Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-15
Martin O'Connor,
Amanuensis
Why He Loved st. Patrick's
Day.
By F. A. mitchell

when he was mere lad and by dint
Of hard work and perseverance made
fortune. He left sister in Ireland
who married Daniel O'Malley, and she
was separated from her brother for
many years. He was used to sending
her money occasionally, and after
awhile when she had grown older, she
would sometimes depute her adopted
daughter, Aileen, who was coming to
womanhood, to thank her brother for
his benefactions. The truth is that
the woman had not been very well
educated, and Aileen, having more
advantages, was better fitted for these
replies. AS the years rolled by and
O'Connor became more and more pros
porous it seemed to his sister that his
letters showed better education than
at first. The fact is that he turned
over part of his correspondence to
his son, Martin, and it occasionally be-
came Martins part to write these
check bearing letters to his aunt, but
he wrote them in his fathers name.
4 One day Martin opened the mail in
his fathers absence and read a letter
of thanks for remittance. 1t was
written in Mrs O'Malleys name, but
Martin saw plainly that it had not
been written by her. 1t bore the JIM
press of a young girl, and very in
telligent girl at that. There was real
gratitude III it, and it was overflow
ing with kindness as we'll. 1t seem
ed to Martin that an emanation from a
lovely girl had been waited across the
ocean and entered his heart.
The next time Mr. OConnor gave
his son check to send to Mrs. O'Mal-
ley Martin wrote letter which was
meant for a reply to the one last re-
ceived. One not knowing the relation
ship between the two correspondents
would have supposed that 1t had been
written to a girl instead of his aunt.
Mrs. O'Malley concluded that her
brother was becoming very affection
ate in his old age. 1t was couched in
such kindly terms that she commits
stoned Aileen to express for her her
in her and assure him that his sister
had not lost any Of her affection for
him during their long separation.
Aileen, feeling that she was writing
from sister to brother, did not
scruple to express all the affection her
mother desired she should express for
Mr. O'Connor. When the recipient read
it he wondered at this unusual demon
stration of affection. but set it down to
the fact that his sister was growing
old and as persons age their affection
for those Of their own blood ripens.
Being man of business and undemon-
strative, he handed the letter to his
son and told him to reply in kind
In this way correspondence grew
up between Martin O'Connor and
Aileen, the one writing supposedly to
her uncle, the other presumably to
his aunt, which grew warmer and
warmer till the letters between the
brother and sister became almost lover
like.
Whether Martin was really falling
in love with his aunt or whether lie
suspected the old lady had employed
an amanuensis doesn't appear, but one
thing is certain-the letters he receiv,
ed became in time so affectionate that
whenever he saw one delivered by the
pOStman written in the we'll known
hand he appropriated it to himself, and
his father never saw it, 1t is quite
likely that .Aileen did the same witt
those letters that came from America.
When loves quicksilver had attained
considerable height Martin began t.
think that he would like to investigate
this aunt of his to whom he was max
ing a semi brotherly love and see i
her earthly part was as beautiful al
her soul. He began to express to hi
father desire for trip abroad an,
especially to visit the green isle wher
his ancestors had lived and died FL
became very pathetic over plot o
ground his father had often described
to him where the O'Connors were
moldering. An O'Connor had been ,
bishop. and Martin expressed himsel
as DESTROYS of visiting the grave of thi
eminent son of the church.
Mr.. O'Connor, much pleased that hi
son should take this interest in hi
ancestors, who. by the bye, had iron
time immemorial been stalwart church
goers, consented that Martin should g
abroad in the early spring, and Marti
suggested that it would be well fo
him to time his visit for St Patrick
day.
1.-The very thing" said Mr.. O'Connol
'You may attend services on that al
niversary in the very church wher
Bishop O'Connor preached"
Martin sailed early in March, arranl
ing to be with his aunt on the It'll
which every one with Irish blood i
his veins knows is st. Patrick's day
Before saying goodby to him his ia
Their whispered In his ear:
BE sure to make it plain to you
aunt that I'm very fond of her, ant
L. -