Evening star., 1909-06-26

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(as well as their fathers and mothers) be-
come expectant-expectant, but more
shy, more modest.
When a knock came to Doalty Gal
lagher's door. he and his good wife.
Bridget, sat over their big hearth fire
on this February night, talking of their
prospects and of their only daughter,
Saabh. Its Brian O'Friel.' said Doalty,
rising to open it, "come to see IL l would
send the cart with him to the wrack-
strand tomorrow morning, for it will be
top-spring.'
But 1t was not Brian O'Friel. When
he opened the door Mairead-na-M Match
(..hich is to say, Margaret the Match
maker) entered.
You are welcome. Mairead," Doalty
said.
.And, Mairead, you are a thousand
times welcome said Bridget his wife.
setting a stool In front of the fire. Come
up and take this seat close by the fire,
for it's a sore night out. and tits perished
you must be. Sit down and give us the
news while you take q shin meat.
Their daughter Saabh, who span at one
side of the kitchen, nodded a welcome to
Mairead.
AS she thanked them Mairead shook the
sleet from off the shawl that enveloped
her head and eased the shawl backward
on her shoulders. "Musha, it's warm
and comfortable ye are within here she
said, casting a gratified look round The
walls of the well-filled kitchen, over which
the reflection of the red flames danced.
Warm and snug, and as happy as the
days long, seating herself
Thank God, yes" said Doalty.
Thanks be to God, yes said Bridget,
clasping her hands and turning her eyes
upward with true gratitude.
Warm, and snug, and trlg,' Msiread
rereated: "and you mightn't care IL your
daughter Saabh never left you'll know
that"
1T is so, troth." said Doalty.
And we're in no hurry to get rid of
her. nor her of u.s. said Bridget Thanks
be to the Lord for giving US such a good
daughter
Saabh just bent her head and went on
with her spinning. She had her sus-
picions. for girls are quick.
Doalty Gallagher was good man, but
he was an exceedingly practical and hard
headed one. and though he was in most
ways a model husband and father he was
an autocrat-and stern and stubborn
one when occasion demanded-which was
seldom, for his household yielded enough
respect and obedience to lull the despot
in him.
said he was hard-headed, and imme-
diately Mairead had droppe,. her remark
about his daughter he understood why
she had come.
'.Ay, ay," said Mairead. you truly have
something to thank God for. a good
child Is the best blessing the Lord can
bestow. But she added, changing her
tone. you must at the same time remim-
ber that your child is trust
Doalty intercepted the reply that was
on his wifes lips and said. cautiously.
lay. ay, Maread, that is So"
And you must remimber,' said Mai
read, that she'll not have her father
and mother always
Poor Bridget clasped her hands and
turned up her eyes.
Doalty said, lay, ay."
And a woman" said Mairead, philos-
ophically. was never intended to wras.le
with the world-alone.''
Not usually, DoaltJ said.
From his tone Bridget easily under
stood that she was required to keep
cautiously in the background.
.Saabhs brave girl and a sonsy one, -
said Mairead, "as wise as any ever God
put wit in. and good to the marrow of
her bones"
Thank ye. Mairead ma Match" said
Doalty.
Thank We. Mairead. oh treasure said
Bridget.
Mairead looked TO Saabh for her
acknowledgement; but there was none
forthcoming.
and have always admired her." said
Mairead. mot because she was her faith
er's and mothers daughter-though that
in itself was enough for me-but because
she was herself"
Just so.' said Doalty
You're very good, Mairead" said
Bridget; and she glanced proudly at
saabh.
Not a bit Of it, said Mairead. Il
couldn't do less. And it's because I've
always admired her so much that I've
been keeping my eye open, ever on the
lookout for fitting and worthy boy 20
match her
Doalty Gallagher got up and threw an
other block of fir into the fire and piled
more turf upon 1t. He said: That is
very. very kind of you, Mairead. and I'm
sure we're nightly obliged" but there
was note of reservation in the formal.ty
OF his tone.
His wife Bridget nodded and looked her
snanks.
Because / have no doubt Maire i'd
tentatively continued, that while still
both OF We ape healthy and hearty and
st ong. you would like to see her settled
and well done for
'Ah." said Doalty.
Married on a man, for good and ALL
said Mairead. length, boldly.
When she had said this she fixed her
eyes steadily upon Doalty, who, seeming
iy unconscious of her gaze, CONTINUED for
some time putting his pipe and looking
absently into the smoky column that
rolled up from the fresh turf on the fire.
At length he said, removing his pipe from
his mouth for a moment. and still look
ing into the smoke, That all depends .
and then put back the pipe again AMI
puffed.