New-York tribune., 1903-03-01

fhs pIea that he'd grown up oy nnaSer IN that
@sisoIit ouId house OF his and had never
xsornan 10 put in a stitch for him nor to see
tbat he went out tidy even on Sunday: Ber-
nerds mother had died when he was child
70 was A pity he should be such a scarecrow,
tb.e neigh bors were agreed, seeing that he was
a flpe straigh,, clean limbed fellow, the very
cut Of an athlete Indeed, 1t was only IN ms ms
FocthaIl Jersey he showed to advantage. he
Essn,t dirty, because he was great swimmer
and careless he was, ne would run 8 razor
over his face once s week, at least But the
forIorn clothes of him! His curls peeped through
. hole in his caubeen; wien he lifted his arms
the rags hung from them like the ScarecroWs
IN the fields His stockings had hardly more
than legs to them. In fact, he was barely de-
cent 50 ragged was he.
His farm showed the Same raggedness OF as
pect as himself Hedges were unCilppeo' ealeS
swung loose orr their hinges, thistles and rag
weeds grew where they oughtnt; his very DTS
Of cattle had staring coats; MS oats grew InOIe
IN ratchtS than his nPighborS.
IL wasn't as if the man drank. said the nelgh-
bors who in judgment upon him. BeFHaro
had 10 vices He vas merry: gentIe' lauehlns
philosopher. He liked to take mis- ease anu
dream his dreams while he sucked az the little
black pipe What though he grew poorer ana
poorer every year! IT would last his time. ne
said and there was one to come after MN.
There we're fearsome stories told of the conol-
lion of his house. Few penetrated IT. IL was
onIv a sort of roof for Bernard OF nights. He
carried the key in his pocket all DAY; he was
essentially a lover OF the fields and the open
air
one person had demonstrated GraVely with him
on his Hcrkiess ways. This was Mr. motifs. the
travel 2 organizer Of the Board Of Agriculture,
who biained agricultural banks and the de-
STABILITY of new seeds and implements, new
stock and new ways, TO the conservative people.
He had routed them out of their conservatism,
too for they were quick witted and could see
al advantage when II was set before then
eyes.
Mr. Morris had taken an odd fancy to Ber-
pard Riordan As a matter of fact, they were
kindred spirits. Both were dreamers of dreams,
seers Of visions. Only, as il happened, some
trlcksy fairy at Mrs. MorrisS christening had
dropped little measure Of practical wisdom
into the chiid's cup So it was that the board
found his services invaluable. He won the peo-
pies confidence by having so much in common
with them, and when he had won it he appealed
10 the little kernel of common sense that lay
wrapped away amid their impracticahle ways
He had demonstrated with Bernard, telling
him what could be made of the farm. Bernard
had invited him TO a seat the grassy bank
which he himself occupied.
Sit down here, SIR --e saic. and let us talk
OF ghosts and fairies. 1tl last my time
Why shouldn't you marry" asked the or
ganizer, and have d son to leave the farm
TOP
I'm 10 more made that way thin yourself
said Bernard. with cunning look at him. II
hike women, but not TO m rrry them"
The organizer blushed. AS q matter of fact,
he had disconnected all his friends by taking
wife TO himself in the most unexpected way, and
when he was at home he was as much inter
ested In the details Of a babyS upbringing
he was even in agricultural hanks.
Very WELL" he said, resignedly. Let us talk
Of ghosts and fairies"
And talk they did till dusk fell on the fields
and young moon wheeled up in the south
eastern sky, and ii time for Bernard to
90 back 20 his dark house and the sQualid dis
comfort in which he yet was able TO dream his
dreams and he merry.
50 he would doubtless have gone to the
end. or died before he ought from neglected
cold or some such thing, If Susy Whelan hadn't
T1Sen on has horizon, beautiful the morning
star As matter Of fact, the girl had come
10 live with her uncle, Myles Whelan, and his
wife, who had the village shop.
Bernard saw her frs. at mass one morning,
and his eyes happening to rest on her by acci-
dent, he received such a shock that he felt
though his very rags must have quiyered in the
sight OF all the folk about him.
He put his face down in his hands after that
His visions included saints and angels, and
even higher persons, as well as ghosts and
fairies and he had a great capacity for rev.
eFence B1t, try as he would, he could not
centEate his thoughts on his prayers after that
momentary glimpse.
When mass was over, he hastened out Of the
church and back along the road to his own
mouse, not waiting for any of those long, leis-
urely chats the road home which were his
oelght He was afraid that Myles Whelan
might overtake him and clap him on the back,
as he was used to, and that the eyes which he
aad not seen, but conjectured, in Susy's pure,
ddsIiult rs face might roam over his own person
with surprised and disgusted air.
Til he was in his wretched kitchen he had
no leisure to think Then, before setting the po-
tatoes among the ashes to roast and the teapot
BESIDE him, he sat down and stared at his
muddy boots despondently. He really did not
see them. He was contemplating the spotless
Itlle person with the fair hair like satin waving
back under the neat little black bonnet with
ue clean. fresh gown Of lavender print, a bunch
VI paISleS in the bosom Of it, the gloves the
pretty lace te-aH the little dantiness which
made SLsy something quite different from other