The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-08
THE M'DERM0TTs or BiLLYBANE
An Irish story of Real Life.

always first sowed and first home: his
haggard the neatest and best matched;
his fences in the best condition, and his
house the suggest in the village. Darby
was never day behindhand with his
rent. The LIST Of MAY and the list of
November found him, wet or dry, GOO
season or bad season, at the office with
his old worsted stocking in the very cor
ner of which his half-year's rent lay safe
ly counted He Was a decent old man.
who always minded his business and IT.
tended 10 his duties, and had few troubles
in The course of his three-score and ten
years. He had two sons: Martin, the eld-
er, dark hand ONE man, with a square,
heavy face and pair of dark, restless,
glitteTing eyes-a man whom everyone
respected hut very few liked; and Owen,
fair, curly-headed, delicate boy, who
had been his mothers darling Old
Darby was fond of both his sons, but the
sturdy, healthy Martin was decidedly his
teyorite, and when he died it was found
that the gre part Of his savings went
to his first born.
Owen was not either of a Jealous or
envious disposition still, he sometimes
thought IL rather hard that his brother
should have all the luck. Martin was
strong and healthy and handsome, had
been his fathers favorite, and was mas.
ter of the farm after his death All the
stock and crops, and everything, were
the property of Martin; and Owen was
the possessor of but fly pounds Forty
years ago GOO in ready money was con
Z sidered fortune, and even -fiftypounds
was not by any means 10 be despised;
and when old Darby MacDermolt left
his boys so well off there were few men
in Ballybane who did not envy them
Martin especially, who was looked up to
by his neighbors as little short of gen
tleman, certainly as man who might
keep his jaunting-car if he chose. But
the possession of money made no change
ID the new tenant of the Upland Farm,
as the MacDermott's holding was called.
lie just worked as hard as ever, getting
up at six O'Clock in the morning and go
ing to bed late. Owen lived with him
and worked too just as usual, only that
during his fathers time he might spend
his evenings reading old newspapers, or
writing letters to his acquaintance who
had gone to America But Martin
thought such occupations mere waste OF
time, and when the days work was end
Ell and the supper over he ordered the fire
and the lights TO be putout
The next farm to that of Martin Mac
Dermotrs on one side was held by Mi
chael OBrien, a farmer who had been
well-to-do once, but misfortunes of late
years had come thickly upon him and he
had hard work to keep the farm together.
On the other side small holding of
about fifteen acres was held by a good
for-nothing old fellow named Patrick
Heveran, who was little better than a
nuisance to the entire neiahborhood
However, one morning hcf was found
dead in his bed and Owen MacDermott,
without taking counsel of anyone, went
to the agent and asked if he might have
the vacant farm, as he wished to settle
down on his own account The agent
promised, and, full of hope and JOY,
Owen went about his work. The next
day was the 18th o. March, St Patrick's
Day, end a general holiday; and, early
in the morning, OAen dressed himself in
his Sunday suit and went out. A little
way down the road he met young girl,
also dressed IN her best-a crimson stuff
dtess, a gay shawl and a cross If ribbon
of all the colors in the rainbow on her
shoulder Her fair hair was twisted
careleosly round her head, and her soft
blue eyes had startled look in them
" oh, Ownie, avournecE, | was afeard
you weren't comm; and sure, sorra bit
of shamrock you have in your cap this
blessed mornin' Why is tha., dear?"
- was In a hurry to see you, my
darlin'" he answered, looking tenderly
into the sweet, shy face. Julia, have
some good news for you this mornin' !;
let US walk down this lane and III tell
you. and look for my shamrock at the
same time
Together they turned down a lane, ar
rather footpath, bordered on one side by
a thick black-thorn hedge, and broad
meadow on the other.
"Julia," said Owen, you know | am
fond of you since you were a wee, shy,
delicate little creature. ! never had any
sweetheart but yourself, and now | want
You to nix the day; I'm goin' to take you
all to myself. You know Pat Heveran's
holdin'; | went to the Office yesterday
and aXed for it, and the agent as good as
promised me it. Now, Judyp
6 j am so glad, Ownie," was all The
girl answered, very softly, but there
were tears of genuine delight in he eyes
as she looked up at him. Well il was
that neither of them saw the dark face
which watched them from the other side
of the hedge, or heard The muttered
threats which were hurled after them, or
they might not have enjoyed the remain
Ger of that day as they did.
St Patrick's Day in Ireland, forty years
ago, used TO be very different from what
it is now; and when Julia O'Byrne
and owen MacDermott entered the mar
ket town of Gort, after a long ramble
through the fields in search of a sham
rock, it presented gay appearance,
The principal street was lined with stalls
filed with oranges, apples and ginger
bread, gay crosses, and sugar sticks.
n FL e & L 4
girls eating, drinking. and laughing;
large pots of boiling bacon and potatoes,
barrels of porter and kegs of potheen.
and Irish pipers playing with all
their might. From stall 10 stall
and from tent to tent Owen
and Julia wandered, enjoying every
thing, till la'e in the evening, when
they met Martin MacDermott and Julia's
father, both evidently ia high spirits,
and chatting conhdentially. They went
into tent together, and after an hours
chat came out more good tempered and
confidential than ever, and sought Julia
and Owen. -r
"Come here, my colleenn o,Byrne
said, in rather thick voice. Il have
made match for you with Martin! Go
over and sit by the side of him"
With Martin, father" the girl said.
looking with dismay at the stern, dark
man she almost hated and certainly
feared. with Ownie, you mean"
"Sorra BIT of it, julia; but Martin
Marin the master. Poor Ownie has
nothing"
q He's promised Heveran's farm, faith
err"
"No, nv dear; It's me that has Hev-
Grams houldin',n Martin said with sin
lister smile; land it's me you're goin' to
marry"
Owen walked up to his brother, and,
looking him straight in the face, said, in
a clear, calm v,iice-" What do you mean,
Martin MacDermott:"
.What l said just now-that got
Heveran's hoUldin', and took my oath to
marry Julia O'Bryne. | told it to her
father, half an hour ago
. You mean to say you are goin' be-
tween me and the colleen | love-the col
leen have loved since she was up to
my knee, You mean 10 say you are go
in between me and these few dirty acres
of Heveran's that 1 axed first and be-
spoke; between your only brother and
all the hopes of peace he has in this
world-you that has full and plenty,
Martin MacDermott."
I'm goin' to marry Julia" Martin re-
piled, with sullen determination. a.
Julia, what do you saysn Owen asked,
turning to the girl, who stood silently
weeping.