The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-12-02
Reddy Mahoney's Romance
BY Grace Mac Gowan Cooke

an inept, clumsy hand.
You've been quarreling with you
wife again" said Father Mac Neil
accusing voice from the vestry door.
"Nawthin much, your reverence,
said Ready sulkily. What did a bo,
like that know about women, even 4
he was a priest?
The reverend father came dowr
the aisle. He might know little about
women but he knew much about dust
and his caretaker's brush fiourished
with renewed energy. A thin, Other
worldly looking young fellow. was
Father MacNeil, with a pair of soft
misty, dark eyes. and a voice to vile
a bird from bush-a voice that did
not seem to be made entirely for the
reciting of Latin services.
'Mahoney," he began In those win
ming tones which Redjy had learned
could convey as sound reproof as
the bishops rasping bass.-"Rediy,
Your wife is good woman. Your
jealousy is disgrace to you and an
insult to her. The whole parish is
talking Of 1t"
The priest had been gone for few
moments. Mahoney was behind the
one small confessional which the
church contained, rubbing some
brasses about picture. when he
heard C. light football. Peering eau
tiously round the corner of the ward
robe like structure, he saw his wife
Kate approaching. He would have
gone on sullenly with his work; but
the sight of Kate's beaming face
chokej him with jealous rage. For
what was she grinning like that?S
tossed Ter graceful head and set her
hat in place with a gesture so IA
iliar to the watching man that he
choked again with something that
was not all rage. For whom had she
put on her gay clothes? Not to
charm the eye of her lawful Spouse
of that Reidy was sure; for she well
knew that he could not be off duty
until late that night. Well she had
come to confess-perhaps she would
tell the priest what it was that she
had been doing which had set bar
rier between her and her husband for
six months.
The girl had stepped lightly inside
the curtains of the confessional.
I'm waiting, my daughter" he
murmured in voice sufficiently un-
like his own.
Katy evidently recognized that 1t
was not the voice of Father MacNeil.
II have committed SIM" she MUIR
INJURED, running through the opening
phrases of her confession, and trying
to eaten glimpse of her confessor.
For the life of him the injured hus-
band could not get together the ques-
tions which we're to satisfy his burn
ing curiosity. His mind was in a
whirl Suddenly he became aware
that the girl had dropped her formal
speech, and was addressing Father
MacNeil evidently with the belief that
she had been mistaken in supposing
that the voice was not his.
"Oh, your reverence" she cried, in
tones bubbling with joy, 1--WE seen
the man again-and it's all right!
Now, If you'll aDsolve me for telling
my husband an untruth, and say what
pennance l should do for deceiving
him, why, I'll be the happiest woman
in the town mis- night"
"Deceivin' your husband?" gasped
Reddy. Another man-what other
MANI"
Yes, your reverence" Katy rip
pied on sweetly. 81 felt my heart
in my bosom like lead to deceive poor
Reddy; but couldn't tell him of the
rlan-now could II"
Whit man, you shameless wom-
an" came from behind the little
wicket.
"Oh, your reverence, you know
the man that says my poor Reddy
took something that didn't belong to
him-a ring to give me when | was
his sweetheart Maybe my poor boy
did that same, being tempted But
coGld be the one t" tell him that
twas brought to my knowledge? I've
paid the last cent on it this day, your
reverence; and no. Reddy need new
er know. The man has been comm
to the house regular to get the
money; and l was that 'fraid Reddy
would see him and ask questions;
and twice I've had to lie to him, Faith
er M.cNeil-don't forget that. Give
me a pennance I'm that happy tat
| need a pennance to keep my feet
on the earth"
The soft voice ceased. The little
man crouched behind the window.
Oh, how well he remembered the
day! He wanted the ring for Katy
that was soon t. be his wife. He
hadn't quite enough to buy it. They
owed him that much for fines that
they had put on him, porter in the
bi: department store.
His eyes roved like a creature at
bay, seekin5 some exit from this tor
ture chamber, wnen abruptly black
curtain de. ,ended before them. 1t
was the skirt of Father MacNeil's
cassoch; and Father MacNeil's quiet
voice said to the wondering girl out
side
The priest to whom you we're con-
Tossing is suddenly Ill, my daughter"
And he swept the little man, shaking
and mutely convulsed, behind his
own tall figure