KATIE'S FLITTING.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13161, 7 July 1908, Page 13

KATIE'S FLITTING.

By M. E. Francis (A-uthor of "Friez*- and Fustian," <rtc). Wilion Paddy Fitzpatrick's old horse was foaled "Graisy Billy's" General Establishment was called tho "Shebeen," and his only son, Jerry, went to the NationaJ School with the rest of the neighbours' children. But now, "O'Connell," which was the dignified title bestowed by Paddy on the rawboned, animal, which had for so long been yoked to his battered outside car, was attaining a venerable ago, and Mr William Delaney's .flourishing busimess was carried on in a fino shop with plato glass windows—the grooeiy and drapery departments that is to say; there was a bakery at the rear, while tho public house ii-ider the same management was situuted over the way. Mr Delaniey's second wife had brought likn a good bit of money, and was moreover an active, intelligent woman with ambitions; as she had no family of her own, 6ihe devoted her energies to the fostering a_id inaroasinc: of hex husband's- property: Billy himself, though an uneducated man, had an-aptitude for business, and between them prosperity not only csame to themselves but to the town of Ballypedder. The "town" originally oonsisted of "Graisy Billy's" shop, tie chapel, the priest's house, -.nd about a dozen thatched cabins, one of which belonged to Paddy Fitzpatrick. But by the time O'Comnell had begun to exchange his swift trot for a nobbling canter, j and Jor-"-* Dedaney had obtained a lucrative post in a large roerpfii-tilo house in Dublin, Ballypedder had become quite an important place. I have mentioned, as may have been observed, Paddy i_"_t_qpatr-ck, Jerry Delaney, and "O'Connell," as though there were some connection between the three, and in truth. • they were unitod by many links of friendßihip and old custom. "O'Connell" was a halfbroken colt, and had been but a few times between the shafts, when Paddy drove young Jerry to . Port Bridge Junction cm his way to oo_l_se. On that occasion Paddy had patronised the litt_e"lad, bestowed on bim 9. penn'orth'of sugwr-barley, as an. incentive to dry his tears, had assured him that no one but a young sc__am_r like him would be anything but leppin' mad with joy at going to suoh a grand and elegant pdace, and had, confidently ar_-not-nced il_is expec,atdc_i of seeing him come baok "a gentle-nan e_-t_T-_y." "O'Connell" had sobered down by 'the time that Jerry's school-days were j over,' and Paddy Iliad insensibly fallen into the way of calling, him "Mr Ger'ld" when he drove him to and j from the st-a-ion. I-ow the young man »ras fairly started on an career, and "O'Connell" appeared to be supported by "ttie car. i____ead of holding it-up, though, -as a rule, in some miraculous way ho contraved to keep on his legs, and Paddy to-tched his ha* when young Debainey came running down the sitation- stairs, and said VThank yo, sir," when he paid his fare. But the three remained, the beet of friend., nevertheless, and many jokes passed between thean. "O'Comneil" himself, as his owner proudly pointed out, was every bit as w__l up to Mr G-ff'lc-'s-tricks as his master, and would turn to gaze at him, so Paddy dodared, with the greaitcst vexation, when Jerry affeotod asitonishment at finding him still in the land of the living, and would, wag his ears, or switch his tail (according to Paddy) in appreciation of the amusing aneeelotes with which it was young Fiitzpatrick's ous-tom to rogaJe his old friend during the transit. On one particular spring afternoon, however —as a matter of faot it was tiie eve of St. -Patrick's Day—though Paddy tone-ied his that as Jerry sprang into the car, and O'Conaiell turned his head as usual, tho customary gaiety of tho traveller's reception seemed soaw*how wanting. He mode a few little jokes, and told Fitzgerald the news of Dublin in a gonial and confid-*n_ial way, leaning across the well of the. car so bhat his hat almost touched .Paddy's battered corbeei.: and Paddy Jaugheel, a_id clicked h,s tongue, and said, "Well now"; but in spke of tlrcse* pohte demonstrations of interest it was evident that his attention was elsewhere. "There's a stone you foi-got to dnvi_ over," laughed Jerry, poin-t.i_ig to one in the road; indeed O'Connedl had jogBtd along at his own pace without heeding -uiv such slight impedirnente. VWhat is the matter with you to-day 1 f he added more seriously. „.,_,■ ••Matter enouph.!" rejoined Paddy, ! "the 'heart's broke on mc, Mr Ger kl, and that's tbe truth " "Why. how is that.--" asked the other, sympathetically. "Well, it's mc little gal—the only wan that's livin'— the last o* the fine faniilv o' girls and boys I had. iNothin'■'_.-• servo her uvrn no***., but to no emigratm' off to A___e_-c<a. "That's too had, I must say,' exdaimed Delaney. "Is she going to leave you all alone? Surely _3.es not in earnest - I rtm-eniber Katie—isn t her name Katie?—very well. She was a little birt of * thmg-too little to go to school when. I used to be goingwhv. what ago is she now? "Turned eighteen, sonny—Mr Ger'ld, I inecin. awl a j?ood -little girl I will oth -or th£ notion. I.won't be alone—the Vnt's in it-m----_i-_.!r ludv. Sho came to live with us after-bc-wcl- died (the- Lord ha me_-_y on he? toul). **nd -he and Rat* don't ■"f"t on-thaf s waxi tbiug. Well, .ne gor ould body's a bit crabby, but with

mc, talk goes in at ono oar and out at the other. But Katie's high-tempered, ye <?ee. An' another thing is she thinks she's goin' to make a lortune out there, and send for mc to come out an' Jin© her. But. saire, it's under the daisy quilt I'll be by that time." ''I never ifearei of such a thing," cried the man indignarotly. '•Why, good* gracious. Paddy, how's a girl of eighteen going to pick up a fortune in America ? Straight out of Buliypcdd er too! What can she know of the world ? Hsis she any friends out there.-"

• ''Sorra a wan. There's a young girl come to town lately. Margaret Brophy by name, her father's the blacksmith — they're not loivg livrn' here, Mr Ger'ld. we'd, it's h-T put the notion into Katie's head. There is a long family of them Brophys, and Margaret and my little girl has it made up tot-ween i-h« .n 10 qui. out o' t-iii-j a.s soon as then- can wrape the pa_sMigemoney together. The two of them is stockin'-kri.tt-ia' ye knot-.*, ami earns a goad bit that way. 'Tis a part of the Irish industries., yo know, .Mr."

''It's tho mo-t outrageous thing I ever heard,'"' responded Jerry irrelevantly and warmly. "Somebody ought to put a ..-top to it." .''Troth, anel they ought!" agreed raddy mournfully. "But sure, everyivan's trieel, anel no use. His Reverence lias tried, anel the holy jiujis has tried, and I've tried until 1 am sick and tired go in' on at hex, but nobody can get a hap'orth o' good of her. Sho doe-, be thinking sho Knows better nor anywan."

"Well, I tell you what, Paddy, I'll have a try, and see if I can make he*r hoar reason," announced Jerrv.'"l've seen something of life, and Pel maybe l>e able to warn hor. an' anyhow I'll let her know what I think o' the way she's treating you." Padely was deeply gratefuil, but evidently far from sanguine: iieve_-t-el___., bofc-ro Jerry alighted at his own door, it was agreed that be should call on the following day to lecture tbe recalcitrant Katie. Ho duly set out next evening, full of virtuous indignation, and tapped at the Fitzpatrkks' hall-door in- so masterful a fashion, a_ to arouse old Judy Fitzpatrick's indignation. "I declare ye have the life frightened out of mo, whoever ye are, anel it Patrick's Day an' all.'' she cried, as sho peered up at the visitor. "Is Miss Fitzpatrick in?" enquired Jorry. "Araii't I talking to you?" retorted the old woman tartly. •'M__s Katie Fitzpatrick, I should say," returned Jerry, and passing his hand over the door he lifted the latch and let himself in. '""Who wants mc?" said another voice from the interior of the room. It was a poor place, a very poor place, but clean anel neat. Paddy sat by the chimney corner in his shirt sleeves, smoking a pipe. A pot full of potatoei. bubbled over the turf fire, which a girl was at that moment replenishing. She turned with a startled look as Dclaney entei-xl, throwing a 6od upon the flames, which, leaping up, shono for a moment on her fair hair. Jerry stopped short. Somehow he had not imagined the culprit lie was coming to lecture was such a very pretty girl. "Why, if it isn't young Mr Gcr'ld Dolaney," announced Paddy. "I was tellin' him yesterday you were the only littlo girl I had loft, Alanna, but I never made so bold.as to ax him to come an' see us." He winked elaborately at tho visitor, and as ho passed whispered emphatically that it was best not to "let on" too soon; and Jerry seated himself somewhat awkwardly on the chair that Paddy pushed forward for him. Katie, having dusted her hands on her apron, sat down on a three-legged stool, which brought her face onco more within the radius of the glow. What a skin the girl had, what beautiful blue eyes! How on earth in the face of their appealing gaze, and in presence of two old folks, was tier mentor to get to the point? "It's a fine day," ho ob-ervod by way of a beginning. "Grand," responded Paddy. "It was raining when I left Dublin yesterday," resumed Jorry. "Was it now?" rejoined Paddy.

A pause ensued, broken at length by Katie, who remarked in a small voice that the clouds seemed to bo gatherin' up again. At this point old Judy unconsciously came to the rescue. "If that's the way, then," sho cried, acidly, "it 'ud bo best to go dhrive in O'Connell before tho droops o' rain come on, ruinatm' your best dress." Jorry jumped up: "Let mc come with you, Miss Katie, and help you. Two are better than one, and he might turn out to be oontrairy." Katie gazed at him a moment in surprise, for her remark about the clouds had merely been of politeness, and there was no necessity whatever for shortening the poor beast's hours of holiday liberty. However, she rose without protest and followed the visitor outside. As the halfdoor swung to behind them, a sharptoned query from Judy fell."upon their ears, filling them both with equal confusion. "Has that young fellow come here afther Katie?" For a moment Gerald's tongue was paralysed. It had not occurred to him that such a construction could be put upon his somewhat officious intervention, and he was now inclined to curse himself for his medtllesomeness. The idea was preposterous—he, Mr Gerald Delaney, who was not only son of the richest man in Ballypedder, but was himself a gentleman of independent means, to be suspected of paying his court to a little girl out of a cabin! The old woman must be cracky as well as crabby. He only hoped Katie herself had hot heard. He stole a glance at hor—she had heard! She was crimsoning like a rose, anel her long dark lashes were resting on her cheeks.

He began, very hastily : "Your father was tellin' mc yesterday, Miss Katie, that ye havo a notion of emigratin'; so I said I'd come and have a talk with you about it." Tho dark lashes were raised now, and the blue eyes flashed a query, half indignant, half dignified, saying as plainly as words could havo done: "What business is it of yours?" "I'm one that's J*een more of the world, maybe, than anyone that's ever talkeel to you about it," resumed Gerald, with great limine---, "and I'll tell you plainly you'll only repent once, and that'll be as long as you live."

•'Now. look at here, Mr Dclaney," responded Katie tartly. *'I don't know whether you set yourself up above the Priest himself and the nuns—suro they ought to know something about the world, and they givin' it up—and I havo my own father to preach to mc, and I don't want any strangers to come interforin'. I think it's a great piece of impidenoe," sho added, to__ing her head. Jerry was taken aback, yet, nevertheless, his interest increased. "My dear girl," he began solemnly. Katie* to._e*d her head again, but a dimple peeped out. •'Ye never _et eye.; on mc till ten m-fiutes ago," sho observed. "You'll not be denying that you're a dear girl though.' - ' resunu*d Jerry. "Goon!*' said Katie, another dimple appeariug to rt'Uiforce its fellow. Tho lecture was not proceeding on the lines he had laiel down, yet, as Jerry assured himself, he was probably moro likely to succ««ed by adhering to liis present tactics. "You're not only a dear girl," he pursued, "but a very pretty one—l'm sure that's no news to you." Katie suddenly flashed ' round on him. • "I raiglit just as well bo the or'hariest girl in the whole of Ireland,.for all tin. good it is to mc here," she broke out. "Everybody knows I'm poor

Paddy Fitzpatri ck's daughter, without a penny to mc name.*' "Is that it?" cried Gerald, a sudden light breaking in upon him; "is it because you fancy you'll havo a better chance of get-tin' settled out there in America, that you're thinkin' of emigrating?" If Katie was a rose before she was a peony now; she b!w.hed indeed so painfully" that it brought tears to sier oyt-, but she did not flinch.

"Every girl 'uel like to be settled some day.*' »he ait.wered, though most of them'doesti't let on. But that's not the only rest-on I wiuit to po. l_ook at O'Connell—-sure, it'.s droppin' to piecehe is, tho crathur. and when he's gone, whero's the money to buy another horse? An' then how'll wo get on at all: ItV, hard-set to live we are now, -tb.c. three of us! If I get can to America, I'll be able to help mc father, an' maybe 1 might get him out there along with mc ..onto day. though he's so st-t against it now." "Now, li-leii to mc. Miss Katie," saiel Jerry. "You've no call to go as far a.s America, if ye want to earn a bit of money. Why don't ye tryDublin? A fine smart girl like yourself would easy get a place in Dublin." "A plae-e!" exclaime.l Katie; "none of mv family ever went to service; v.-hat«'v*-r I might e'.o out beyant there I wouldn't like to demean myself where jieoplo won hi be apt to know mc!" "Why elon't you try a shop.-*' interrupted* Delaney ; - a -hop. a hat-shop maylie, or a big drapery establishment. You'd be the very ono to get on there. Anybody 'uel want to buy what you were show-in' them. Havo ye ever been 1.0 Dublin?"' '*[ have not," admitted Katie. "You ought to go and t-oe' it then. It's a beautiful place. It's where 1 live myself."

Katie gazed at him with interest, a hesitating smile* hovering about her mo vith.

"If you were able to got work thero you wouldn't be altogether among strangers," ho pursued. "I'd bo glad to help and aelviso you every way I could." Katie, evidently improved, murmured that would be* real kind of him. "Not at all." ho went 011 gallantly. "Nobody could help taking an interest in you." , by thi.. time they had reached the spot where O'Connell, hobbled, so that he could not wander unduly far, was grazing by tho side of the road. But though tliey stood surveying his loan proportions, they made no eilort to conduct- him homewards. Jerry continued to expatiate on the beatitie-s and advantages of Dublin, and Katie to listen wifh an over-brightening face. They were surprised when Paddycame sauntering'towards them, pausing a few paces off with a sheepish expression. "I thought it was lost yo were, he explained; "cr maybo tltat o'Co_inell had broke loose on yez." "I'll bo able to give you tho names of tho most likely shops in a day c-r two. Miss Katie, ' said Delaney, aeldre__ing tho girl. "I'll*o passing this wav, and I can let you know-." "What's that?" whispered Paddy, as Katio brushed hastily past him, and seized O'Connell by .his rusty mane. "It's all right," whispered Gerald, "I think I'm getting round her, but I'll havo to call again- The next talk we have ought to set-lo the job. Leave it to mc, now do, Paddy 1 Don't go arguing with her. You'll see if I'm not able to manage Iter all right.' Paddy thanked him effusively, and then, as Gerald declined to return with him to the cabin, followed slowly in the wake of his daughter, with an expression that was half mystified and half sly. , Mr Delaney duly called again, but though ho flattered himself his arguments produced a deep impression, it was not until Katie and he had taken a long walk together on the following Sunday that the girl appeared convinced. Hfowovcr, then she was completely won to his views; she even authorised Gerald to look out for a suitable situation for her. " " " . . Delaney had many frienels m Dublin, and* it was not long before the would-be emigrant found herself pro--mobed to tho pexrt of shop assi&rtant in a largo drapery est-th-fishment,. for wiiich her natural sharpness, pretty ■face, and engaging manners qualified her. Gerald proved himself to bo as gooel as his word, and bestowed on her much friendly interest, a good deal of unnecessary advice—unneces-ary, becauso Katie not only had bright wrte but (good principles, and finally, almost without his knowledge, his heart itself. That was a stormy day on which he imparted his decision to "Graisy Billy," and violent was tiie opjj-sition of that good man, and his indignant wife. But Gerald held firm; Ivo was earning a good salary, axd was independent of his father; should the latter refuso his consent, he wo>uld marry Katio Fitzpatrick without it. "An' what'll become of this flourishin' business when I'm gone?" groaned Billy; "ye shall never touch a penny of it, mv lad, I can tell ye." Mrs Delaney. gazing piously up at the ceiling, thanked Heaven that she ■possessed a fino young nephew, but Gerald rcmahi-d obstinate. Finally poor "Graisy Billy" agreed to a compromise. Ho could not brook tbe idea of his only son being married without his oonsent, and would bestow that valuable boon upon the young ■man, on condition that the identity of his bride was kept from tho inhabitants of Ballypedder; and that during hm, Billy's, lifetime, she never visited -her native village. "When I'm dead and gone it's no great matter what happens," he added. It was therefore given out in Ballypedder that young Mr Gerald Delaney was marrying a Dublin girl; but though old Padely was sworn to ailenco anel even Judy held her tongue on the subject, tho secret was an open one. For did not Paddy. Fitzpatrick go up to Dublin by the morning train on tbe day of the wedding, " .lre_«eel out as grand as you pla_-e," and did he not come back so jubilant- that the dullest observer must have guessed some' piece of good-fortune had befallen him? And when the neighbour enquired about Katie, did he not-chuckle mysteriously, and reply with something approaching to a wink that ..Ik* was gettin' on in fine style? Moreover, when O'Connoll died. Paddy, though regretful for the loss of hi,' favourite, was in some strange fashion able to support himself without the aid of the faithful beast.

How ever, in any case, even the semblance of mystery was abandoned before very long. About a year after the marriaije, Mr Delaney encountered Paddy returning from Dublin in a thi rebel as. railway carriage. They were alone in tho compartment, and though Delaney ostensibly read his evening pap. r,* hiV eyes wandesral perpetually to Paddy's face. This was wreathed with smiles, and every now and then the old man rubbed his hands and chuckled under his breath. -Ye wsir, to bo in the best o' fc-pei-rits,'" grunted Billy at length. "I supp-:-<* ye had theohristeniii' to-day?" -We had." responded Paddy. "Why wouldn't I bo in spirits, Mr Delaney? An' yourself might bo jiv_t- the same; ye couldn't help it if ye was to look at the three of them —and suro the child's tho very image of yourself, and they ca!k*d him alter you too! Jerry's aft_i.r gvttLn' a rke, and my littl. girl.. as proiul and happy as a queen —and well she way be! Ye never seen such a beautiful little place as they have. It's a pity ye wouldn't go and have a look at it f-ome time, now "pon mo. word it 'nel do your heart good '. D.'-laney maelo some* growling rejoinder, but nevertheless the words remained in his memory. The child, a littk* boy too, that was the moral of himself, and that moreover bore his

name; tho comfortable litt're place, the happy young couple—it seemed a pitythat Paddy should bo so much WtteiacquainUd with them all than he.

His wife's "lino young nephew"- had paid frequent vi._ii«» oi late to B.oiiyredder. nnd on'returning home he nowfound hint ir.s.rdlrd in 'Gerald's accustomcJ st-at by tiie* lire. Mrs Delaney could not U!_dcrh__nd the* fiervo f-cowi with wliich ho regarded the iiiperlopeij-. By ttie end ot tho we-ek he oouM hold out ro longer, and paid his first visit to Gerald and Katie, being delighted to disc-over that- Paddy Fitzpat.rick had only spoke .1 the triit.h in declaring that Billy junior bore a likeness, to himvlf.

It wa... however, sompirhat shamefacedly that, when he announced the fact that iii-s son and hi.s family were coming to pay him a visit, he'atlded th.it maybe some of the neighbours might remember young Mrs Gerald— Katie* Fitzpatrick that was. She hael tnrne.l out a fine girl, and had improved a great deal since she hael gone to Dublin.

Friends anel neighbours were becomingly surprise!, but onloiri-tio. All of them rejoiced i_i Katie's goe.l luck. :is soon as the old mans hack was turned, but- more than one* of-t.he.il said, that after all it was a bit of a conw down for one of the rale oulel Fitzp.i tricks to have taken up with the son of "Gra'w-v Bill."