The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-01-25
Presently, Mary, her small emotional

tempest over, turned round to him a
partially calm face.
You know, Matthew" she said, with
the dove-eyed modesty characteristic
OF an Irish girl when speaking of her
heart-affairs, that Hugh Leonard and
| like each other
And why not?" said Matthew Flah-
erty encouragingly. Wouldn't she be
girl of stone and iron who wouldn't
like Hugh Leonard, the fine brave
young man."
And at first my father thought
well enough of it, for he could see for
himself what Hugh was doing for the
boys and girls Of this neighborhood-
that he was not only teaching them
now to read and write and spell, but
that he was making true little Irish
men and women out of them-proud
OF our dear country and of all she
stands for. But all that was before
Old John DOORS bought that farm bor-
dering my fathers"
Here Mary again showed signs of
distress and Matthew stood waiting in
silent patience. .
And since them resolutely blink
ing away her tears, Mary turned to
MIN, there's no one to be mentioned
in the same breath to my father as
that Old man. And if it only ended
thefe! But ,no-nothing will do both
OF them but that I give my consent to
--to-mar-marry him. Sure, think
he has my: good old father bewitched.
Night after night he comes over, and
there they sit, talking and planning,
and we'll knowing what it's all about,
and only wishing my mother we're
alive to- speak up for me-, This is
the first time 1 have cried over it,
though--and I'm ashamed to think
any one should have caught me at it
even you, old Matthew Flaherty.''
Listen to her now, and l knowing
her since the day she was born! |
that made ballad about her christen.
ing! Aye, it was the grand time we
| had that day! And hear We this now
There never yet was anything in life
| so bad that a wise man couldn't better
| it by reasoning. And it'll be a bad
| day for Ireland and the whole world
when the song of the poet isn't raised
for the distressed and the oppressed
and the downtrodden!"
| The last part Of this sonorOus and
rather enigmatical announcement was
drowned by the vociferous barking oil
the dog, which with an ostentatious
demonstration of joyful enthusiasm
had arisen and, racing across the in
terVenlng grassy space, sprung clear
across the 7whitethorn hedge dividine
the pasture from the road. There, ir
the abandon of his JOY, he precipi
ated his shaggy bulk upon the breast
OF Hugh Leonard-for the approaching
figure had resolved itself into thai
esteemed young choolmaster-whe
determinedly braced himself to NEE
the strenuous caress.
| ) Looking at the young man, as hi
came across the emerald turf, proceed
ed by the still-barking dog, Mary Boy
lan's preference for him seemed ever
more justified than old Matthew Flah
1erty had pronounced it. An ire
Iproachable young type of Celtic man
hood he was, with his undeniable 81,
| feet of straight height, his clear gra,
eyes, his expression Of candid truth
| fitness, and his athletes body devel
oped by football, running and weight
throwing. For Hugh believed in tn,
Isound body supporting the sound mind
! A proud and lovable blush mounted
to Mary's cheek as he Joined them.
1t he noted the. suspicious bright
hess of her. eyes, and the still waver
| ing cadences of her voice, he mad.
no comment, but shaking Matthew!
hand, again congratulated himself OF
| the luck which had decided him tina
morning to. take the Bog Road on hi
way to- the school. &
Sure, maybe, it was the wee lax,
over there beyond that Finn McCoo
went bathing in. as a young man, ant
| SoiiiS ouL WHICC1udilcu, VI, eIlldy Uc,
was the big one on the other side o
Knocklaney Hill. And for all w,
know, mayn't the witch that done i
be still watching ana waiting arount
here, for the chance Of somebody els,
following him? But Finn McCools
many long year in his grave; and it's
others than him will be going witt
white hairs to their grave before thei
| time, if they don't keep their eyes ant
ears open!"
| Smiling at the old fellows gravity
| Hugh demanded an explanation of thi.
Cassandralike peroration: and it tfe1
appeared that Mary, wishing to sup
1port the burden of her anxiety alone
| as long as possible, and ashamed tt
tell the schoolmaster, of her fathers
| desertion of his banner for that o
the more opulent John DOORS, hat
kept all that troublous situation Il
| herself. Remembering the unselffsh
4 ness which had inspired this course q
faction, Hugh held back the reproach
full words which sprang to his lip.
land said with decision that became
him well: +. 80 H.
We'll, Mary, you won't have to play
this game alone any longer. Why you
father should have changed his mind
l l., IL, Il r b 4