New-York tribune., 1903-03-01
TIE Bank Loan.
BY KATHARINE lyman.


He spoke something out aloud as he stood up,
with motion Of his arms and body as though
he would shed the old foul rags something that
was in the nature OF oath that he would be
another man than he had been, in order to win
Susy Whelan.
It was Sunday a day he usually spent in the
fields, sucking his black pipe and contemplating
the works Of God in a spirit not so unlike that
of the hermits of old. This Sunday-wonder of
wonders!-after he had eaten his wretched meal,
ne began to tidy up In the Kitchen there was
the sCcumula ton of years of rubbiSh-a perfect
mountah OF II. he began 10 clear away VIII VIII
feVerish energy, turning the contents almost
bodily out into the yard. When he had the
place comparatively clear he looked around him.
1T ud be deal better for coat O white.
wash he said; IAN, sure. soap an water hasn't
been it these thirty years.
Suddenly he flung up his hat with boyish
shout. Mary Maclean, he said Il never
thought o Mary Maclean, yet she's the very
woman for me-
who had married North of Ireland man and
spent her married life in Ulster. After sne had
been widowed she returned to her native place
with notions about thrift and cleanliness
which made her generally unpopular in BalIina-
cappe. She was kinswoman of Bernard Rfor-
dan, and had an odd liking for him despite MS
ways, which she abhoTred She would defeno
| him, indeed. against herself, saying that he
wasn't any worse than others that had less
reason, and so
The day after that fateful Sunday Bernard
tage, which ne had been used to feel cold
kind of habitation Now il was himself that
was the blot the white floor, against the
of musk and fuchsias and vinegar plants gay
with pictures of saints and patriots.
II don't know what you're doin' it for said
Mary Maclean, austcrely-she would have
| scorned to aSk-'but / know it's time for it to
be done, and Pm the woman to Eelp you.
BerraTd's farm was lonely spot. under the
mountains little visited. Day after day Mrs.
Maclean trudged there in the early hours of the
morning returning late at night. She
silent person and little likely to satisfy peoples
curiosity about her business. if anybody had
manifested it, But as a matter of fact she
came and practically upnoticed-
If it had got out in Ballinacapple that Ber-
nard Riordan was buying soap and soda and
have been all agOg. But Mary managed that for
him. The opinion of Ballnacapple was that
Mary 'ud scrub the house from under her and
the face off herself one of these days, so any
eccentricities on her part were safe to pass un-
noticed.
In fact, the real transformation of the place
| had been accomplished before day,
chin rushed into the forge at the crossroads
just outside Ballinacapple village with the news
that Barney Riordan WAS mending his gates;
that his house new whitewashed and bits
O. curtains at the Windo VS. the yard cleaned
up. and a hape O. rubbidge big SLEEVE
more there was burnn itself away at
safe distance from the house
THE mans goin' to be married. said the Sc
rious Wag of the company.
Hes in all his ouid rags an tatteTS, just the
same as ever said the urchin.
Il thought there was somethin up wild him.
! said the smith. He does be terrible unsociabie
this while back"
when Barney Riordan is gettin' tidy said
another. lit must be the change before death is
on him.
At this very moment Mary Maclean was draw
ing the hood of her cloak over her white cap
in Bernard Riordan's kitchen, preparatory TO
going home. Her eye roamed about it in justi-
fable pride. No could have recognized it
for the same place. 1t was whteWashed, the
floor of red tiles was ochred over. the CRATE had
been polished up, the windows Shone 1t was
not i'll furnished, either The rubbish had yielded
up some unexpected treasures 1t was the same
all over the house. The good furniture in which
Barney'S mother had taken pride had emerged
unharmed from its disguise of dirt. The place
had become quite presentable farmhouse
I'm obliged to you. Mary" said Bernard, with
awkward gratitude.
You came to the right woman" replied Mrs.
Maclean. 81 didn't forget the good turn your
grease into the work not like these suts in
BalIinacapple. And now, Barney Riordan''-she
fixed a compelling eye upon him-"the least you
can do is to tell who is the girl
Bernard stammeFed, tried hard to deny, finally
yielded to the compelling eye and confessed.
AS his confession came out Mary Maclean's
jaws dropped.
why, you misfortunate fellow she said,
don't you know that her match is to be made
Tomorrow night with old Tom Dempsey OF the
Granger"
For the one and only time in his life Bernard's
face lost its ruddy tints; then they returned
dark and threatening.
I'D kill Tom Dempsey, he said 'ere ever he
laid a hand on her. I would, SO help me -?'
What nonsense have you?" said the widow
rather scandaliZed- A passion like this was be-
yond her comprehension and experience. Sure,
Won only seen the little girl once"
''Tl kill him before ever he gets her." repeated
Bernard with a glowering eye.
JzJbU UvRnl6nsf