Father
Michael would make everything right in the morning. But in the
morning Dannie was not there, and had not been. Mary became
alarmed. She was very nervous by the time Father Michael arrived.
He decided to go to the nearest neighbor, and ask when Dannie had
been seen last. As he turned from the lane into the road a man of
that neighborhood was passing on his wagon, and the priest hailed
him, and asked if he knew where Dannie Macnoun was.
"Back in Five Mile Hill, a man with his head on his knees, is a-
settin' on the grave of Jimmy Malone, and I allow that would be
Dannie Macnoun, the damn fool!" he said.
Father Michael went back to the cabin, and told Mary he had learned
where Dannie was, and to have no uneasiness, and he would go to see
him immediately.
"And first of all you'll tell him how Jimmy lied to him?"
"I will!" said the priest.
He entered the cemetery, and walked slowly to the grave of Jimmy
Malone. Dannie lifted his head, and stared at him.
"I saw you," said Father Michael, "and I came in to speak with you."
He took Dannie's hand. "You are here at this hour to my surprise."
"I dinna know that ye should be surprised at my comin' to sit by
Jimmy at ony time," coldly replied Dannie. "He was my only friend
in life, and another mon so fine I'll never know. I often come here."
The priest shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and then
he sat down on a grave near Dannie. "For a year I have been
waiting to talk with you," he said.
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