Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-07-01
Mary WEEDS the
"Best Man"
BY HAZEL SMITH
(0, 1874, western Newspaper unlon.)


when / had outlined my scheme to
him. There wasn't better sport tran
the Father in all the parishes round
and when 1t was a case of marrying
q couple he'd move heaven and earth
to bring 1t about. But the next time
went to see him there was no ditllcul-
ty at all. had caught Mary ORIOLES
heart on the bounce and she wasn't
the girl to go back on her word-not
she.
Some people said 1t was shabby
trick to play, but l sey u mans Jusu'
fed In using any means he can to win
the woman he loves. And didn't love
Mary--hadn't l loved her for years I'M
til that laundering limb of Terence
MacShane came along and stole her
heart out Of my keeping?
We might have been twenty or
bit more when Terence MacShane
comes riding In from Limerick and
sees Mary and dlsmounts to ask for
glass of milk. / was away then
When | came back few days later
found Terence sitting, bold as brass
In Mary's cottage, and her very close
to him and listening to all his gable
When she saw me she started away
confused and guilty ike, but | didn't
take notice of the girl.
won't you come out where the
suns shining and take your dose Mr..
MacShane" says |.
Up he springs and out he comes
and we had fine tussle in the corn
fields; but seeing he had my advantage
by four inches and twenty pounds, II
wasn't long before he had me down.
Well that settled that, and packed
and got ready to take the boat 1or
Cork, thinking maybe I'd go to Amer
lea. | knew there were bigger fishes
In the sea than I'd hooked yet. But
my heart was sore for Mary O'Toole'
and | couldn't stay in Dunchestown
any longer
Who should l meet at the dock but
Terence himself, with his pack.
$50 we're both In the same boat,
Terence" l says. There's an hour
yet. Come, tell me all about it."
He told me, and l learned that he
and Mary had quarreled bitterly the
night before about some tritle. He de-
cided to 20 back to Limerick and not
try his fortunes In Cork at all.
I didn't tell him my plans, but /
saw him aboard the train and made
nv way back to Dunchestown. | was
long way from the cottage when
saw Mary sitting inside. She wasn't
stirring hand or foot and that meant
something for Mary. When got In
her eyes were wet with crying.
MARY" says I, "Tye come bnck to
you. Won't you take me|
She put her head on my shoulder
and cried there. And that's how |
caught her heart on the bounce, as
said.
The wedding day was all settled
but very soon / saw that 1t was Ter
ence all the time and not me she cared
for. Faith, there's no telling how a
trps tastes will run. So ] made out
I didn't see through her pretense at
caring for me.
As for Terence, l met him once
when was into Limerick with drove
Of hogs. l found out that he loved
Mary Just as much as ever But !
didn't feel any more like losing the
pride of Dunchestown to Limerick
man. 80 put my troubles before the
priest.
When Father O'Brien had heard my
scheme for making an end of Terence
mean as a possible cause of trouble
after the ceremony, he winked and
clapped me on the back.
"Mary," l said that evening "whC
do you thinks going to be best man
at the wedding next Thursday? Who
but Terence MacShane2"
She started and began to protest
I got her consent at last, after th'
Father had put in his word, ant
Thursday came, as good many Thurs
DAYS have come along since then. w
met Terence at the door, looking yer.
sheepish and very wretched. ] thin
the Father had word with his prizes
in Limerick and made him come as
penance for something. Anyway
there he stood, scowllng at me an
never looking at Mary, and she neare
crying than laughing. 1t was
strange sort of wedding.
Then the Father began, and whe
he came to asking the questions b
sort Of looked Up lnquiringly. l knee
my cue had come. !,
"Wilt thou take this woman to D
thy welded wifef" he asked me- and
slipped out and caught Terence b
the arm and dragged him up to Mar
"say yes Terence" whispers
and he said 1t quick as a flash. All
the bans had been in his name, to
hut nobody could read the Father
writing.
No. / didn't stay for the weddir
breakfast. The fact is, ! slipped OF
through the door before the ceremor
was over. But that's how ! came
America after ALL 1t happened lor
time ago and--well, I've almost 10
gotten now.
SEARCH FOR MUSICAL THE
Peculiar and Clever Crook Is Ju'
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