“'You see, sor,' says the O'Shaughnessy man to me, ''twas the five-thousand-dollar prize that done it. I'd been workin' at me trade, sor--larnin' to tind bar it was--and I'd just got a new job where the pay was pretty good, and I'd sint over for Maggie, and was plannin' for the little flat we was to have, and the like of that, when I drew that prize. And the joy of it was like handin' me a jolt on the jaw. It put me out for two weeks, sor, and when I come to I was in Baltimore, where I'd gone to collect the money; and two thousand of the five was gone, and I knew me job in New York was gone, and I was that shamed and sick it took me three days more to make up me mind to come to me Cousin Tim's, where I knew Maggie'd be waitin' for me. And when I did come back she was gone, too.' “'And then,' says Father McGrath, sharp, 'I suppose you went on another spree, and spent the rest of the money.' “'I did not, sor--axin' your pardon for contradictin' your riverence. I signed the pledge, and I'll keep it, with Maggie to help me. I put me three thousand into a partnership with me friend Dempsey, who was runnin' the Golconda House--'tis over on the East Side, with a fine bar trade--and I'm doin' well, barrin' that I've been crazy for this poor girl, and advertisin' and--' “'And look at the clothes of him!' sings out Margaret, reverentlike. 'And is that YOUR tall hat, Mike? To think of you with a tall hat! Sure it's a proud girl I am this day. Saints forgive me, I've forgot Archie!' “And afore we could stop her she'd run into the hall and unfastened the libr'ry door. It took her some time to smooth down the young one's sensitive feelin's, and while she was gone, me and Simeon told the O'Shaughnessy man a little of what his girl had had to put up with along of Cousin Harriet and Archibald. He was mad. “'Is that the little blackguard?' he asks, pointin' to Archibald, who had arrived by now. “'That's the one,' says I. “Archibald looked up at him and grinned, sassy as ever. “'Father McGrath,' asks O'Shaughnessy, determined like, 'can you marry us this night?' “'I can,' says the Father. “'And will yez?' “'I will, with pleasure.' “'Maggie,' says Mike, 'get your hat and jacket on and come with the Father and me this minute. These gintlemen here will explain to your lady when she comes back. But YOU'LL come back no more. We'll send for your trunk to-morrer.' “Even then the girl hesitated. She'd been so used to bein' a slave that I suppose she couldn't realize she was free at last. “'But, Mike, dear,' she says. 'I--oh, your lovely hat! Put it down, Archie, darlin'. Put it down!' “Archibald had been doin' a little cruisin' on his own hook, and he'd dug up Mike's shiny beaver where it had been dropped in the hall. Now he was dancin' round with it, bangin' it on the top as if it was a drum. “'Put it down, PLEASE!' pleads Margaret. 'Twas plain that that plug was a crown of glory to her.