The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-03-16
P A T
BY CARROL. II. PIERCE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

""e ts""f'hb ~
set out one morning from vevay on
the road to Geneva. I was walking
along enjoying the beautiful prospect
about me-Lake Leman and white AL
pine peaks In the distance when
ahead of me | saw figure topped by
n conical hat. greenlsh coat and
knee breeches. over his shoulder he
carried n staff, 10 an end OF which was
slung bandanna handkerchief, evil
IDENTITY containing the wayfarer's lug
gage Upon my word" I said to my
self. "lf there isn't son Of the Elmer
Md isle tramping along here In Swift
zerland."
There is klnship among those who
speak the same language that comes
out when they meet in foreign lands
II was this feeling that induced me to
increase my pace till i reached the
man. When did so he turned toward
me good natured face and on seeing
that was amused at his appearance
said jnuntlly:
"The top of the morning to you, sir"
"How are you, Patti" l replied.
"And how did you know me name
was PatT he asked.
"Oh, you green islanders are all ell
ther Pat or Mike. / had an even
chance OF hitting your name"
you're not English" he rejoined,
unless you're n colonist. i know that
by your talk"
I'm an American. But what the
dickens are you tramping for here in
Switzerland-looking for chance to
carry mortar to the top Of some new
buildingT
"where there's fellow to do all the
work.
My reply to this was a smile. The |
man puzzled me. His brogue was not |
80 broad as that Of an Irish peasant |
And why an Irish peasant should be
looking for job in Switzerland I could
not conceive.
Whether Il was that longed for the |
companionship OF one who spoke a |
common language or because there |
was something very much alive with |
my fellow traveller don't know, but l |
enjoyed his company so well that !
was in no hurry to part with him.
Coming to a village, we sat down to-
gether at table in the grounds OF n
hotel on the margin of the lake and
ordered luncheon. Pat talked glibly |
all the while. his chat sparkling with
wit and humor, so that | was very
agreeably entertained. undertook TO
pay for his lunch as well rs my own,
but he wouldn't have 1t, insisted
that IL was a low price for me TO pay |
for having been so pleasantly cheered, |
but he said that he had, or thought he
had, money enough to take him to
Dublin, and as long as II lasted he
would pay his own way.
The result of the meeting was that
we Travelled together to Geneva. There
he named cheap hotel he proposed to
stop at, and | was so loath to part
with him that chose the same hos
telry. He intended TO set out on his
walk the next day toward Dion,
thence to Paris, Calais and across the
channel and over England to his home
in Ireland. But the next day he was
taken down with rheumatism In one
OF his legs and CO ,'ldn't move.
He did not quit Geneva for two
weeks. 1t was one of my stopping
points and l kept him company, In
other words took care of him. then sue
ceeded in inducing him to permit me
TO purchase ticket for him to Dub.
lin. Indeed, there seemed to be no
other way for him to get home but by
train, for he couldn't walk and he
hadn't sufficient money to ride. | told
him that would make tour of Ire
land before returning to America and
would see him there. If he found 1t
convenient to pay the loan then, well
and good, II not would not miss the
amount. On parting with him asked
him to tell me what he was doing In
Switzerland He smiled that good
natured smile OF his and said that
would be explained when ! saw him
in Ireland.
1t was several months before | start.
ed on my Irish tour, and on reaching
Dublin / posted a letter announcing
my arrival TO the address he had given
me. village not far from the city,
The next afternoon note from Pat
was handed to me stating that he had
had relapse of his old trouble. rheu-
matism, and could not get out. Would
I kindly come with the bearer? The
bearer was a llveried servant
thought there must be some mis-.
take, but said nothing. went out
side, where found n carriage with a
coachman in the same livery as the
bearer Of the note. l was put into the
carriage and driven for an hour when
we turned into handsome place. As
we neared the house saw a gentle.
man sitting on the porch with one leg
resting or hair On his face was n
broad gin, evidently at the surprise
plainly visible on mine, for he was
none othe. than my fellow traveller,
Pat,
lie thus explained the case He was
"a gentleman's son and like others of