The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-11-27

bidding his friends TO the wake which /
he purposed having the following even |
ing in memory Of his uncle.
"'Tis no keening want We to do at
ALL he declared. "'Tis not IN such
mournful fashion he'd have US keep
him in mind But come and dhrink his
sowl's peace with me-"
No one in the village was neglected
from this general invitation, and they
arrived early at Barney's bare little
home, where candles burned with a
cheerful glow and where laughter and
sluffiing Of feet half muf1ed the music
played by q wandering fiddler. All the
village was there save Hugh, and no
enc seemed to know where he had
gone or what had become of him.
One of the children vouchsafed the
information that he had been seen rid
ing away from Ballymoran at brisk
canter, a piece Of news to which Bar
ney paid small heed, SO engrossed was
be In watching Eileen as she swung
through a reel, eyes alight and step as
swift as fairy's. 1t seemed to Bar
ney that he never had been SO happy
He went about among his guests prom
Using gifts TO this one and that and
hardly hearing the thanks they gave
him in return. Presently the door
opened and Hugh appeared among
them.
"'Tis late ye are, avick," said Bar
ney, but yere none the less vel
come"
IT'S from the postofice l am" an
swered Hugh and drew from the pocket
Of his mud despatched coat an Off
cial looking envelope, the seal of which
was not yet broken.
Belize it's from Uncle Seamus,"
Hugh went on, and the guests gathered
round him, while Eileen held the can
die that he might read.
Barney sat on a table near by, swing
ing his feet He stole a glance at
Eileen and noted the shadow the can
die threw across her face and how her
dark lashes swept the rose of her
cheek. "Arrah. my darlint," he whis-
pered to himself, before this evenin's
gone I'll have your promisep Then he
composed himself to listen to the let
ter.
It was very brief-brief as the hopes
of Barney, for it was TO Hugh that
Seamus McShane had left his fortune.
When Hugh had finished reading the
letter the guests drew long breath.
Barney was the first to come forward
and congratulate him.
"Shure, there's no one more deserv.
y.ff 81 No
", but his voice was lost in the gen.
eral acclaim, for Hugh had become the
hero Of the evening. The attentions
that had formerly been showered on
Barney were now lavished on him.
His good fortune went to his head like
wine
"Since I'm the heir" he cried, I'VE
must all come home with me and drink
remembrance to Uncle SeamusW This
was greeted with a shout of acquies.
cence The fiddler started up Tho
Rocky Road to Dublin" and, singing
and laughing, the guests danced out
the door. A few paused long enough
to say good night to their host and
could not pass without a word at his
expense.
Don't forget my red petticoat" says
Biddy Mcbride. land the package of
tay We We're for giving me-"
Nor the baccy ye promised" chuc
killed. old Donnelly ''and the dhudheen
I'll likely be smoking next week. To
which Barney answered gayly enough,
smiling with set lips. He had kept up
CALAMITY before them, yet, after all, he
was only a lad, and when the last
guest had gone and his cabin was de
serted he sat down by the table and
buried his face in his arms
Deeper than the disappointment over
the money was the thought that Eileen
had gone without SO much as a word
Shell marry Hugh" groaned Barney
between his teeth. She'll marry Hugh,
And, och, II there's a miserable lad in
the country that same is myselfr'
The door creaked on it's hinges. TITS
only the wind" thought Barney. Then
something made him turn and look
Eileen stood in the doorway.
"Have We left something's" said Bar
ney, starting to his feet
Etleen's eyes were very bright and
| tender
"'Tis my heart I've lost" she an
swered.
'Hugh's a lucky lad, Eileen" SAID
Barney, "a lucky lad, and-and-I visit
ye JOY, the both of yez"
Its not Hugh that has my heart,
cried Eileen; " 'tis-ah, Barney, can "
not see-can ye not underestimate
"Shure- shure, it's never me "
mean?' gaspei Barney. Why, Eileen
girl, I'm poor Suddenly a lighf
broke on him, and he caught her to his
heart NO" he cried, I'm the riches
man in the whole wide wurruIdr'
Thus fortune came to Barney after
all