Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-06-07

rest. He looked very old and weary.
very near the end of life, but what re-
msined burned clearly. His one hope
fcr six years had been to accomplish
what he was at last ready to do that
night, but when he looked at Natty his
eyes grew little dim.
At last he rose and touched Daily up-
on the shoulder
That's good boy. now," the man
murmured.
He thinks tits me, " said Natty, grin
ming more vigorous shake brought
him upright and fully awake.
"Ye're welcome, Tim Daily"
All. an ye're back, thin, Nat"
They shook hands with manifest re-
straint.
Yell egscuse me,' said Nat, "fur
kapin ye waitin. but twas tomorrer
egspected ye.'
Twas tomorrer the letther said.
but l had slack day an KEN. was
tellin Natty there av it," He rested his
hand for a moment on Natty's head.
Nat drew the boy quickly away
Lave i'm ber' he said.
Tim colored slightly and turned to
reach his hands over the fire. 81 s'pose
ye think power av that boy" he said.
II think the world av him. Iver
since he were a raw babe I've done fur
i'm, an why wouldn't 1 be proud av
i'm now?"
'Thrue fur ye. said Tim. "why
not, indade?''
"Dhraw up" said Nat, IAN let's ate
Afther. We'll talk av why l sint fur We.
Tim"
They drew near the table and fell to-
The men glanced at each other furtively
from time TO time. In Mats eyes the
triumph still shone; in Tim Daly's
there was half pathetic, questioning
look, as though he did not quite under
stand it all But Natty was perfectly
unconcerned. This godlike feast exclud-
ed every other possible thought or SEN
sation-he ate and was satisfied
After the meal was over came the
time of pipes and silence. Tim and Nat
sat on opposite sides of the hearth.
Natty, feeling unequal to the ascent Of
his high stool, squatted complaoently
on the edge of his bed. He soon became
so sleepy that his head dropped forward
with a jerk
"Slape inside yer bed, Natty; not
outside, " said the old man. IAN wild
thin things. boy, quick" Natty dis.
robed in an incredibly short time-the
untying Of a single string seemed to
complete the operation. Nat looked
lovingly at the plump, brown body.
"Fatf" he murmured TO himself
He's as fat as butther. the darlint -
Natty dived under his blanket and
! promptly went TO sleep.
After time Nat rose and crossed the
uneven floor TO the bedside. He turned
back the blanket 10 make sure that Nat
ty was safely dreaming and then stoop-
ed awkwardly toward the boys face.
but his back was too stiff for such an
exercise, and he had to fall upon his
knees TO kiss the moist forehead. Tim
DAILY did not turn, but he saw what
was happening by the shadow thrown
on the white wall Nat remained ON
his knees for a minute, and the watch
er Of the shadow saw the sign of the
cross made on brow and breast.
The old man rose and came back 10
the hearth. For a moment he stood
there gazing down into the glowing
peats, and it was clear TO Tim that a
struggle was going on in Mats heart. a
presently he threw his head sharply up.
and 1t was over. BE moved loose stone
from the wall above the chimney and
took out little leather bag; from his
pocket he took another. These he laid
tremblingly upon the table and united
the strings. Tim Daily, still Watching ST.
lently. saw glittering stream of gold
trickle from the bags. Nat counted il
IN tens. There were four little piles of
ten sovereigns each.
He turned to Daily with n face that
showed pale beneath its tan. "With
that" he said, II pay back what me
son Tom Byrne borrowed, an / ask We
to onsay the bitther word ye spoke -
What do We mane?" asked DAILY
ohokingly.
"Ye know we'll what 1 name. Didn't
the poor boy borrer $40 av YEP"
"He did"
An didn't ye say TO me, the breath
bein hardly out av lis body. The blag-
yard niver mint to pay me back!' Thin
was the words an i'm dead-'The blag-
yard niver mint to pay me back. "
81 was in dhrink, " said DAILY.
"An L was dhrunk, too, wild sorrer
/ NOA 49, tso az SOhC- pay lnc l6DO u
ye tonight, Tim DAILY, an ask We be
fore God to onsay Thin words, an yell
dhrink to i'm as died for an honest
man. Fur six years I've sweated to win
the gould an me boys good name, an
there it is, iviry penny av it. an if die
tonight I'll die aisy."
DAILY glanced toward the sleeping
Natty and rubbed his dry lips with the
back of his hand.
$50 that's why ye stint fur me?" he
asked.
"That I might gev it into yer own
hand"
Thin yell be a rich man now, Nat?''
'Rich? Begorra, how 'ud be rich:
'Tis all 1 have. an we'll spint for the
boy"
"An what'll Natty do?"
Don't spake av 'im!'' cried the old
man sharply. 'He must work now
he's sthrong an we'll"
but $40, an what ye might add co