Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
A Match for Kathleen
Continued tom page 8

for his promise to lave her behind whin he
goes to America. But-well, Paudeen, you We
been living here in the shadow OF God tor
Years; but cast down Your mind man. Would
Andy Fave her, vance she was his! He would
not Along wild him she would have to go to
America and lave behind all she loves"
Sure, if my prayers
Its not your prayers I'm wanting, Pau
deen," said Eileen the least bit impatiently.
Sure ! know you're thought of almost like
the pres. but afther all you're not the priest.
Pm not, 1ndade!
You're a man, Paudeen; and because
gurrl lost herself for you you've paid her
penance over and over. And now ask you,
Paudeen, to living gurrl. Her that's
dead is surely translated to glory by your
pains.
"Troth, what You can do isn't in the thick
head of YOU vet. MAY Heaven forgive my
sharp tongueD l want you for to come down
and offer to marry Kathleen yourself
Paudeen raised his pale face and stared at
her. His black eyes filled with strange light.
"A swift vision came before him of the hearth
in the little farm house where he had sat on
creepv-stool while his mother bent at some
homely task. 1t was not his mother he saw
now, but Kathleen with her shadowy hair and
soft eyes. Then he looked at the flaming
cross
"You-youre not vowed from a wife, are
YOU Paudeen?" asked Eileen.
IN make this offer, if it is to help kath-
leen," said Paudeen at last What differ does
it make to me! It's a dead man am to the
world at best. But if she will take me, that
cross of flame will go out forever; it will just
stand in her heart and mine.
And in all our hearts said Eileen warmly,
well never forget the good you We worked to
this parish. But to-night's the best good days
work. you ever did, it is.
She gave him directions and suggestions,
and then hurried home to her sleeping hus-
band, to whom she did not confde her midnight
excursion, the ground that what he didn't
know could not hurt him.
MEYER was christening better attended
than was that of the Garritys For one
thing, no invited person but was moved by the
thought of the good dinner and the good COM
pany. Besides, word had trickled through the
whole community that a match was to be made
for kathleen; that that cute Michael Dwyer
had got half dozen gossoons from the northern
baronies, and, sly fox that he was he had let
none of them know that any other candidate
was to be present.
As rule match is made only in the pres
ence of the heads of the two families concerned,
their closest relatives and friends, and the
matchmaker who tsmooths over matters when
disputes run high over the giving of an extra
pair of blankets churn. The guests knew
well enough that the wedding negotiations
would be made in comparative privacy; but at
least they would the candidates, and per-
haps there was more than one girl or her thrifty
parents who thought that a rejected sultor
might be caught on the rebound If he was well
favored and his pockets well lined.
Irish manners are of the finest; SO there was
lack of attention paid to the Clarity baby,
who was the nominal center of the gathering,
nor did anyone stare unduly at kathleen's
pale still face as she sat walked never far
from her stepmother or blooming Judy Horr1-
gan. The half-dozen suitors that in
haltingly were received with generous welcom-
ing, and handled so ingeniously by the COM
pany that it is question if anyone realized
that he was not the only stranger When
Michael Dwyer appeared with Andy Corrigan,
mods and winks went about; for it was thought
that Andy must be Michaels choice. Many
look was cast the dark young man as he
whispered in kathleens ear, exchanged gay
banter with Judy Horrigan.
The dinner was set in the barn, and after
ward there was dancing. When the fun was
we'll started, the elder Garritys, Judy Horri-
gan, Kathleen, and Eileen slipped one by one
into the house, where they seated themselves
about the stout kitchen table, Michael re-
manned in the barn; for it his duty to
garner in turn, unobtrusively might be,
his bachelors. They were worthy young men
enough hard working. pleased enough with
Kathleen, glad enough of the dover that the
hard conditions in Ireland made necessary if a
man and wife were to thrive at all.
MICHAEL DWYER always looked back
Ava that afternoon the when he heard
he f11a IF fhaf