Part 2 (1/2)
”There you are, Tiold repeater Take it, if you are wanting a watch!”
Tim riveted his eyes on the doctor's watch-chain, and the latter put his fingers on it to assure himself of its safety
”Run away, Tiain,” he cried ”And you come inside with ood than a ton of logic I have business with Father Healy”
The children scattered in all directions, saving for a group around Tim O'Neill To these he related an amended version of the late conversation
”'D'you knohat sacrilege is?' says she
”'Sacrilege!' says I, scratchinglies?'
”'It may be, and it e you're after, yourself To be telling lies with a brother a priest is sacrilege, sure enough'
”With that she wiped her eyes with the back of one hand I think it's sha sinner, and he darted off for hoobble down a cold dinner
”Is Michael O'Connor worse?” asked Molly, anxiously
”He is dying,” replied the doctor
”What will Kathleen and Desmond do?”
”Desmond can battle for himself, but Kathleen's future needs consideration”
”Why not go to the Quirks, at Layton?”
”I would not allow Kathleen O'Connor to go to everybody I must discuss the matter with Father Healy,” replied Doctor Marsh
CHAPTER II
MICHAEL O'CONNOR
Michael O'Connor died placidly, as he had always lived An improvident man, as the world uses the term, he undoubtedly had been, but this arose froive when asked to do so; his failing sprang froenerosity
A clever man, brilliant in his own chosen career of journalis; and money had been made and spent He had founded ”The Grey Town Observer,” now a valuable property, but the paper had passed into the hands of Ebenezer Broith Michael O'Connor as editor; for Ebenezer Brown recognised that no other man could better fill the position But the proprietor was careful to make the ut him the very lowest salary that ever an editor worked for The consequence was that Michael O'Connor lived and died an iacy to his children was the record of a virtuous life
Yet no fear had troubled the ed none: to the poor he had given generously; staunch to his friends, loved by his children, and always faithful to his religion, why should he have any regrets? ”Father,” he said to Father Healy, ”I aood; He will provide for Kathleen and Desmond, as He has provided for me, always a child Father, always a child, as my father told me I would be”
”Just a child,” said Father Healy, as he looked at the peaceful face of the dear friend, ”as innocent and helpless as a child God will reward him for what he has done for others”
Death was very near Michael O'Connor at thatevery moment with thin, outstretched hands to snatch him away On his bed he lay, his face waxen in colour and emaciated, while the white hands clasped the crucifix Yet even then oneman had at one time been called ”handsome Mike O'Connor”
In the prime of his manhood--tall, broad-shouldered, and always cheerful--no other nificant beside hi the Irish farmers knew that he came of a line always noted for beauty Men and woood looks, and as rarely succeeded in keeping theirman was, after all, the inheritor of his ancestors' virtues and failings
The candles were lighted by the bedside Father Healy, with Kathleen and Des The children were crying, Kathleen impulsively and without restraint, Desmond secretively, ascame more slowly and weakly, his lips framed an occasional act of contrition which he was too feeble to utter When the end cah it all the old clock on the bedroon, ticked on as it had done ever since Desmond could remember Symbolic it seemed of the world, that heeds not death; buteach one as he dies