Father Michael, if ye have come to tell me
that Jimmy na held me responsible fra his death, and was willing fra me
to have Mary, your face looks like the face of God to me!" Dannie
gripped the priest's hand. "Are ye sure? Are ye sure, mon?" He almost
lifted Father Michael from the ground.

"I tell you, I know! Go and be happy!"

"Some ither day I will try to thank ye," said Dannie, turning away.
"Noo, I'm in a little of a hurry." He was half way to the gate when he
turned back. "Does Mary know this?" he asked.

"She does," said the priest. "You are one good man, Dannie, go and be
happy, and may the blessing of God go with you."

Dannie lifted his hat.

"And Jimmy, too," he said, "put Jimmy in, Father Michael."

"May the peace of God rest the troubled soul of Jimmy Malone," said
Father Michael, and not being a Catholic, Dannie did not know that from
the blessing for which he asked.

He hurried away with the brightness of dawn on his lined face, which
looked almost boyish under his whitening hair.

Mary Malone was at the window, and turmoil and bitterness were
beginning to burn in her heart again. Maybe the priest had not found
Dannie. Maybe he was not coming. Maybe a thousand things. Then he WAS
coming. Coming straight and sure. Coming across the fields, and leaping
fences at a bound. Coming with such speed and force as comes the strong
man, fifteen years denied. Mary's heart began to jar, and thump, and
waves of happiness surged over her. And then she saw that look of dawn,
of serene delight on the face of the man, and she stood aghast. Dannie
threw wide the door, and crossed her threshold with outstretched arms.

"Is it true?" he panted. "That thing Father Michael told me, is it
true? Will ye be mine, Mary Malone? At last will you be mine? Oh, my
girl, is the beautiful thing that the priest told me true?"

"THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT THE PRIEST TOLD HIM!"

Mary Malone swung a chair before her, and stepped back. "Wait!" she
cried sharply. "There must be some mistake. Till me ixactly what Father
Michael told you?"

"He told me that Jimmy na held me responsible fra his death. That he
loved me when he died. That he was willing I should have ye! Oh, Mary,
wasna that splendid of him. Wasna he a grand mon? Mary, come to me. Say
that it's true! Tell me, if ye love me."

Mary Malone stared wide-eyed at Dannie, and gasped for breath.

Dannie came closer. At last he had found his tongue. "Fra the love of
mercy, if