Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-30

bueT, nail bu nOuT ago.
"You mean to say that you are goin' be-
tween me and the colleen love-the col
leen have loved since she was up to my
kneei You mean to say that you are goin'
between me and the few dirty acres Of
Heverau's that | axed first and bespoke I;
between your only brother and all the
hopes of peace that he has in this world
you, that has full aud plenty, Martin Mac
dermott %
"I'm goin' to marry Julia" said Martin.
with sulen determination.
Julia. what do you say2' owen asked,
turning to the girl, who stood by silently
weeping.
~ must answer for her." said O'Byrne,
~ promised her to Martin, and I'm not
goin' back on my word, can tell you.
What have you to show? How do you
mean to keep herr
"what do you say, JuliaF'
az wish TO stick to you, Ownie, and never
marry any one else-never, never, as I
hope for luck r.
"God bless you for them words, darlin' !
Only be true and faithful, and I'll soon
have a cabin for you somewhere"
"Juliar' said her father, raising his
hands to heaven, "if you ever marry that
boy, ever spake TO him, ever think Of him,
I'll curse you on my bare knees You
don't know what fathers curse Is Don't
bring it on my child, If you love her.
Never come across her again, Ownie Mac
Dermott -
"You hear that, Julia. What am to
do?" owen asks.
"Go away, and never come near me
again, or he'll curse me, owniei Oh, go
awayr'
Owen MacDermott stood perfectly still
for few minutes, and then, raising his
eyes to heaven, and with the impetuosity
Of a young Irishman, called down bitter
curse on his brother:
"May you never be happier than am
now, sleeping or waking May every
thing you put your hand to turn TO dust
aud ashes May your children live to hate
and di.honor you, Martin MaeDermott r.
And with one long look at the trembling
Julia, owen rapidly passed out into the
cold darkness of the March evening, and
was seen no more in Castlegar. Ten pounds
Of the money left him by his father, he
took, while the remainder lay in the bank.
But which side he went or what became OF
him, no one knew.
A year passed away, and then Michael
O'Byrne died and Julia, from sheer ina
bility to resist any longer, became the wife
Of Martin Mac Dermott, though she feared
the very sound Of his voice, and trembled
at his touch. He was a tyrant, but she
scarcely needed that, for she had no will,
and no wish to DO anything but what he
baGe her. She had children, but one after
anoth,r they sickened and died, and things
generally began 10 go wrong with Martin !;
his shabby cburlishness making him gem
orally disliked. When they were ten years
married, Julia died in giving birth TO
twins, fine healthy boy and girl. Both
lived, aud all the affection their father had
for anything, he centered on the boy he
called Darby, afler his own father. The
little girl, Julia he cared nothing about, al
lowing her to grow up as she best could.
The farm Martin took so treacherously
from his brother, he gave up long before,
as nothing sown there ever prospered, and
indeed, acre 10y acre, the Upland Farm had
been going for years. Darby MacDermott
grew up to be a fine, handsome lad, rst
aud foremost in every mischief the village
could afford; and at twenty years Of age,
got transported for seven years for treason
felony, as he had taken an active part in
the rebellion Of ls4s. Julia was an idle,
careless girl, who spent her time in gos-
siping in the nt ighbors' houses, instead OF
taking care Of her father, a weak, helpless
old man who toiled early and late trying
to keep 4 roof over his head. All his
wretched schemes had turned out badly
They had not in them the ring OF straight.
forward and honest man. Above all, the
trouble and disgrace of his son Darby
completely broke him down, and he took
TO his bed, only wishing and wanting tC
die.
IT'S the curse, It's Ownie's curse" he
would moan for hours, as he lay alone
without soul to hand him a drink Of wa
ter. ''Sure might have known 1t woulC
come"
At length the climax of Martin MacDer
motifs sufierings was reached, the measur,
Of his punishment filled up. For thre,
years he had not paid a slxpence Of rent
and he was dispossessed, turned out of tht
house in which he had been born, and his
father and grandfather before him, to di,
by the way-left homeless and friendles
by the roadside on dreary Novembe
morning.
Remembering his unkindness to his on
ly brother, his harshness TO his poor, tim
i'll, patient wife, his blind indulgence o
his sou in the face of facts, his total neg
lect of his only daughter, and his mean
scheming character, there were but yer,
few to pity Martin MacDermott in hi
trouble; and so he was taken to the work
house, his house knocked down and not
trace left of what had once been happ
homestead.
And owen, when he lefl the tent that ey
er-memorable st. Patrick's night, it wa
with the resolve Of going away forever
anywhere, so that he was far from the plac
that had suddenly become hateful to him
He walked all night, and at the break {
day found himself just outside the town Q
Balinasloe. There he had some breakfas
and, at the inn, he entered into converse
ton with some men who were going I
England with cattle, and were in want of
drover. owen offered his services, and a
he appeared a quiet, respectable yOun
man, they were accepted at once. The
reached Dublin in three days, and the
started for Liverpool, where owen sal
goodbye to the tle-jobbers, and too
passage TO America in the Golden Cros
On board, he made himself so useful an
agreeable to the captain, that he gave hll
a recommend TO a merchant in New Yorl