St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-10-28
Her LuDdlord.

I've walked it from strand to strand.
An there never was garden
Comparing to Paddy's land.
Then fare ye well. Ould Ireland.
I'm 'fraid III 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 tn,
song'as caused the singer to sit boil
upright in the long, lush grass in com
&c bewilderment.
The delinquent, a slim, bare-headet
girl, with the humor still lurking about
her scarlet lips, returned his stare will
interest.
Brian Hennessy's mouth quiyerei
into q smile beneath the brown mus
tache.
What is the joke?. he asked.
The girl struggled to regain her com
posure.
II really must beg your pardon" she
said in clear, sweet voice, "but youl
lament was SO exceedingly dolorous
and $3.50"
Remarkably tuneful."
'srhank you." gravely. $50 remark
ably untuneful, that I could not refrain
from laughing at you. 1t was very
rude of me-"
'sAnd very natural" said Brian, quick
~ struggling to his feet.
The sun was beating down with fer.
vent heat. Great lazy butterflies sailed
slowly by. Away at their feet the coun.
try unroiled itself in a panorama of bog
and moorland.
Behind them, a long, low, half
ruined house stretched its gray front
along the hill.
Hennessy looked at his companion
cri:icaliy. He saw a girl, rather above
the average height, clad in a cream
coiored frock, which somehow even to
him bore the impress of fashion. Out
of a 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.
She laughed again-a low, rippling
laugh.
1T is your song which is to blame,'
she said gayly. Il left my sunbonne4
over there in my haste to see the-er-
singer" mischievous CLEAN in the
dark eyes.
He hurried around the little clump OF
bushes and found the bonnet lying be-
side book, which had fallen open al
the f1yleaf. He could not fail to see the
inscriptions: "Olive NJ. Dalrymple."
He sighed dismally.
"A grande demoiselle a-rusticating,
he murmured below his breath. "Pui
on your very best society manners, Hen
messy, my boy"
The girl stood where he had left her
soft smile curving her lips.
ut is he'll know it is he, she thought
quickly; ''the man whom Mrs. Dolar
said could coax bird off a tree with his
blarney--poor Brian Hennessy."
Il have brought your book. too, Miss
Dalrymple," he said politely, pushing
his battered straw hat to more sober
angle OF his fair head. land perhaps
ought to Introduce myself-Brian Hen.
messy, at your service"
She started and gazed at him in a puz.
Eled way.
'sThe 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 you?'
.Er-well, yes: l suppose I am
agreed Hennessy, a tnifie grimly. ''a'
present"
"Oh!"--and she faced him quickly
pain and pity in her eyes - .'how
fhoughtless of me! Mrs. Dolan has
spoken of you. l am so very sorry"
The mans strong, virile face softened
into an indescribable sweetness.
II thank you," he said. simply.
DO YOU know. Mr.. Hennessy," she
said presently, ":hat l came here this
afternoon with a purpose?"
"Really." 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
rs it not that natural in woman? ?
he ventured.
perhaps so'-without relaxing her
gravity. But, believe me, it is moi
imper.inent curiosity. l know the Mr.
Darlington who is foreclosing. and his
daughter, very well indeed. Possibly
might
The man stiffened perceptibly.
.Mv dear Miss Dalrymple," he said
s.I must beg of you to dismiss any such
jtlea at once. Mr.. Darlington is quite
within his rights, and should be the
last person in the world to question
: them. .My. loss will also, 1 regret te
say. besthe tenants loss. A man who
can deal so harshly with me will no,
spare them. AS for Mrs. Dolan, fea,
she allows her tongue to wag mucl
!. TOO freely"
1T. is for love of you." she cried, i'm
ralsiseiy.
He turned his back to her for a mo
srrnt. and his voice trembled litti,
when next he spoke
.f know he said, softly: s'she is my
fosfer-naother, and is prejudiced."
But all your tenants are alike, sh'
said.
<IIe diSs not apswer her, but led th'
way through hole in the stone fence
and across the old-fashioned gardes Y