Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-15
long letter was received describing his
meeting with his aunt and how he

lO'Connor, my great-grandfather rests.
ton for which our ancestors were
marked was rising, sort of ethereal
aroma. Something struck a respon-
sive chord in my heart and set 1t vi
| brating. So affected was that 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 son should love 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.
The boy shows great enthusiasm
for his church,, said his mother
please God he may be priest
| IL the cathedrais Martin visited in
company with his aunt was any cri-
| terion he babe fair to he an archbishop.
| He seemed to be forever dawdling
about the grounds in which these holy
editices 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 aunt 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 We're
With him this would devolve upon him
self. AS to embracing his sister, sit
ting beside her holding her hand OF
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.
ly 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'Connol
that his parents could not understand
In the first place he announced that b,
had decided since he had been ava,
from home to live thereafter under hi
own roof tree and to go there as sOol
as lie had reached home He would
take his aunt with him for house
keeper. The only comfort to be de
rived by his parents from this was b.
his father who was relieved to know
that he would not have to sit holdin:
his sisters hand, with an occasional
. kiss Martin was the apple of his eve
and, although he was loath to lose th
I boy from his home, he fitted up Il hous
, for him that it might be ready agains
, his return
Martin arrived in the evening an
. drove to his bachelor quarters, wher
} the O'Connor family We're waiting TO
him and his aunt. When the from
! door was opened and Patrick O'Conno
saw his sister he exclaimed:
Upon my word, Nora, you're not
E bit older than you were thirty year
5 ago"
I'm not Nora" she said on throw
> ing her arms about Mr.. O'Connor; "II
) Aileen O'Connor, your sisters adopte
! daughter.
: A bewildered look came over til
0 mans face; then an idea seemed t
n be boring its way into his brain. Turf
r ing to his son. he said:
5 Mart"
well, dad, what is it?''
:. What made you suddenly so fon
: Of st. Patrick's day?'
e well. to tell the truth, dad, in til
morning Aileen and went to mass i