The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-07-03

as she said it. Phil, without word
on his part, with face even averted,
pressed her extended hand; and as he
did so another tear fell upon his hand.
He bounded away, feeling as if stab
had entered his heart.
He crossed the Paidrin path, where
a line of men and women and youths,
strong ones and healthy ones, were
still moving along in single file, telling
their beads with pleading, mournful
cadence that found faithful echo in
the depths of his heart. With head
bowed he hurried on to the Holy Well
"Ye're in a mortal hurry, Phil Ma
guire."
He turned round abruptly.
"Good-evening to We both. Dominic
Boyle, I'm glad to see ye," said Phil,
extending his hand.
Dominic Boyle drew back "rhanky,
Phil Mcguire" he said; 81 wish I
could say as much" Dominic's COM
panion smiled at the sarcastic sally.
Look here, Dominic" said Phil with
great frankness, I'm sorry for the hot
words sayed on Sunday night-heart-
lily sorry, believe me-"
phil Mcguire" said Dominic. ut
matthers to me not that much -and
he snapped his fingers whether ye're
sorry or plaised for what happened on
Sunday night. That's not my business
with We now. axed We on Sunday
night-Eamon Ward here was listen
in',"-Eamon nodded in assent
axed We to stop givin' annoyance to
Caitlin Dhu. I tout yeas I had a
right to tell ye-that Caitlin desired
no more iv yer company; an tout
ye that I would see to it ye didn't
keep pesterin' her any more. Didn't
say that, Eamon?"
Dominic's friend again nodded.
can, Phil Mcguire, any young man
who'd be given to understand that a
girl wanted to have nothin' more to
say to him, if he had splank Nv man
hood in him''-Dominic squared his
shoulders and his face blazed-if he
had, I say, a splank Nv manhood in
him, he'd respect that girls wish, an
he'd show himself. moreover, above
hangin' on to that girls skirts an
cravin' her favor for Gods sake. Phil
Mcguire, yere no mani"
With arms crossed, and not muscle
in his face moving Phil looked him
in the eye with apparent calmness,
and so heard him to the bitter end.
The color went out of his cheeks,
though, as Dominic proceeded.
Dominic Boyle, We do me wrong"
"Ha! :ha! 1 do you wrong! Then
me own eyes do me wrong. was
watchin' We, Phil Maguire-I was
watchin' We, not half an hour ago,
vexin' the girl again. An We did vex
her sore-I seen that. Phil Mcguire,
II you worn't worse than name, ye
wouldn't have been guilty Nv IT,
Phil parted his lips-twice. thrice
hereupon to reply, but closed them
again, his face growing more livid at
each attempt.
"Now, promised that wouldn't al
low We to keep on annoyin' that girl,
an that promise I name to keeper
thry to keep. Ye have been cried up,
Phil Mcguire, as the best. boxer in
Inver, so yell not be taken at a dis.
advantage if ye're challenged by me.
This is holy evenin', an I'll not sin
messlf disgracing it.; but, in the pres.
ence Nv canon Ward, here, I chal.
lenge We to meet me on the mora
evenin' half an hour afther sunsettin'
undher the knowe that's by the Bat.
thery, till We answer to me for annoyin'
Caitlin Dhu"
Dominic, for Gods sake, listen to
mel"
"I'll listen, sartinly, to yer reply to
that"
II say, for Gods sake, hear wan
word Of explanation from me-"
ooh, so We think explainin' aisier
than boxin'! I'm sorry I can't &C.
commodate We, then. Ye're the first
boxer in the parish. On the stren'th
L that We vex poor, defenceless girl,
thinkin' none dar' cheek We for It.
Here am I, that have niver yet crowed
much about me boxin', an I fling a
challenge in yer teeth (bein' forced to
do it); an We, champion boxer, pro.
pose to arguey me on the matther in.
stead of fight me. I'll confess mesclf
cowed at wanst If it's goin' to be q
battle Nv words"
''Will We, then, If We don't do 1t for
Gods sake, will We have wan minutes
raison with We for Caitlins sake?"
"Stop, sir, stop! II ye don't want
me to br'ak this holy evenin', don't
soil that girls name be mentionin' 1t
with yer lips. Again throw the chal.
lenge in yer teeth, Phil Maguire-ye're
witness to this, canon Ward, he's git.
tin a second an last chance to take
me challenge, or confess himself to
the parish as a low-lived coward, only
fit to bully weemen. Again l ak We,
will ye meet me at the time an place
I sayed, to defend yer conduct Nv
this evenin'? Yis. or no?"
Phil, now quite livid, looked him in
the eye with contemptuous defiance
for full minute. Dominic tried to
return the look as steadily, but could
not. His gaze shifted ignominiously.