The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-01-23
RefOrmas.s gGa Of
Daniel O'I eirne /
By (. GRAFTON h-1cANTS
Copyright. by Joseph Il. Bowles.)

We hal 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, Oh account of the distance and
the WEAKNESS of two days fishing, |
had sent message to my negro sery-
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 faint, sweet odor of jessamine
and bay. Wash BcZeman heaved
sigh of relief, drew from his pocket
corncob pipe and proceeded to get it
alight
Gene over an set down an smoke,
squire" he invited The Niger an
ther hcsses haint got here yit, an,
anyhow, res'ful man 'nll alters find
time fer res. Come over an set on a
root an let there ole worr wag
awhile
Seeing the futility O. protest |
packed up my tackle ana 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 a space between the overarching
trees, then it climbed hill, upon the
summit of which we could see neat
white cottage with green blinds-a
cottage with roses in front of it and
suntlowers in the back yard. Raising
my hand, | motionei toward the
house.
"O'Beirne' l asked, turning to
Wash.
My friend withdrew his pipe and
emitted volume OF smoke.
Vas" he replied that thar is Dan
ny's house-Dalny Q Be!rne, what
married Kathie Fallon here month
or so back Looks ruther nifty, don't
hit?"
| considered a moment. The house
looked nice enough. bat the last time
that l remembered seeing Danny
had been his attorney III the Bellville
police court, he being aIraigned at the
time on charge Of drunkenness. /
knew Kathie Fallon. too-cid man Fail
lon was friend OF mine. and Kathie,
and long, dark lashes. A good enough
man was O'Beirne when sober, but
the combination of gray eyes and dark
lashes is 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 subtle discomfort.
well" l remarked. affecting res
ignation that | did not feel, "a woman
will have her way, but wonder it
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 fne-lookin'
"a little reckless bout work, mebbe,
but yit Their kind Nv man at a woman
mostly likes
ooh, yes | admitted, he looks
very well, and is industrious, no doubt,
but you know Danny. Wash-he will
get drunk, and Kathie deserves better
than that
My friend arose and shook his head
decisively. No" he objected, The
won't git drunk squire-not now, he
won't. l pintedly kyored i'm NV tibet
sort NV foolishness good bit afore
his weddin' day
Now, Wash is not naturally meddle-
some-such disl osition would inter
fere seriously with his attitude of re-
pose-neither is he ayerse to taking
"a little for his stonlach's sake"
hence the idea of his acting as a re-
former seemed a ridiculous one to me.
Your" l asked, scornfulE. How
did you cure Danny? Did you attempt
to drink all the whisky, so that none
would be left for him.
Wash pulled diligently at his pipe
and then removed it aga.n. So fur ez
l kin tell" he remarked. inpersonally,
"thar's Jest ez much HIKE afioat ez
thar ever WIZ. You know thct much,
squire, an eff anybody doubted hit,
look at yo nose nd be convincin'
argument.
"But ter git back ter Danny. |
kyored i'm shore, though ] KANT say
at l lowed ter do ther job when fust
l started out. Fact is at | doubts
right now whe'er either he or Kathie
ever foun' out jest who his physician
wuz Anyhow, in them days Dan wuz
a courtin' Kathie an Kathie wuz a
holdin' off, Nigh ez c'ud make hit
out she wuz a lovin' him some, but
she wuz pow'ful afeard Nv them drink
in ways. Ole man Fallon, he lived not
fur FIN 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 courtin' Kathie ther bar hit wuz
a CROWN. Like Dan ther little black
vflyun thort heap NV Kathie, an,
j like Kathie, hit sort Nv TUX a likin'
ter Dan. So yer see hit wuz a kind NV
three-cornered love affair-ther bar
bein' one NV Their corners-an' nobody
a-knowin' when Dan 'ud be drunk ez
a fiddler nor how long Kathie wuz a.
.ruyino for mt I'M WI cif0h