The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-28

fere wid your match-makin, and your cuttin me out uv me legitimate beau; but tis not you'll succeed wid your selves at present.
 What do you mean, woman?" boomed Father Kinsellagh.
 Kate looked pleasantly at the ceiling, and then said. You'll excuse me, blaze, Father?"
 She went back to the kitchen, and found MacMahon still gloomily eying the clock, while Blanca looked sadly at her slim, folded hands. Rates kind heart stirred at the sight.
 "Git out some uv thim cakes you made today, Blanca" she said; "and put on some tay fur Misther MacMahon.'
 Then she made the talk so pleasant that MacMahon, without thinking of it, shook hands with Blanca when he left.
 Kate was both amused and worried to notice that the next time MacMahon came Father Kinselagh called them all three into his study and showed them some of the photographs he had taken in Italy. The father was a good talker, and his de- scriptions and the honor he was confer ring on them soon so uplifted Mac Mahon and Blanca that they lost all self consciousness. Her face was as soft as a pearl when the father spoke of the Arno.
 An" she cried; "the first thing I knowa is playing there by that green Arno, while mia madre wash the clothes -ah, motto bello: And then mia madre taka walk We go on Ponte Vecchio and saw the jewel-oh, more, more than the stars are''
 She swept her slim arms in free ges- ture, and MacMahon noticed with a kind of wonder that she was beautiful. Kate caught the look and queer, half-resent- ful pain smote her. Michael liked her red hair and pink cheeks, but he had ad- mired them in a free and easy way; now he was looking at Blanca as he some times looked at the stained glass win dows in church or at the big painting of the Madonna over Father Kinsellagh's 8 fireplace.
 For this part, Michael had never before thought of an Italian as beautiful. The race had seemed to him only dirty and obnoxious and as alien as monkeys.
 And begor she's got a pretty tongue in her head, too," he thought, with the love of the true Celt for words which is greater than his love for meat or drink.
 The next lllllt Mdtnhdloll Sblltd iC included Blanca in. the conversation, and it occurred to Kate that matters were progressing well that Blanca needed no assistance.
 Anyway" she tn ought, q am sure l can have Michael if I want him, but I dinnaw do I want him. I do if Father KinseHagh don't want me to have him. And ain't Blanca the schemin little minx!
 And yet when from a side window she saw Pasquaile coming to visit his daugh ter, she hastily ordered MacMa- hon into the fathers study.
 Sure he wants to see you" she said. hustling him into the hall just before Pasquale's knock sounded. She could not bear to see Bianca's soft. lovely face grow piteous and shrinking.
 Blanca understood that Kate was saving her.
 "Grazie, Mees MacAvoya," she said. gently; "mio parde saya he put knifa in Michael"
 "Phol Michael d break his face"
 q hopa so," acquiesced Blanca; but mic padre is yer quick with stilletto."
 Little Pasquale opened tine door and advanced furiously on his daughter, with a torrent of Italian. At its close he pinched her arms cruelty
 'Musha I wish I had a bit uv hts haythenish lingo!' cried Kate, shaking her fist.
 Again Pasquale poured forth voluble Italian pointing to Kate, and ending by skipping Bianca's cheeks.
 Whats the matter at all?" asked Kate.
 "Oh, he saya you should not be in kitchen,' wept Blanca; and why not giva him eat, and 1t is true you marry Signor MacMah oIta-"
 Well. l can't stand ut said Kate: 'I got to let the Irish out uv me. amy way"
 She turned on the little Pasquale and overwhelmed hfsn with vivid abuse. She began by rsAecting on his ancestors. and, varying to her work she gave the history of all the delinquent Di Pletros of the ward, pushing him closer and