The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-08

his feet seemed scarcely to touch the earth as he went from house to house bidding his .friends to the wake which he purposed having tho following eve hing in memory of his uncle.
 .sTis no keening want ye to do. at all, he declared 'sTis not in such mournful fashion he'd have us keep him in mind. But come and drink HIS souls peace with me"
 No one in the village was neglected from this general invitation, and tnes arrived early at Barney's bare little home. where candles burned with cheerful glow. and where laughter ana shLt,fling of feet half untitled the music played by a wandering fiddler. All the village was there save Hugn' and no one seemed to know where he hAd gone or what had become of him. Cane of the children vouchsafed the Information that ne had been seen rid- ing away from Ballymoran at a prisk canter--a piece of news to which Bar ney paid small heed, so engrossed was , he in wathching Eileen as she swung | through reel, eyes a-light and step as swift as fairy's 1t seemed to Barney | that he never had been so happy. He went about among his guests, prom ising gifts to this one and that, and hardly hearing the thanks they gave Ihim in return. Presently the door opened and Hugh appeared among them. 1 '"Tis late ye are, avick,' said Barney "but we're none the less welcome. 'sTis from the postoffice I am" an- swered Hugh, and drew from the pocket of his mud-bespattered coat an oficiai- looking envelope, the seal of which was not broken. , | "Belike it's from uncle Seamus. Hugh went on. and the guests gathered round him, while Eileen held the cahole that he might read
 Barney sat on a. table nearby, swing | ing his feet. He stole d glance at Eileen and noted the shadow the candle threw across her face and how her dark lash es swept the rose of her cheek. "Arran my darling" he whispered to himseia' | before this evenin's gone I'll nave your promlseT Then he composed him self to listen to the letter.
 l It was very brief-brfef as the hopes of Barney, for 1t was to Hugh that Seamus McShane had left hls fortune. wben Hugh had finished reading the letter the guests drew long Dreath. Barney VI as the first to come forward and congratulate him.
 | "Shure there Is no one more deser- wing of it than yourself. he said stead l lily but his voice was fos- in the gen eral acclaim, for Hugh had become the Ihero of the evening. The attentions that lhad formerly been showered on Barney were now lavished on him. His good I fortune went to his head like wine. since I'm the heir" he cried, "ye must all come home with me and drink remembrance. The fiddler started up' The Rocky Road to Dublin and. sing ling and laughing. the guests danced Tout the door. A few paused long enough to say goodnight to their host and could not pass without word at his lexpense.
 Don't forget my red petticoat.' says Biddy McBride, and the package of tay ye were for giving me"
 'Nor tho baccy ye promised chuc' lkled old DonneIiy. "and the dhudheen Irll likely be smoking next week." To
 which Barney answered gayly enough smiling with set lips. He had kept uI gallantly before them, yet after all ht was only lad. and when the last lguest had gone and his cabin was deser. ted he sat down by the table and buried his face In his arms
 Deeper than the disappointment over the money was the thought that Eileer
 had gone without so much as word
 She'll marry Hugh" groaned Barney
 between his teeth Shell marry Hugh
 And och, if there's a miserable lad ir the country that same Is myselfr
 The door creaked on it's hinges. '"Ti:
 only the wind" thought Barney. Ther
 something made him turn and look
 Eileen stood in the doorway.
 Have ye left something?" said Bar ney. starting to his feet.
 Eileen's eyes were very bright and tender.
 '"Tis my heart I've lost" she an
 swered
 'tHughs a lucky lad, Eileen," sait
 Barney, "a lucky lad. and-and--and-
 I wish ye joy, the both of yez."
 Iris not Hugh that has my heart, : cried Eileen, "tis-ah, Barney, can " lnot see-can ye not understand
 "Shure shure, it's never me "
 mean?" gasped Barney. Why, Eileen
 girl, Pm poor-" Suddenly a ligh
 broke on him, and he caught her to hi
 heart Nor he cried, I'm the riches
 man in the whole wide wurruld"
 Thus fortune came to Barney afte all.
 (copyrisht. 1906, by c. H. Satellite