Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/216

206 "That's true," the neighbour said, filling his pipe and crushing the tobacco in with his finger. "Mike Doherty told me he paid him good money that evening. He was going to take his bride to America, and he was right; there is more chance there for a man than here."

"It's to Dublin he's gone," Kathleen muttered, "and forgotten ye all; he was always a rag on every bush."

The girl in the shadow clenched her hands, but did not speak.

"He promised to send for me," the old grandmother muttered, "in a year; but I'll be buried by that, glory be to God!"

"I'm told America's a great place for the poor," the mother said, looking round the dim cabin it would have broken her heart to leave; "a great place entirely."

"And Eileen will be a grand lady there," the grandmother continued, breaking into a cackle of laughter. "For it's over the sea with O'Rouark she is going. 'Follow me, Eileen, he said."

Kathleen sprang to her feet.

"My God!" she cried; "did you hear that?"