makes ony
odds."

"Birth does go for something, Father Marty."

"Thin let the Captain have the advantage. Them O'Haras of Kildare
weren't proud of him I'm thinking, but he was a chip of that block; and
some one belonging to him had seen the errors of the family ways, in
respect of making him a Papist. 'Deed and I must say, Mr. Neville, when
they send us any offsets from a Prothestant family it isn't the best
that they give us."

"I suppose not, Father Marty."

"We can make something of a bit of wood that won't take ony shape at
all, at all along wid them. But there wasn't much to boast of along of
the Captain."

"But is he alive, Father Marty;--or is he dead? I think I've a right to
be told."

"I am glad to hear you ask it as a right, Mr. Neville. You have a right
if that young lady up there is to be your wife." Fred made no answer
here, though the priest paused for a moment, hoping that he would do
so. But the question could be asked again, and Father Marty went on to
tell all that he knew, and all that he had heard of Captain O'Hara. He
was alive. Mrs. O'Hara had received a letter purporting to be from her
husband, giving an address in London, and asking for money. He, Father
Marty, had seen the letter; and he thought that there might perhaps be a
doubt whether it was written by the man of whom they were speaking. Mrs.
O'Hara had declared that if it were so written the handwriting was much
altered. But then in twelve years the writing of a man who drank hard
will change. It was twelve years since she had last received a letter
from him.

"And what do you believe?"

"I think he lives, and that he wrote it, Mr. Neville. I'll tell you
God's truth about it as I believe it, because as I said before, I think
you are entitled to know the truth."

"And what was done?"

"I sent off to London,--to a friend I have."

"And what did your friend say?"

"He says there is a man calling himself Captain O'Hara."

"And is that all?"

"She got a second letter. She got it the very last day you was down
here. Pat Cleary took it up to her when you was out wid Miss Kate."

"He wants money, I suppose."

"Just that, Mr. Neville."

"It makes a difference;--doesn't it?"

"How does it make a difference?"

"Well; it does. I wonder you don't see it. You must see it." From that
moment Father Marty said in his heart that Kate O'Hara had lost her
husband. Not that he admitted for a moment that Captain O'Hara's return,
if he