The record-union., 1899-10-01
A CHANGE OF CLOTHES.

IT Johnnie Ryan had been in his
usual mental condition, he would have
observed the threatening of the heavy
clouds which, since O'Clock, had been
rolling across the valley from the west.
In the ordinary way Johnnie was q
careful man, had quick eye for risks,
and a hand strong to catch at fortunate
chances, seldom got on. the wrong side
of bargain and never admitted it IT
he did. But even to so sober and cute
man as Ryan there comes time
when the pulse dances and the heart
leads, and when once Johnnie had made.
up his mind he threw reins ON the
neck of fancy and let himself go.
He started from Garrycrea at about
3 O'Clock of a September evening. He
did not often make calls, except in the
way of business, and certainly he had
never set out on any enterprise with
such warmth of heart as stirred nm
now, an excitement so strong that II
made him oblivious to the menace OF
the sky, and almost turned his walk
into dancing measure. He was, IN
deed very much in love, and that with
a maiden to whom he had hardly dared
aspire a year before. But Statia had
been kind to him, had appeared glad
to see him, had even, on one occasion,
plucked a rose for him which he had
particularly admired. This last cpl
sode had completed his subjugation, but
stronger impulse was needed to give
him courage to speak; that impulse had
come from an unexpected quarter, and
was entirely to Johnnie's credit.
He was a humble man and made no
claim to other than peasant birth, but
EuStatia Dalton or at any rate EuSta-
tia's father, did. Every one knew that
the Daltons were a decent family
though how Mike Dalton came to be
connected with it nobody quite under
stood. The girls Christian name was
vaguely admitted as proof that there
was good blood someWhere-it was ac-
cepted as traditional name on the
Dalton side, although every one knew
that Mixes mother and grandmother
had been plain Bridget and nothing
more However. there the fact was
Dalton was Ryans social superior, and
though Johnnie could probably have
maintained an equal claim on similar
loosenesS of evidence, it never occurred
to him to do it. He was simply Johnnie
Ryan of Garrycrea, a Woodworking,
fairly we'll to do farmer, who spent less
than he made.
Now, Dalton was also a farmer, but
for some time it had been apparent
that he spent more than he made. Re-
port had become more and more def
mite of late, until at last. on that very
morning, Johnnie had heard that the
mans only freehold, little house and
farm between Garrycrea and Killeen,
would have to be sold. Ryan made up
his mind to speak to Eustatia at once,
not because her father was likely to
come down in the world, but because
in his simple-hearted affection for her
he wished to save her from poverty
which he considered she was i'll fitted
to endure.
The distance between Garrycrea and
Killeen is some ask miles; at the end
of the fourth Ryan stopped to look at
the place that was to be sold. AS
things went in those parts, it was a
nice little farm. the land fairly we'll
under control, and the house tidy and
compact 1t had small flower garden,
too, which reminded him of the rose
Statia had given him; he had it still,
carefully preserved in a wide-mouthed
bottle with a glass stopper, which stood
on his rickety bachelor dressing table
The mere thought of it made him
blush.
AS he turned away the rain came
down with a kissing rush and the whole
valley grew as blurred and indistinct as
a shaken reflection in pool. Johnnie
trudged on, however, too hot at heart
to care about anything the storm might
do to him. He forgot that his best
clothes were betoming soaked, his best
hat degenerating into pulp, his best
boots showing gray through vanishing
blacking. Indeed, no kind of elemen-
tai fury would have driven him home
ward with that great idea at the back
of his head. But when he stood at Mike
Daltons door, he suddenly realized the
deplorable condition he was in, and the
hand raised to knock dropped to his
side A vision of Statia, sitting, neat
and dry, in the parlor sent his heart
into his creaking boots.
He stood irresolute for a moment,
and then with "Ach, now go AM" under
his breath, he lifted his hand again.
The echoes of his summons seemed
endless; the noise brought the perspira-
ton out on him.
It appeared to Johnnie to be a long
time before the door was opened, but
he had not courage to knock again.
At last Eustatia herself stood before
him, peering out into the rapidly deep
ening twilight with a ready smile how
ering about her lips.
rs it you. Mister Ryan," she cried.
Sure, 1 thought twas father
Would he hammer at the dure the
like av that?" Johnnie asked in his in
nocence. Statia avoided the question.
Come inside, now, at vance. It's
drowned ye are, poor man.. Johnnie
entered cautiously, holding the ruined
hat in both hands. He was almost
afraid to put one muddy foot before the
other, so overwhelmed was he with the
sense of his desolate condition.
Statia led the way into the parlor
and lit a lamp.
"Sit down, Mister Ryan," she said.
eff ye'd a kitchen chair, now,'' said
Johnnie. Sure I'd destroy the iligance
av these grand vans wild me wet
things"
AN indade," cried Statia, 'its yer
self'll be destroyed if ye sit in thin
drippin' clothes. Whatll I do at all?"
''Niver mind me, Statia.''
'Ach but I do mind ye."
She considered for moment with
puckered brow. while the dull drip from
Johnnie's coat tails made him burn
with a kind of helpless shame.
'fYe must change" she said "Father