neavy on your heart, Con; but I wouldn't
De mlndlng, and you the grandest wrestler
that ever was known in Malbay."
Con put his hand to his head, where the
sand still chung to his hair. do you see
what's there, Ei1een?'
"Ay, do l. Sure, maybe you've been
lying in the sand" she said. wonderingly.
cay, ay.' he said bitterly eve been
lying on the sand sure enough, and if it
was under it 1 was I'd be happier this
day."
What's come over you at all, COM"
the girl asked, her heart full of" trouble
for him.
"Grandest wrestler in Malbay did you
call me? That am no more and never
again. So 1 was first in the singing match
until Phil Martin came and now he has
thrown me in the wrestling, down below
there on the beach,
Thrown you, CON-"
cay, girl. thrown me that never was
thrown before. There's a curse upon me.
Eileen"
The girl looked at him with a shudder,
for his words sent chill to her heart.
''Oh, no. no, no, Conf" she cried, looking
into his face, tits curse but only the
luck that is against you Sure you'll win
It back at the hurly"
'Ay, the hurly, Eileen" and a CLEAN of
light came into his face. "Sure, I'll win
t back at the hurly.'
Then he turned from her and went his
way to the village. And Eileen continued
her journey to the well to draw water. |
having her can on her arm and little think !
ing of the evil that she had done.
So 1t came about that at the hurly Con !,
set himself to win back the glory that he !
lad lost at the singing match and at the |
and Eileen waited in her cabin |
or news of the victory.
But the sun grew red and sank behind |
he waves, tipping their crests with fire,
md still no messenger brought her tidings
# the hurly. At length she grew impa-
lent. and went out into the village, and
Up the road to the fair green.
Then she heard the tramplng of feet, and
coming toward her she saw crowd of
lurlers. They were very silent and this
vas strange. seeing that they were wont to
ONE home from the hurly with much noise
nd shouting, whether they carried news of
rictory or defeat.
But when they came near to her Eileen
aw that the biggest among them carried
N their crossed camans one that had been
wounded in the battle. Her heart stood
till with fear that it was Con until she,
aw that the hair of the man was yellow.
ave where the blood had dyed it red Then
he knew that it was not Con, but Phil |
Iartin.
Get you home, alanna," he said, land
tide your face, for disgrace is upon us
his day.
ow that Con had struck Phil a towards
h