Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-08-15
Her Irish Blood
A Story For ST. Patrick's
Day
BY NORA DUGAN
BY NORA DUGAN

on the ocean when her parents were
| coming over from the Emerald Isle.
| They had settled near city, but
Kathleen had grown up to be seven
| teen years old without ever once set
ting foot in it.
Dennis O'Bryan, Kathleen's father,
! though he was loyal to the home OF
his forefathers, had become a stanch
! American. Kathleen did not seem to
be especially patriotic for either Ire
/ land or the United States.
Whats the matter with the girl?"
Dennis said TO his wife Il tell her
stories about Ireland and the fights
/ the Irish had with England and she
takes no interest In them Then l tell
/ her stories about the colonies strug-
| Cling for independence, and she cares
no more about them than the others"
Faith, it's because she has a ma
/ tire of neither. She was born on the
water"
Il didn't think Of that" said the ia.
/ Their
Along comes two young fellows,
!
look on Kathleen's fair face and rosy
! cheeks. one of them Is George Car
! pcnter, a young man whose forefa-
| theirs came TO America as colonists,
| the other Mike Donegau, who came
| over from Ireland with his parents
when he was too old to forget his ma
tive land Carpenter worked with his
father on a neighboring farm, which
the latter owned, while Donegan was
painter in the city. Donegan had
come out to paint O'Bryan's house.
| had seen Kathleen and been captured
by her beauty Carpenter had played
with her when they were children.
Mr.. and Mrs. O'Bryan would have
been pleased to see their daughter take
up with either Of these young men,
who were both Industrious, saving and
OF excellent habits. but the girl, though
she liked them both, seemed TO enjoy
the company of one as much as the
other
(which do you think she prefers?"
asked O'Bryan of his wife one day, TAX
ing his pipe out Of his mouth.
Neither"
do you mean that she won't have
either of em?"
mo. She stands between EN-. The
one is pure American, the other pure
Irish. Don't you remember that she
was born midway between Ireland and
| American
O'BryRu put his pipe back into his
mouth with a sigh. He wished his
daughter had been born on one CONT
nent or the other He didn't like this
standing always between the two.
Nevertheless the rivals kept on each
with his counting. George living near
| by, had the advantage. He would come
in often in the evening and sit with
| Kathleen by the open fireplace in the
living room. She seemed to enjoy his
visits, but he never got any farther
! with his suit Mike would come out
from town Sundays and spend the
whole day with her. doubtless to catch
up with his rival, but It never devel-
oped that he was the gamer
Some of his friends in the city learn
ed about his country love and that he
was making no Roadway beyond his
rival and twitted him about it.
Just you watt he said till | get
ready TO plunge. I'm an freshman
through and through, and I've got an
! American to beat. An American is a
good even going party standing be-
tween the English and the Irish in
| m a IA. II .
OF an army, the Americans the infan-
try while the Irish are the cavalry II
| I'm going to win the girl at ali I'll car
ry her off before she knows what I'm
doing"
1t wasn't long after this that ST.
| PatriCk's day came along, and Mike
| invited Kathleen to come to town and
see the procession Kathleen, who
was glad of the opportunity. accepted.
Mike engaged a window in house oc-
cupied by plumber friend of his and
| on St. Patrick's day installed Kath-
| leen there He was to head the
painters, and as soon as he had pro-
yided for Kathleen he went TO his
room to put ON his fnery, chapeau
with feathers and a green sash
Kathleen did not have long TO wait
before she heard the stirring strains
of martial music 1t approached, and
when the grand marshal ana his aids
came caracoung along, followed 10y four
men carrying a big Hiberuiau banner.
all the Irish blood in Eathleens fair
bosom wclled up with pride for the
country OF her ancestors From that
moment she was filled with an en-
thusiasm. which every society. each
headed 10y q band. enhanced Finally
along came Mike riding az the head
of the painters Kathleen waved 10
HIM and Mike digging his spurs into
his horses TANKS, made him dance for
an he was worth If there is any.
thing that will move the heart of a
simple girl 81 fun Irish blood it's Is
see handsome young man on
prauCiu1 horse ON st. P0triCks day
Mike had provided q peculiar spur
for his right heel which he used 70
such advantage that his horse gave n
luuce and Mike Intentionally landed
on the pavement He lay suu tin he
WINS nHnI-aH mn and carried Is tho side.