Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-01-19
THE SYMPATHIZER.

About half mile from the end OF the
town, where the road slopes up toward
the priests house. two figures were com
ing along in opposite directions, both evil
IDENTIFY in hurry. 1t was a girl who
was coming down Hill, and the young
man who approached her was smartly
clad in a spruce new suit with a posy in
| his buttonhOle for a finishing touch.
When they came near enough he recog-
.niZed her as the girl VINO assisted Mrs.
McGrath, the priests hOusekeeper. She
| knew his face fell, having seen him at
chapel but had no speaking acquain-
tance with him.
Even before they had reached one an
other he had addressed her, calling ont:
| will Father Dan be left home yet,
can We tell me kindly?'
| She came up to him and they stood
! together under the shelter of the newly
| budded hedge. She pondered a moment
! before answering, and wondered what
great hurry was on him, for he had taken
off his hat and was wiping his brow
IF it's a sick CALL she said, unless
it is pressing wan, twill be pity to
fluster him. He has second mass to say
yet and a weddin' after"
Hell have no weddin', to my sartin
knowledge" said the young man.
An how'll that be now?" she asked
eagerly.
Twas my weddin', an it's bruk off.
Dear, dear; how's that? Have you
rued the match or disagreed about the
fortune?"
"The whole countryside II know it
soon enough" said he, so don't keep
me here talking. Tell me, is the priest
in or out?'
IT'S out he is" said She IAN you
need be in no hurry for bit. Sit down
here at yer aise. Yen see him driyin'
up, an if you went to the house like as
not you'd miss him
She seated herself on the bank and
mechanically he sat down beside her.
" Ye re all in a heat an worry"
There was an air of consideration in
her voice which soothed him.
I'm a heat and worry | am" he agreed,
"an' no wonder. Sure I've been run off
my feet. An to be made a laughin'
stock at the end of it all
"'Twas Annie McCusker | heard tell
We wor for marryin'. A purity girl, but
a wag-bythe- bush from all they say Of
her"
well, We may say it. A sore dance
she led me following her here an there,
up an down the parish. at wakes an
weddins' an fairs an hirin' days, spend
in an givin' continually, an standin'
trates at all set seasons an holidays
to her whole tribe of brothers, cousins
an uncles. A fine penny it cost me.
An was it dacint tratement, / ask We,
for any well-doin well-meanin' box.sa.s
pitch him over at the long run wheH he
had her courted up to the point of
marryin' an the priest bespoke and all?"
The colleen agreed that it was most
shameful treatment, and added, shaking
her head dolefully. Twill be sore
disappointment to Father Dam
'Ay," said he, sit will in troth. | had
n 1gcint bit If arrioUp money rpadv FIR
him. An twill be added to her account
her dom the poor, hard workin', God.
fearin' priest o her own parish out of his
honest days pay,
That's just what I'm thinkin' Of,
said she gravely. Mrs. McGrath was
sayin' he seemed in fine feather about il,
for weddin's is scarce these times"
SOftened by her sympathy he had fallen
! into a discursive mood. He went over
! the story of the courtship.
1T was up beyond the Tough side first
met her the night of old Wolshie Wards
wake. Annie was the purtiest girl there.
an more nor me wor dancin attendance
| on her. There were others, too, that she
tried to put her soft-sawther on, but not
a wan o them spoke up for marriage but
myself though they We're willin' enough
| to pass the joke with her. 1t was Shrote
when ! asked her, an the match was
made. An oh, dear. dear" said sine as
if she was i'll great distress about it.
Wen have to wait till Lent is over, an
why didn't We spake sooner, Patrick
DohertyE And now,' he went on, snap
ping a twig between his fingers with sud
den herceness, THE time has come, and
ITO my mind twas too soon We spoke"
said the sympathiZer. An we'd been
wiser had We never spoke at all"
Her kindly eyes were gazing at him
with deep concern, and she gave from
time TO time little EXPLANATIONS of pity
as he proceeded. Looking at her soft
young face he could not help but think
that there was a girl who would not
, have played with a poor boys feelings.
lie felt inclined TO tell ner more of his
troubles ana settled himself into an easy
5 position for his narration.
5 1t was evident to her that he was no
F.. longer IN hurry to be gone. He pushed
ms ndt further back on his fair head.
, crossed his legs comfortably and casped
: ms big brawny hands about one knee.
lis blue eyes held woebcgone express
sion, and his voice had an almost child
like note of complaint.
An TO think he continued, "of the
way We tolicd an moilpd an scraned
au saved this while back to have things
Wen gathered for her coming to me. A
young horse bought mt GlentieS fair so
that she might ride To market in her cart
like the best q them An another milcb
COW, t2rbye the two l had in the byre:
ior heerd tell always that She had a
: nate hand at the butter
., An how does she think I'm to ham
uie Tor myself an mind the house, with
> no woman body in it. for nv mother
may tell We. had words with me nhout
bringing the wife Until her, an told her
plump an plain, that if she couldn't thole
II she'd he Ia let it alone. SO She mn
an away with her to Barnagecha, where
B my sister Kitty's married to n man y,
the MacGinleyS. How am l to have the
lace to ask her back now when She took
cartioat @ her belongings with her. an
Who Id like to know. is to milk them
She laid one hand upon his and patted
Il c09nsolingly. Don't take on" She said
kindly. Don't take on so bad. There's
a way out o every wood. an an answer
10 every riddle. Yen find many an able
De there's some poor desolate widow nm
Your side that the wee bit q the wage
would be welcome 10 for comm an dom