Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-06-14
Reformation OF
Daniel O'Beirne
(Copyrlght, BY Joseph B. Bowles.)
BY E. GRAFTON r1ccANTs


the WEAKNESS of two days fishing,
had sent 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 blowins
out OF the south brought to our NOS
triis the resinous smell Of the pines,
and a faint, sweet odor OF jessamlne
and bay. Wash Bozeman heaved a
sigh of relief, drew from his pocket a.
coFncob pipe and proceeded to get II
alight
Come over an set down an smoke,
SQUIRE" he invited. "Ther Niger an
Their bosses hain't got here yit, an,
anyhow. a res'ful man 'ull alters find
time fer res. Come over an set on
root an let there ole worr 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
mounting and muttering against the
| resistent piers.
| Across the stream the highway ran
for space between the overarching
trees, then 1t climbed hill, upon the
| summit Of which we could see a neat
| white cottage with green blinds-a
cottage with roses in front of 1t and
sunfiowers in the back yard. Raising
my hand, | motioned toward the
house.
"O'Beirne's?" / asked turning to
Wash.
My friend withdrew his pipe and
emitted a volume Of smoke.
Vas" he replied, that thar is Dan
ny's house-Danny O'Beirne, what
married Kathie Fallon here a month
or so back Looks ruther nifty, don't
hit?"
I considered moment The house
looked nice enough, but the last time
that | remembered seeing Danny
had been his attorney in the Bellville
police court, he being arraigned at the
time on a charge of drunkenness.
knew Kathie Fallon, too-old man Fal-
lon was friend of mine, and Kathie,
a lass of Irish descent, with gray eyes
and long, dark lashes. A good enough
man was OBeirne when sober, but
, the combination of gray eyes and DARK
lashes is a fetching one, and the
thought of the man coming home II
his cups and OF Kathie meeting hin
: with uuiyering lips moved me to i'm
patience and to a subtle discomfort.
WELL" | remarked, affecting res
ignation that | did not feel, "a woman
9 will have her way, but wonder /
Kathie Is fully content now that sh'
has chosen hers?"
: Wash answered nonchalantly
e "Why?" he queried, why sh'd not thu
. girl be pleased? Dannys flne-lookin
: "a little reckless bout work, mebbe
but yit Their kind Nv man at woman
e mostly likes
+ "Oh, yes" admitted, The look
very we'll, and is Industrious no doubt
but you know Danny. Wash-he wi
r get drunk, and Kathie deserves bette
Is than that"
MY friend arose and shook his hea
3 decisively. mo" he objected. n
/, won't git drunk, squire-not now, b
o won't. / pintedly kyored i'm Nv the
sort Nv foolishness good bit afor
his weddin' day"
l. Now, Wash is not naturally meddl
70 some-such disposition would int
fere seriously with his attitude of r.
pose-neither is he averse to takin
es "a little for his stomach's sake
r hence the idea of his acting as a r
. former seemed ridiculous one to m
Is Your" / asked, scornfully. "Ho
n. did you cure Danny? Did you atteml
Il to drink all the whisky, so that nor
would be left for him?'
=, Wash pulled diligently at his pill
IN and then removed 1t again. so fur
mr. | kin tell" he remarked, impersonall
"thars jest ez much likker afloat
thar ever wuZ. You know thet muc
a squire, an eff anybody doubted hit,
ms look at yo' nose 'ud be a convinci
argument.
But ter git back ter Danny.
kyored i'm shore, though KANT s.
at lowed ter do Their job when fu
| started out. Fact is at douh
Va right now whe'er either he or KatE
"a ever foun' out jest who his physics
wuz. Anyhow, in them days Dan W
ne a courtin' Kathie an Kathie wuz
no hoIdin' or Nigh ez | c'ud make
IL out she wuz a lovin' him some, b
she wuz pow'ful afeard NV them drir
& in ways. Ole man Fallon. he lived 1
fur FIN me then, an one day sol
l. movers I'm Nawth Kyarlina COZ
long waterway an gin Their ole m
Oh little cub bar. Wall, sir, whilst D
in wnz a co1rtin' Kathie ther bar hit "
for a CROWN. Like Dan Their little bla
vilyun thort a heap Nv Kathie, 8
lcC like Kathie, hit sort NV TUX a lik
OF ter Dam So yer see hit wuz kind
three-cornered love affair-ther |
bein, one NV Their corners-an, nobc
ug, a.knowin' when Dan 'ud be drunk