Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-11-03

one 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. q 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 q fairy's. 1t seemed to Bar
ney that he never had been 50 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 ye're none the less well
come"
"'Tis from the postofice 1 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 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 promise!" Then he
composed himself to listen to the let
ter.
1t 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 a long breath.
Barney was the first to come forward
and congratulate him.
'Shure, there's no one more deServ-
ing of it than yourself" he said steadi-
", 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, 'tye
must all come home with me and drink
remembrance to Uncle Seamus!' This
was greeted with a shout of acquies:
cence. The fiddler started up 1.-The
Rocky Road to Dublin" and, singing
and laughing, the guests danced out
the door. A few paused long enough
t. 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 were for giving me-"
"Nor the baccy We promised" chuc-
killed. old Donnelly, land 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 word.
shell marry Hugh" groaned Barney
between his teeth. She'll marry Hugh.
And, och, if there's a miserable lad in
the country that same is myself!'
The door creaked on its hinges. "'TiS
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.
Eileen'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 wish
We Joy, the both of yez."
"'Tis not Hugh that has my heart"
cried Eileen; "'tis-ah, Barney, can We
not see-can We not understand
"Shure-shure, it's never me We
% gasped Barney. "Why, Eileen,
girl, I'm poor Suddenly a light
broke on him, and he caught her to his
heart NO." he cried, ''I'm the richest
man in the whole wide wurruldv'
Thus fortune came to Barney after