The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-01-18

THE SYMPA9HIzER,
About half a 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 a hurry. 1t was girl who
was coming down hill, and the young
clad in a spruce new suit with posy in
his buttonhOle for q 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-
lance with him.
Even before they had reached one an
other he had addressed her, calling ont:
will Father Dan b. left home yet,
can ye tell me kindly?'
She came up to him and they stood
together under the shelter of the newly
budded hedge. She pondered moment
before answering, and wondered what
great hurry was on him, for he had taken
If it's sick CALI she said, unless
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?"
1.-THE whole countryside IL know it
soon enough" said he, $50 don't keep
me here talking. Tell me, is the priest
in or out?'
"'Tis out he is" said she, IAN you
need be in no hurry for bit. Sit down
here at yer aise. Yell see him drivin'
not you'd miss him.
She seated herself on the bank and
mechanically he sat down beside her
Ye re all in heat an worry"
There was an air of consideration in
her voice which soothed him.
I'm 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 I heard tell
ye wor for marryin'. A purity girl, but
a wag-by -the-bush from all they say of
her.
"Well, ye 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
tn,+s an GYM an S s1ndn
to her whole tribe of brothers, cousins
an uncles. A fine penny it cost me.
An was it dacint tratement. I ask We,
for any well-doin' well-meanin' boy to
pitch him over at the long run when he
had her courted up to the point of
marryin' an the priest bespoke and all ?"
The colleen agreed that it was most
her head dolefully. twill be a sore
disappointment to Father DAM
"Ay,'' said he, ''it. will in troth. I had
dacint bit Of marriage money ready for
him. An twill be added to her account
her doin' the poor, hard workin', God
tfearin' priest o her own parish out Of his
honest days pay"
That's just what I'm thinkin' off,
said she gravely. Mrs. McGrath was
sayin' he seemed in fine feather about it,
for weddin's is scarce these times.''
Softened by her sympathy he had fallen
into discursive mood. He went over
the story of the courtship.
met her the night Of old Wolshe 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
to pass the joke with her. 1t was Shro1 e
when I asked her, an the match was
made. AN oh, dear. dearr said she, as
if she was in great distress about it.
Well have to wait till Lent is over, an
Why didn't ye spake sooner, Patrick
ping a twig between his fingers with sud-
don f1orconoSS sstho limo has como and-''
ITO my mind twas too soon We spoke. -
said the sympathizer. "An' ye'd been
wiser had ye 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
young face he could not help but think
that there was girl who would not
have played with a poor boys feelings.
He felt inclined to tell her more of his
troubles, and settled himself into an easy
position for his narration.
1t was evident to her that he was no
longer in hurry to be gone. He pushed
his hat further back on his fair head,
crossed his legs comfortably and clasped
his big brawny hands about one knee.
His blue eyes held a woebegone express
sion, and his voice had an almost child
like note of complaint.
AN to think" he continued. "of the
way I've toiled an moiled an scraped
an saved this while back to have things
we'll gathered for her coming to me. a
young horse bought at Glenties fair, so
that she might ride to market in her cart
like the best q them. An another mich
COW, forbye the two had in the byre;
for heerd tell always that she had a
nate hand at the butter.
AN how does she think I'm to han
die for myself an mind the house. with
no woman body in it, for my mother,
may tell We, had words with ME about
bringing the wife Until her, an told her,
plump an plain, that if she couldn't thole
it she'd be to let it alone. So she up
an away with her to Barnageeha, where
my sister Kitty's married to a man O.
the MacGinleys. How am I to have the
face to ask her back now when she took
carload @ her belongings with her, an
who, I'd like to know, is to milk them
cows?' =.
She laid one hand upon his and patted
it consolingly. Don't take on" she said