The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-02
Married on St.
Patrick's Day
By LOUISE 3. CUMMINGS

ufactory or on railroad to break the
news to an operatives family that he
ms been killed. Where there are q
large number Of employees there Il
usually such a person, for there b
certain percentage Of workmen killed
every year.
Kathleen O'Rourke and Patrick Co
CLAN met at q ball on the evening Of
st. Patrick's day, and Pat had asked
her to dance with him many times.
Afterward he invited her to 60 to a
moving picture show with him. From
that time forward they were together
when not at work, and it was evident
they were about to make match.
But Pat had a mother 10 support,
and Kathleen. who was an orphan,
was a mother to little brother and
q sister. So they couldn't marry until
they had laid up something. They
both worked in the same factory, and
each lived in a house built on the
premises by the company to be used
for homes for its employees. So they
saw a great deal Of each other.
They agreed that when their wedding
occurred 1t should take place on the an
niversary of their meeting, which was
the evening before St Patrick's day.
When this first anniversary came
around Pat had saved $500, and Kath-
leen had saved $500. and they decided
that II they did as well the next year
they would be married the evening
before St Patrick's day.
On the first Of the year they counted
up their savings and interest and con-
cluded that with their nest egg they
might be married and have enough for
themselves and those dependent upon
them. Kathleen bought what clothes
she would need to last q year after her
marriage, and in due time the banns
were published in church. Finding 1t
inconvenient to be married on the very
day they had planned. March 10, they
Get their wedding day for the 18th.
This was partly because Pat was one
Of the committee Of arrangements for
the st. Patrick's day parade and was to
lead bis society on that occasion.
When the hour came for the we'd
ding Pat did not appear. Kathleen,
dressed in her bridal apparel. waited
for him with a wildly beating heart
Lest something had happened to him.
She went to the door q dozen times to
leok for him and finally stationed her
sslf at window where she could look
up the street on which the workmen's
cottages were built
Presently she saw Owen NacTavish
coming. AacTavish was known to
every one connected with the plant a.
the company's bad news breaker, and
many q woman's heart beat quick
when she saw him approaching her
house. Kathleen no sooner saw him
coming than she fancied he would stop
at her home to tell her that Pat had
been killed. Before he reached the
door she had fallen in q swoon.
Now, MacTavish did not stop at the
O'Rourke cottage and was unconscious
that he had frightened girl there into
. swoon. Kathleen was picked up by
her friends. who had gathered to at
tend her to the church for the wed.
ding. When she came to herself she
looked about, dreading to see the bad
news breaker, but he was not there.
els he gomez" she asked.
"Who gone?'
"MacTavish."
HE hasn't been here"
"And Pat isn't dead?"
"Nobody's heard Of his being dead"
THANKS be to God"
But Pat did not appear. and no one
seemed to have any news Of him.
Word was sent to the cOmpany's Office
to inquire for him, but no information
was elected.
Kathleen for awhile gave herself up
to grief. She was uncertain whether
Pat had met with foul play or wheth-
er he had deserted her. 1t would have
been easier for the poor girl II she had
known which Of the two suppositions
was correct. for It would have relieved
her somewhat Of suspense.
When st. Patrick's day in the morn
ing came round Kathleen made up her
mind that her lover had deserted her
and with true Irish grit declared that
there were as good Dish In the sea a.
ever were caught Then the children
asked her to take them to Sc the
parade, and she consented that she
wished to do so, but that she did not
care to disappoint them.
They were all standing on q stoop
where they could see the parade over
the heads Of others, and the societies
were moving past when who should
appear marching at the head Of one Of
them but Pat. He saw Kathleen, but
she gave him a whitening look and
turned her back to him. Relinquishing
the command to another. he left the
ranks and Joined her.
This was Pats explanation Of his
conduct: An accident had occurred at
mine owned by the company some
miles away. and a rescue party was
leaving on a train. Pat was ordered
aboard and. instead of being married,
was engaged in digging out buried
miners. He returned on the morning
Of st. Patrick's day only in time to
take his place In the parade.
II required some time to placate the
maiden. for she thought Pat might
have at least sent her word - to what
had happened. but the fact that he had
been the means Of saving the lives Of
Q number Of miners finally induced
~ to forgive him and 30 with him