Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-03-16


ton for which our ancestors were
aroma. Something struck a respon-i
sive chord in my heart and set it VII
brating. So affected was / that l drew
my aunt to me, kissed her and whis-
pered in her ear, Dear heart, | bear
you all the love of the O'Connors from
the day when the first O'Connor spoke
of love to our first maternal ancestor"
This part of the letter met with an
enthusiastic response from Patrick
O'Connor and all his family. The good
man rejoiced that in his son he had
one to make up for his own undemon-
strative nature. 81 WONDER" he said,
that the boy could have felt so much
affection for an old woman even though
she be his fathers sister,"
you forget said Mrs. O'Connor,
that Martin was expressing your feel
ings for his aunt"
you're right" was the reply. II
didn't think of it in that light. Mar
tin is a very good boy and loves me
as q son should love a father"
Martins letters after that all smack
ed of that st. Patrick's day he had
spent with his beloved aunt. Every
thing that happened seemed to turn
upon that eventful anniversary. A
package of books came across the
ocean from Martin, and every book
was. on the subject of st. Patrick.
1.-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
edifices 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.
His 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 aun that it 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 If she were
with him this would devolve upon him
self. AS to embracing his sister, sit
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 off 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 it in his
letters, and even the month of roses,
though it 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 a 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 vas 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 a 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."
"Tm not Nora" she said on throw
ing her arms about Mr.. O'Connor; "Im
Aileen O'Connor, your sisters adopted
daughter"
A bewildered look came over the
mans face; then an idea seemed to
be boring it's way into his brain. Turn
ing to his son, he said:
Mart"
"Well dad, what is it?''
"What made you suddenly so fond
of st. Patrick's dayT
"Well to tell the truth, dad, in the
morning Aileen and l went to mass in
the church where Bishop O'Connor
Anoa nroooho1 oD1 ~ 4bo auoDinr u1o