The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-03-01

1
much notice of the couple, for nobody
could tell who 1t was in the dark, TN
ii. they were going past Thade Raj
ferty's house. Then Thade's dog let
a roar out of him that startled the
neighbors and made jump at the
horse as though he would eat him. At
that the woman says Lie down, tere
Botheration!" and, If you'll believe
me, the dog threw himself on the
ground and wagged himself all over
with joy at sight of Eileen Oge, for ii
was she that said it.
All the neighbors knew at once by
| the actions of Thade's dog that it was
| Eileen he saw and that it was her
| voice he heard, for nobody else could
command him. Soon there was a
swarm of people out, for the way the
wireless news of Ardmore went around
was wonder.
The couple on horseback stopped in
front of the house where Eileen's peo-
pie lived. They were astonished to
see crowd following after them, with
all the people talking like mad, and
Thade Rafferty's dog encouraging the
noise with an occasional howl.
No sooner were Eileen and her COM
panion indoors than the crowd came
laundering.
Wen have his life, so we will, who
ever he isl" shouted Tim Rogan at
tie door.
Let me get at him frst!" bawled
Mickey Manus, boiling with anger.
All this while Eileen was inside sob
bing softly in her mothers arms, and
making explanations, with her mother
saying Don't cry, alanna!"
Break down the dure, let YET"
roared Thade Rafferty, in a gruff voice
Lat was followed by the barking of
his awful dog.
In the middle of this wild clamora-
tion Eileen Oge appeared at the door,
all of a sudden, and you could hear
a pin falling. Even Thades dog, al
though bursting with noise, grew still
and fawned before her.
ITS Eileen herself!" the people
cried.
Yes, it's me-" she said. 81 am here,
but me friends don't seem to be-"
They are! they are!" the crowd
shouted.
Then what's the cause of the
throuble?" she asked
1--WE want the life of the man in
side the house there; the bodagh that
stole you from u.s." they answered
angrily.
"Ah!" An shure ye wouldn't hurt
me poor husband on me-" says Eileen,
with look in her face that went to
the heart of the crowd.
"Yer husband, is it?" all exclaimed
in astonishment, and with suddenly
changed tone, for you see the name
of husband or wife was sacred with
them in Ardmore.
"Yes, me husband, Ulrick Darcy of
Drimbawn."
A big silence fell on the crowd at
that, and in minute Tim Rogan
called out suddenly: We'll, he stole
you from us, anyhow"
"Wid me own consent" replied ELL
cen sweetly, "an' that was no stealin'.
'Tis he who was the blind piper the
night O. the dance. Shure, didn't ye
miss him at all?" she asked.
AN was Ulick Darcy the blind pi-
per?" asked Mickey Manus, in amaze
ment.
hot coil IT1in1y lipncalf
sticking his head through the door
over Eileen's shoulder, seeing that the
storm was quieting down. Then, TAX
ing more courage, he says: Boys,
there isn't mothers son of We that
wouldn't do as | did | knew ye'd
never let me have Eileen by daylight,
and so | took her by subtherfuge, as
Schoolmaster Grady would say. We
rode from the dance through Fo-
chill's Gap in the mountains, an at
peep O. day me friend Father Noon
made us one, wild both our consent,
an now we ak your blessing instead
o. the cross words an looks we do be
givin' u.s."
lHdj DelH lne case, lHeu, SOOu
luck to ye both, is what | say" said
Tim Rogan, rushing up impulsively
and grasping Ulick's hand in hearty
grip. His example was followed by
every man present, and all united in
saying that Ulick was fine boy,
"even if he came from the back of the
mountain, beyant," and that he and
Eileen were "as likely a couple as
you'd find in days walk" for that
was before the flying machines were
invented.
When the wonderment and the
words were over Ulick Darcy said:
Boys, what did ye do wild me bag
pipes? If yen find them for me I'll
play for ye once more tonight, an
well have the finest dance this side
O. Dublin"
Well, the pipes we're found and
Ulick soon made them sing.
"Tare an ages, thin, who'd think
it was the ould blind piper that was
in i'd" said Tim, as Ulick, without his
white wig or the green patch on his
left eye, made the rafters ring with