River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-12
A BROTHERS. CURSE,
An Irish Story.

lne snugge5t IN the Nlll2go. DdIOl vas ~ -
a daV behindhand with his rent. The hist o.
Nav and the first Of November found him
wet or dry, good season or bad season, ri tht
office with his old worsted stocking, III inc
corner of which his half-years rent lay saleiS
counted. lie was decent OLE man. Woo al,
WAYS minded his business, aud attended
TO mis- duties, and hadfew troubles IN the course
of threescore and ten yeas. Tie had TWO cons
Martin. the eldest. dark, handsome man. with
a square heavy face and pair OF dark. rest
less, giittering cyes-a man whom every DOdy
respected, but very few liked; ana oven, a
fair curiy-haired, delicate boy, who had been
his mothers darling. Old Darby was fond ol
both hin sons but the sturdy, healthy Martin
was decidedly his favOrite; and when he died
it was found that the greater part OF his saw
ings went TO his first-bOrn.
Owen was not either of jealous or cnf!ous
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 layorite, ano
was master of the farm after his death. Al
the stock and crops and everything was the
property of Martin; and Owen was the possess
or OF but fifty pounds. Forty years ago two
hundred pounds in ready money was cohsid-
cred fortune, and even fifty pounds was not
by any means to be dtSpised; and when ola
Darby MacDermott left his boys so well oil
there were few men in Ballybane who die not
envy them-Martin especially who was looked
up TO by his neighbOrs as little short OF gen
tleman, certainly as a man who might keep his
Iauntng-car II he chose. But the possession
OF money made no change in the new tenant
Of the Upland farm, as the MacDerm0tts'
holding was called. He just worked as hard
as ever, getting up at six o'clock in the morn
tnF, and going to bed late. Owen hYed win
him, and worked too, just as usual, only mat
during his fathers time he might spend ms
evenings reading old newspapers or wrl1ng
letters Go his acnuaintances who had gone 10
MT fhnnphf ncgTD1-
tons mere waste of time, and when the day
work was ended and the supper over, he
ordered the fire and lights to be put out.
The next farm to that of Martin Maeper-
motifs on one side was held by Mlchaei
q Bryne farmer who haa been wen u 90
once, but misfortunes Of late years had come
thicklv on him, and he had hard VOTE 70
Keep the farm together. On tho other slGe, a
small holding of about fifteen acres was htld
by a good for nothing old fellow named Fat'
rick Havcrnan, who was little better IMAM a
nuisance to the entire neighborhoOd. How
ever. one morning he was found dead IN his
bed, and Owen MacDermott, without taking
counsel OF any one, went to the agent anu
asked If he might have the vacant farm, as ne
wished to settle down on his own account.
The agent promised, and full of hope and Joy
Owen went about his work The next lay
was the nth Of March, St. Patrick's day, and
a general holiday; and early in The morning
Owen dressed himself i'll his Sunday SUIT and
went out. A little way down the road he Hiet
alyoung girl, also dressed in her best-a Grim
son stuff dress, a gay shawl, and cross OF
ribbons Of all Colors Of the rainbow on her
shoulder Her hair was twisted carelesSiy
Ground her head, and her soft blue eyes hat d
startled look in them.
20, DIVINE, avournccn, ! was afeared you
were not coming, and sure, sorra bit OF
shamrock you have in your cap this blessed
mornn' Why is that dear"
" / was in hurry to see YOU, my darln,
he answered, looking tendeTly 1T the sweet,
shy face 't,Julia have good news for you
tn s mornin'; let us walk down the lane, and
III tell you and look for my shamrock ut tie
same time"
Together they turned down lane, or rath-
or footpath. bordered on one side by a thick
blackthorn hedge and broad meadow on Tue
other.
Julia" said Owen, "you know Pm fond Of
YOU since YOU were a wee shy, delicate little
creature. | never had any sweetheart hut
Yourself, and now / want you to fix the day;
] am going TO take you all TO myself. You
know Pat Hevernan's holdin'; went To the
office yesterday, and asked for 1t, ana me
agent as good as promised me 1t. Now
Judyl'
II am so glad, Owinc," was all the girl an.
swered, very softly, bat there were tears of
genuine delight in her eyes as she looked tp
at him. Well it was that neither OF them sa :"
The dark face that watched them from the
other side of the hedge or heard the mutter-
cd threats that were hurled after them, or
they might not have enjoyed the remainder 81
the dsv as they did.
Sc. Patrick's day in Ireland, forty years ago,
used to be very different from what it IS now
ard when Julia O'Byrne and Owen Mac pcr-
mott entered the market town of Gort, after q
long ramble through the fields IN search OF a
shamrock il presented L gay appearance
The principal street was lined with stalls, hlJ-
ed with apples and gingerbread, gay crosses
4 Re m
and girls, eating, drinking and laughing
large pots of boiling bacon and potatoes, bar
rels of porter and kegs Of potheen, and Irish
pipers PLAYING with all their might. From
stall to stall, from tent TO tent, owen ans
Julia wandered, enjoying every thing tIll la
in the evening when they me. Martin Ma,
Dermott and Julia's father, both evidently III
high spirits, and chatting conhdentaily
They went into tent together, and, after az
hours chat, came out more good-temperee
aud confidential than ever, and sought Julif
and Owen.
Some here, nv colleenw O'Byrne said, il
rather a thick voice. 81 have made matcs
for you and Martin. Go over and sit 10y th'
side of him"
with Martin, father?' the girl said, look
ing with dismay at the stern, dark man sn'
almost hated, and certainly feared. VIII
Ownie, you mean?"
''Sorra bit of it, Julia; but Martin-Mar
tin, the master. Poor DIVINE has nothing"
Hes promised Heveman's farm, father.
"No, my dear; it's me that has Hevernan'
houldin'," Martin said, with sinister smile
"and it's me you're goin' to marry"
owen walked up to his brother and look
ing him straight in the face, said, in cleaI
calm voice; "What do you mean, Martin
MacDermott?"
What said just now-that got Hever
mans houldin', and took my oath to MARI
Julia o. Bryne. l told it to her father
an hour ago"
You mean to say You are gOin' between
and the colleen | have loved-the colleen
have loved since size was up to nv knee
You mean to say you are goin' between m
and these few dirty acres of Havernau's, tina
asked first and bespOke-between your onl
brother and all the hopes Of peace he has il
the world-you that mas full and plenty, Mar
tin MacDermott"
"pm going to marry julia" Martin replied
with sullen determination.
Julia, what do you say.' Owen asked
turning to the girl, wha stood silently wceT
a must answer for her" OByrne said
promised her to Martini and I'm not goin
back on my word, can tell you. What haV
you to show? How do YOU mean to kee
" hat do you say, julia ~
~ wish TO stick to you, Ownie, and nevC
marry any one else-never, never as hop
for luckl"
Only be true and faithful, and I'll soon have
cabin for you somewhere
Julia said her father, raising his hands
heaven, "if YOU ever marry that boy, eve
speak to him, ever think of him, I'll ours
YOU on my bare knees. You don't know VIII
fathers curse is. Don't bring il on III
child, If YOU love her. Never come acrOs
h.r again, owen MacDermottr'
you hear that, Juliag What am TO do:
Owen asks.
go away, and never come near me agail
or he'll curse me, owen. Go awayin
Owen MacDermott stood perfectly still Il
few minutes and then. raising his eyes
heaven, called down a bitter curse on his on
brother; MAY you never be happier than
am now, sleeping OF waking. May eYei
thing you put your hand to turn to ashe
May your children live to hate aud dishOn,
you. Martin MacDermOttr and with OF
long look at the trembling Julia. Owen rapi
ly passed out into the cold darkness of Il
the March evening, and was seen no more
Castlegar. Ten pounds OF the money L.
him bv his father he took; the remainder il
in the bank But which side he went.
what became of him. no one knew.
A year passed away. and then Miena
O'Byrue died. aud Julia, from sheer inabisi
to resist any longer, became the wife of Mart
Mae DermOtt, though she feared the ye
sound of his voice, and trembled at his tone
He was a tyraut. but she scarcely IT. eded tn,
for she had no will and no wish to do anythil
but what he babe her. She had children, d
one after another sickeued and died. al
things genera began TO go wrong wi
Martin, his shabby surlishness making h;
generally disliked. When they were /,
years married, Julia died in giving birth
fwins-a fine healthy hoy and Virl r.,