Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-08
Reformation OF
Daniel O'Beirne
By E. GRAFTON H1ccANTS
(Copyright, b. JOSEPH B. Bowles.l

Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
We had gone down the river farther
than was usual with us, had spent the
night with friend of my friend, and
afterward had gone on again. There
fore, on account of the distance and
the WEAKNESS of two days fishing,
had sent a message to my negro serv-
ant, Jordan telling him to meet me
with my horses at the lower bridge,
where the river intersects what is
known as the Watts ferry road.
1t was still early when we reached
the appointed spot; the wind blowing
out of the south brought to our nos
trils the resinous smell of the pines,
and a faint, sweet odor of jessamine
and bay Wash Bozeman heaved a
sigh of relief, drew from his pocket
corncob pipe and proceeded to get it
alight.
Come over an set down an smoke,
squire" he invited. "Ther niger an
ther bosses hain't got here yit, an,
anyhow, a res'ful man 'ull alters find
time fer res. Come over an set on a
root an let there ole WORT wag
awhile"
Seeing the futility Of protest /
packed up my tackle and came across
the road. Overhead was the summer
sky, on either hand the lush green of
the timbered bottoms, in front of us
the long bridge, with the yellow water
,,,o,,+bi,,o o1d ,,,,,4toripoe oooipct tba
resistent piers.
Across the stream the highway ran
for a space between the overarching
trees, then it climbed hill upon the
summit of which we could see a neat
white cottage with green b4inds-a
cottage with roses in front of it and
suntlowers in the back yard. Raising
my hand, l motioned toward the
house.
"O'Beirne's?" I asked, turning to
Wash.
My friend withdrew his pipe and
emitted volume of smoke.
Vas" he replied, that thar is Dan
nys house-Danny O'Beirne, what
married Kathie Fallon here a month
or so back. Looks ruther nifty, don't
hit?"
l considered a moment. The house
looked nice enough, but the last time
that I remembered seeing Danny
had been his attorney in the Bellville
police court, he being arraigned at the
time on a charge Of drunkenness. I
knew Kathie Fallon, too-old man Fail
lon was a friend of mine, and Kathie,
a lass of Irish descent, with gray eyes
and long, dark lashes. A good enough
man was O'Beirne when sober, but
the combination of gray eyes and dark
lashes is a fetching one, and the
thought of the man coming home in
his cups and of Kathie meeting him
with quivering lips moved me to i'm
patience and to a subtle discomfort.
We'll" l remarked, affecting a res
ignation that did not feel, "a woman
will have her way, but l wonder if
Kathie is fully content now that she
has chosen hers"
Wash answered nonchalantly.
'Why?" he queried, why sh'd not the
girl be pleased? Danny's fine-lookin'
"a little reckless bout work, mebbe,
but yit Their kind Nv man at a woman
mostly likes"
"Oh, yes I admitted, "he looks
very we'll, and is industrious, no doubt,
but you know Danny, Wash-he will
get drunk, and Kathie deserves better
than that"
Ny friend arose and shook his head
decisively. mo" he objected, ''he
won't git drunk, squire-not now, he
won't l pintedly kyored i'm NV tibet
sort Nv foolishness a good bit afore
his weddin' day"
Now, Wash is not naturally meddle-
some-such disposition would inter
fere seriously with his attitude of re-
pose-neither is he averse to taking
"a little for his stomach's sake,
hence the idea of his acting as a re
former seemed a ridiculous one to me-
"You?" l asked, scornfully. How
did you cure Danny? Did you attempt
20 drink all the whisky. so that none
would be left for him?"
w dSn punOu ulli5CuIly DIT Ills pipe
and then removed it again. $50 fur ez
kin tell he remarked, impersonally,
''thar's jest ez much likker afoat ez
thar ever wuz. You know tibet much,
squire, an eff anybody doubted hit. a
look at 20 nose I'D be a convincin
aggyment.
but ter git back ter Danny
kyored i'm shore, though | KANT say
at I lowed ter do Their job when fust
| started out Fact is at l doubts
right now whe'er either he or Kathie
ever foun' out jest who his physician
wuz Anyhow, in them days Dan wuz
courtin Kathie an Kathie wuz a
holdin' off. Nigh ez l cud make hit
out she wuz lovin' him some, but
she wuz pOw'ful afeard Nv them drink
in ways. Ole man FallOn, he lived not
fur I'm me then, an one day some
movers FIN Nawth Kyarlina come
long waterway an gin Their ole man
a little cub bar Wall, sir whilst Dan
wuz a courtin' Kathie Their bar hit wuz
2 CROWN Like Dan Their little black