The Worthington advance., 1878-12-12
ABROTHER's CURSE.
An Irish Story.

were |
his hageard. the nearest and best hatched;
his fences In the best condition, aud ms nouse
the snupgest in the village. Darby was never
q day behindhand with his rent Inc mrs! VI
MAY and the first Of November founo M~.
wet or dry good season or oad sSason' the
corner of which his half.year's rent lay safely
counted. He was decent oil. man, who al.
waya minded his business, and attended
to hia duties and had few troubles In the course
of threescore and ten yeaas. He had two sons:
Martin, the eldest, adark, handsome man, WIN
less. glittering cyes-a man whom every body !
respected, but very few liked; and Owen,
fair curly-haired, delicate boy, who had been
his mothers darling. Old Darby was fond OF
both his sons, but the sturdy, healthy Martin
was decidedly his favorite; and when he died,
It was found that the greater part OF his eaV-
ings went to his first-born
Owen was not either OF Jealous or envlous
disposition; still, he sometimes thought II
rather hard that his brother should nave al
the luck; Martin was strong, and heaitny anu
handsome, had been his fathers laVorite' a.u M
the stock and crops and everything wa" the
property Of Martin; and Owen was the possess
or Of but fifty pounds. Forty years ago, TWO
hundred pounds in ready money was consld-
cred a fortune, and even fifty pounds was not
by any means to be despised; aud when old
.
there were fuw men in BallybaDe who did not
envy them Martin especially, who was looked
nm to by his ncighbors as little short OF gen
tleman, certainly as man VINO might Keep his
iarnting- car if he chose. But the possession
OF money made no change IN the m,nt.a; new tenan;
of the Upland farm, as the MacDermotts,
holding was called. He just worked as hard
rs ever. getting up ut six o'clock in the morn
ing, and going to bed late. Owen lived with
him, and worked too, just as usual, only 'nat
during Ms fathers time he might spena MS
evenings reading old newspapers or writing
letters to his acquantanccs who had gone to
America. But Martin thought such occuPa-
tions q mere waste Of time, and when the days
work was ended and the supper over, he
ordered the fire and lights to be put out.
The next farm to that of Martin MacDer,
motifs on one side was held by Mlchael
OBryne, a farmer who hao been we'll to do
once, but msfortunes OF late years had come
thickly on him, and he had hard work to
keep the farm together. On the other slae, u
small holding OF about fifteen acres was nela
by good -ior- nothing old fellow named fat'
rick HayernaIl, who was little better than
nuisance to the entire neighborhood. How
ever, one morning he was found dead in his
bed and Owen Mac cDermott, without taxing
counsel of any one, went TO inc agent anu
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 ana Joy
Owen went about his work. The next day
was the nth of March, St. Patrick's day, anu
a general holiday; and early IN the morning
Owen dressed himself in his Sunday suit anu
went out. A little way down the road he met
aboung girl, also dressed in her hest-a GRIM:
son stuff dress, q gay shawl, and cross OF
ribbons of all colors of the rainbow on her
shoulder Her hair was twisted carelessly
around her head and her soft blue eyes had
startled look in them.
20, Ownie, avourneen, I was afeared you
were not coming, and sure, sori1 o't o., y
shamrock you have in your cap this blessed
morn1n'. Why is that dear"
II was in hurry to see you, my darlln',
he answered. looking tcnderly iato the sweet,
shy face. "Julia, have good news for you
this mornin'; let us walk down the lane, and
I'll tell you and look for my shamrock Ut the
same time" ,
Together they turned down lane, or rath-
er footpath bordercd on one side by thick
blackthorn hedge and q broad meadow on the
other.
"Julia," said Owen, "you know Pm fond OF
you since you were wee shy, delicate NIUE
creature I never had any sweet leart but
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 it, and the
agent as good as promised me 1t. No"
Judy"
lam so glad, Owine," was all the girl an
swered, very softly, but there were tears Of
genuine delight in her eyes rs she looked uI
at him. Well it was that neither of them saw
: the dark face that watched them from the
other side Of the hedge, or heard the mutter
ed threats that were hurled after them, o.
they might not have enjoyed the remainder
the day as they did.
St. Fatrick's day in Ireland, forty years ago
USED to be vely different from what 1t IS now
aud when Julia O'Byrne and Owen Mac .}er
mott entered the market town of Gort, after
long ramble through the fields in search OF
shamrock, it presented gay appearance,
The principal street was lined with stalls, fill
ed with apples and gingerbread, gay crosse
and suyarsticks. There are tents full OF boy
and girls, eating, drinking and laughing
large pots of boiling bacon and potatoes, bar
rels of porter and kegs Of potheen, and lrisl
pipers playing with all their might. From
stall to Stall, from tent to tent, Owen an
Julia wandered, enjoying every thing tn lat
in the evening, when they me. Martin Mac
Dermott and Jula's father, both evidently i
high spirits, and chatting CONFIDENTIAL!
They went into tent together, and, after q
hours chat came out more good-tempere
and confidential than ever, and sought Jull
and Owen.
81 "Come here, my colleen!" O'Byrne said, i
rather q thick voice. II have made mate
'"f for you and Martin. Go over and sit by tn
side OF him."
"With Martin, father?' the girl said, lool
aln ost hstcd, and certainl, feared. "Wit
Ownie, you mean"
'Sorra bit Of it, Julia; but Martin-Ma
tin, the master. Poor DIVINE has nothing u
"He's promised Hevernans farm, father
"No, my dear; it's me that has Hevernan
houldin'," Martin said, with sinister smile
''and it's me you're gein' to marry"
Owen walked up to his brother, and lool
ing him straight in the face, said, In clea
calm voice: What do you mean, Marti
MacDermott?"
.sY"What said just now-that got Heve
mans houldin', and took my oath to MARI
Julia o. Bryne. told it to her father
an hour ago."
You mean to say you are goin' between
and the colleen I have loved-the colleen
have loved since she was up to nv knee
You mean to say you are goin' between m
asked first and bespoke-between your onl
brother and all the hopes Of peace he has
the world-you that has full and plenty, MAJ
tin MacDermott!'
"rm going to marry julia" Martin replie'
with snllen determination.
turning to the girl, wha stood silently weel
II must answer for her." O'Byrne said. &
promised her to Martin, and I'm not goin
hack on my word, l can tell you. What hay
YSSq 1YSsSr' to 'A0"' How do YOU mean to kss
e '"What do you say, Julia"'
II wish to stick to you, Ownse, and neve
marry any one else-never. never, as hop
for luck"
=, 3 !"God bless you for them words, darling
T. Only be true and faithful, and I'll soon have
cabin for you somewhere"
"Julia," said her father raising his hands
heaven, III you ever marry that boy, ev,
3, speak to him. ever think Of him, I'll curi
~ you ON my bare knees. You don't know VIII
fathers curse Is. Don't bring it on II
child, If you love her. Never come aero
hsr again, Owen MacDermottm
!""You hear that, Julia? What am to do!
Owen asks.
- "0o away, and never come near me agai
or he'll curse me, Owen. Go away!"
=, Owen MacDermott stood perfectly still
4 few minutes, and then, raising his eyes
heaven, called down bitter curse on his on
brother; MAY you never be happier thar
an now, sleeping or waking &. May eve
thing vOu put your hand to turn to ashe