The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-05-08
By SEUMAS MAC MANUS

OF the Loch-a bank richly clothed
this summer evening with heather and
~woodbine and blackberry bushes
she and Phil sat. Both were still in
their bare feet; they had just con.
cluded doing their Station by the Holy
Well, and sat them down without re
suming their boots. On Caitlin's blue.
veined, fair feet Phil's eyes were fixed
with a sad look.
The black lashes we're dropped over
Caitlin's eyes too. and she was gaz-
ing into the shimmering waters below.
"Ah, Phil" she said, feelingly, don't
be SO sore on me-"
"Sore!-on you? Caitlin, dear, sure
We wouldn't think me capable l. that2'
and here he raised his eyes and looked
In her face with meek reproof.
rye would not be capable iv it, Phil,
God bliss We, We wouldn'tl-but-I
know so well that l have deserved it
Of ye." Caitlin chafed one foot with
the other as she spoke.
mo, Caitlin, 1t isn't to say bard
words to ye-God forbld!-that | axed
ye sit down with me over here. But"
Phil breathed deeply-"T wanted to
put 1t to We straight, an get a straight
answer from yer own lips. Have ye
preferred Dominic Boyle Nv yer own
free will an choice? Don't regard my
feelin's, Caitlin, me treasure, but
spai& now, as | always knew We spaik,
the bare thruth."
Phil" she said. and looked him in
the face, Phil. | have preferred Dom
mic Boyle of me own free will and
choice" A powerful effort to master
her emotion almost gave a defiant
ring to the words.
Phil looked her calmly in the eye, a
look which she returned for a moment.
Then he looked below into the lake.
"Thahky, Caitlin; that's answered
as bravely as I'd expect of ye." Here
be looked up at her again. An it's o
sad relief to me to know the thing
straightforward from yer own lips"
AS he spoke he placed his hand upon
Caitlin's, which, holding her beads,
rested In her lap. Though Caitlin's
countenance still seemed very, very
firm set, there suddenly started from
her eye a t%eardrop, which rolled rapid
iy down a c%ountenance where the
colors were chasing one another like
sunshine and shadow upon a tickle
day and dropped upon his hand. He
snatehed away the hand with a gasp
Of pain, as If molten lead had dropped
on it.
"Caitlin! Cainllnl" Caitlin's head
was now. sunk. Forgive me for put
tin this thrial on We. / did nit for
PAIGE iv mind to meself-an' more
than me-" Phil pleaded. Forgive me,
larlin'l"
Phil, dear" Caitlin said, don't
spake that way. for Gods sakel Me
forgive youl oh, Phil, If there's any
wan has the forgiveness in their pow.
er, it's wan that has the kind heart an
the good heart to exercise tan
that's you!"
"Ye're hurtin' me sore, Caitlin. Ye
don't know what ye're ssyin'."
Right well l know-an' bitterly,
Phil. But wouldn't like ye'd have
too bad an opinion Nv me. Phil"
"Caitlin!"
Il want ye now to know from me
own lips that as l hope God will hear
the prayer l prayed along that moor
this e%venin', l never meant to carry We
on through any bad-heartedness. Mind,
| don't say I'm not to blame; blamefuI.
indeed, | know l am; but 1t wasn't
v'ilful on my part. 1t was somethin'
worse than thoughtlessness + me. Phil,
II ye only knew; l had the likin' for
Dominic Boyle an l had the likin' for
ye; which + yez l liked best It would
a puzzled me to say sooner. Now,
Phil, l say straightforrid to ye-for
yer own sake-as I sayed to him last
Sunday e%venin', me heart has inclined
to Dominic Boyle. Don't blame me
too much, Phil; l cannot force me
likin'."
As Phil istened TO this his eyes
we're upon the penitents, who stood in
the lake and prayed towards the east.
and then, turning them round, prayed
towards the rude altar on the shore,
the waters LAYING their bare legs.
He turned his gaze upon Caitlin
when she had finished. "An', Caitlin.
do you think I would blame ye. or ex.
pect ye to force yer likin'? Caitlin.
I'm afsered ye don't know Phil Ma.
guire yet. Now, Caitlin, give me yer
han. Good-by, an l pray may God
bliss an prosper yet an Dominic"
"Oh, Phil, that prayer puts harder
on me than If ye sthruck me. Wan
word, Phil; | heerd that ye an Dom.
inic had some words on Sunday night"
ITS so-it's so, csirlin, an I I'm
sorry from the bottom Nv me heart.
Besides. / didn't know them didn't
know" and his gaze again wandered
TO the penitents in the water.
"An' I know" Caitlln went on. II
have only to ask ye not to say any.
thing more to Dominic-not to quarrel
with him; for he's hot. I know / have
only to say the word to you, Phil"
For that We wouldn't even need 70
say the word to me. II I sayed al III
word or done an III turn to Dominic