Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-05
A Good Love Story.

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Within these latter days nearly all
our love stories are mere tangled webs
of sex delinquences, marriage prob
lens, and other morbid manifestations
of nervous age. As the story told by
Charlotte J. Burckhardt, in The Butter
fly, is SO completely devoid OF any OF
these unhealthy features, and 80 natur-
ally depicts the hard bargaining OF q
truly rural lover, who pits the red
heifer against all the charms Of Katie
O'Grady, we are sure our readers Will
welcome the tale.
Mike walked slowly up the Doggy
lane which led to the OGrady upland
farm, in all the uneasy splendour OF his
Sunday clothes 1t was his habit TO
doff them after morning mass, but this
was an occasion on which they were in
dispensable, for he was going to make
a formal proposal for the hand OF Katie
O'Grady, whom he had been counting
to precedent provided, for the past
three months.
Katie was one of the matches OF the
neighborhood, for O'Grady was a
"strong" farmer and owned cows OF a
superior strain, the descendants OF
'Congested Districts" stock, and Mike
reflected that If he got with her as
dover a red heifer, as we'll as couple
Of sheep, and maybe matter OF ten
pounds, he should be doing very well
indeed. "And, sure, isn't Katie far and
away the prettiest girl this side OF Gai,
wayy" he told himself Faith, We'll
make a handsome couple, the two av
u.s." And he glanced complacently
down at his vivid blue necktie, though
the serrated edge of a starched collar
made 1t a painful effort.
Katie was at the door, looking out,
when he arrived, but coyly Withdrew
when she saw her lover approaching,
and answered his knock OF ceremony
with an affectation of great surprise.
"An' is it yourself, Mr.. Devlin?' she
said, opening a pair OF sweet grey-plue
ewes at him. Father was after sayln
1t was you were the stranger, SO ne
did,"
"I've been busy gettin the pilates
in Miss O'Grady," he answered. with
equal knowledge Of etiquette. An is
himself Within?
HE is that-and won't you walk mr.
she said, politely; and Mike then SUI
fered his glance to penetrate across the
cabin to where O'Grady was sitting oy
the fire. smoking.
"s that YOU, Mike, me boy?' he said,
for the first time becoming aware OF
the young mans presence oflclally' as
| It were.
He was a wrinkled-faced ola man,
with the vivid blue eyes, long chin, and
hard mouth. so common in Ireland;
and Katie's brilliant coloring did not
hide her close resemblance to her par
emf though the mouth was softened by
youth and good temper, and she was
manifestly pleasantly flustered ny
Mikes arrival. ...,.
The two men began feeling thell
ground by preliminary remarks aoou'
the weather and crops, eyelns eacl
other the while like two duellists, each
taking the measure Of the other, tlll
after a cup Of tea provided by katle
O'Grady proposed that they should
walk out and look at the stock
Mike fingered behind minute, ano
in that minute managed TO snatch
kiss from Katie, who, indeed, MADE M
great resistance ,...
"Whisht now darlint-whisht, Low
he said. "sure, an dom ye know why
In here?" ,o rove,
"How would know. an me hevei
touldqp said Katie, with sweetly co
ouettish glance from under her oiacf
ashes. ..,,;,r ~
IAN aren't the eyes av me telling y
livery time look at ye" said Mike
with ardour. Don't We know that mt
heart'sAflre for ye, Agra ,.
An have done now with such folly
she said, swiftly. "Hould now, o.
father will be comm back to see what
delayin ye," and she pushed MIN ava!
and fed into the inner room.
OGrady was leaning against a wal
surveying a group of five cows prows
inc on the short, sweet mountain pas
tnTe below and did not even turn oil
, head at Mikes approach.
"Sure thim's as foine stock as ye
see in all Galway, so they are now N
'" "I'm not denyin' the same salt
Mike, Il suppose now, Mr. OGrady
vou'd be given the boy who'd TAX
Katie a hiffer av them?"
ct might be thinkin' av a good COW,
said OGmdy, cautiously, "forbye 81 \
was marrying a dacint lad, with a trim
av his own" i'll. -, =,
Maybe Peg Rafferty, might nav ',
bean tellin' We that l was thinkln q
settlin'." hazarded the lover
"Faith, | think there was some tal
av It." said o'Grady, not removing nj
glance from the cows.
"I was after thinkin' we might max
match av 1t" oro
"sure, there's more than wan a a,s
Katis She's a fine, upstandin' glr
though It's but little fortin' ! could 0
| nhaon ann m