The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-03
Copyright, by J. B. Lppincott Coz

Caitlin was, styled Dhu from the
color of her hair, which had the glossy
hue Of the ravens wing.
Right. on the brink of the steep bank
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-
Stunning their boots. On Gaitlin's blue
veined, fair feet Phil's eyes were fixed
with sad look. ..>.
The black lashes were 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. that?"
and here he raised his eyes and looked
in her face with meek reproof.
Eye would not be capable iv it, Phil,
God bliss We, We wouldn't!-but-I
know so we'll that I have desarved it
Of ye." Caitlin chafed one foot with
the other as she spoke.
"No, Caitlin, it isn't, to say hard
words to ye-God forbid that axed
We sit down with me over here. But"
Phil breathed deeply-'1 wanted to
put 1t to We straight, an get 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
spaik now, as I always knew We spaik,
the bare thruth."
"Phil," she said, and looked him in
the face, "Phil, have preferred Dom.
inic 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 moment.
Then he looked below into the lake.
"Thanky, Caitlin; that's answered
as bravely as I'd expect Of ye." Here
he looked up at her again. An it's
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 Caitlins
countenance still seemed very, very
firm set, there suddenly started from
her eye teardrop, which rolled rapid
ly down countenance where the
colors were chasing one another like
sunshine and shadow upon a tickle
day and dropped upon his hand. He
snatched away the hand with a gasp
of pain, as if molten lead had dropped
on it.
"Caitlin! Cainlin!" Caitlin's head
was now sunk. Forgive me for put.
tin this thrial OIL We. I did nit for
PAIGE Nv mind to meself-an' more
than me-" Phil pleaded. Forgive me,
darlin'!"
phil, DEAR" Caitlin said, don't
spake that way, for Gods sake! Me
forgive you! 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 sayin'."
Right we'll I know-an' bitterly,
Phil. But I wouldn't like ye'd have
too bad an opinion Nv me. Phil"
"Caitlin!"
II want We now to know from me
own lips that as hope God will hear
the prayer I prayed along that moor
this evenin, never meant to carry We
on through any bad-heartedness Mind
I don't say I'm not to blame; blameful
indeed, know I am; but it wasn't
wilful on my part. It was somethin
worse than thoughtlessness l. me, Phil
If We only knew; had the likin' for
Dominic Boyle an had the likin' for
We; which i yez I liked best it would
a puzzled me to say sooner. Now
Phil, I say straightforrid to ye-for
yer own sake-as l sayed to him last
Sunday evenin', me heart has inclined
to Dominic Boyle. Don't blame me
too much, Phil; cannot force me
likin'."
AS Phil listened to this his eyes
were 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. can, Caitltn,
do. you think l would blame We, or ex.
pect We to force yer likin'? Caitlin,
I'm Altered We don't know Phil Ma,
guire yet. Now, Caitlin, give me yer
han. Good-by, an pray may God
bliss an prosper yet an Dominic"
"Oh, Phil, that prayer puts harder
on me than if We sthruck me- Wan
word, Phil; heerd that we an Dom.
inic had some words on Sunday night"
TITS so-it's so, Caitlin, an I'm
sorry from the bottom Nv me heart
Besides, I didn't know them didn't
know and his gaze again wandered
to the penitents in the water.
"An' I know" Caitlin went on, 81
have only to ask We not to say any.
thing more to Dominic-not to quarrel
wit HI 60 Lo,.