The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-20

! package of books came across the
ocean from Martin, and every book
was on the subject Of st. Patrick.
THE boy shows great enthusiasm
for his church." said his mother
please God he may be a priest"
If the cathedrals Martin visited In
company with his aunt was any cri-
terion he babe fair to be an archbishop.
He seemed to be forever dawdling
about the grounds In which these holy
edifces stood, and the depth OF his
feelings seemed to come through his
aunt who was always exciting In him
some pure emotion.
Martins time abroad was limited.
Bis father, who was getting old, relied
much upon him in the conduct Of his
affairs and wrote him not on any ac-
count to overstay his leave. On receipt
OF this letter Martin wrote that he had
grown SO fond of his aunt that 1t had
become impossible to tear himself
away from her. He would not over
stay his leave, but this was because
she had consented to go to America
with him to visit her dear brother.
Patrick O'Connor was appalled, at
this. So long as she was absent from
him he could satisfy his demonstrative
nature through his son, but II she were
with him this would devolye upon him.
self. As to embracing his sister, ait
ting beside her holding her hand or
with his arm around her waist, he
could not do so even with his wife.
However. he could think Of no way to
head OF his sisters visit and prepared
to show as much affection as possible.
1t was the month Of June when Mar
tin sailed from Ireland. st. Patrick's
day had gone by three months before,
but Martin still harped upon 1t In his
letters, and even the month of roses,
though 1t seemed to appeal very strong
" to the young man, was no more dear
to him than the month Of winds and
dust Still, he had written that he
could not possibly return till June, and
there appeared to be some especial rea-
son for the delay.
There were good many things
about the return Of Martin O'Connor
that his parents could not understand.
In the first place he announced that he
had decided since he had been away.
from home to live thereafter under his
own roof tree and to go there as soon
as he had reached home. He would
take his aunt with him for a house
keeper. The only comfort to be de-
rived by his parents from this was by
his father, who was relieved to know
that he would not have to sit holding
his sisters hand, with an occasional
kiss. Martin was the apple Of his eye.
and, although he was loath to lose the
boy from his home, he fitted up house
for him that it might be ready against
his return
Martin arrived In the evening and
drove to his bachelor quarters, where
the O'Connor family were waiting for
him and his aunt. When the front
door was opened and Patrick O'Connor
saw his sister he exclaimed:
Upon my word, Nora, you're not a
bit older than you were thirty years
ago."
'T'm not Nora" she said on throw
ing her arms about Mr.. O'Connor; .T'm
Aileen O'Connor, your sisters adopted
daughter
A bewildered look came over the
mans face; then an idea seemed to
be boring Its way into his brain. Turn
ing to his son. he said:
Mart"
well, dad, what is it?'
what made you suddenly 80 fond
Of St. Patrick's dayY'
"Well. to tell the truth, dad, In the
morning Aileen and / went to mass In
the church where Bishop O'Connor
once preached, and in the evening we
sat on his tomb, telling her that /
loved her and must take her back to
America with me as my wife"
"And what's all this about your
auntf'
'.You remember that you asked me
to answer my aunt's letters to you.
Well, Aunt Nora deputed Aileen to
reply to the replies. The result was
that fell in love with my aunt and
Aileen fell In love with her uncle.
And there you areT'
St Patrick's day is the principal an
niversary celebrated In Martin O'Con-
aOr'a family