New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-10

this is what ye're to say, takln my nan, an
lOo6ln' me In the face:
81 gle to thee my plighted troth
MY faith an troth an my right ham
That if you'll marry nae lther woman,
Then will marry nae ither man,"
couple who were Door, as their coarse
dress testified but rich in youth and love,
stood close together Oh the chapel road, half
way between MassmOunt and the little village
of Tamney, so engrOssed with each other that
they did not notice the groups of men in grey
frieze, and women in scarlet homespun, VINO
passed by.
IL was in tho dead OF winter, and piercing
winds swept across the LoRgh, causing the dark
water to crash upon the shiDgle almost at
their feet. Masses OF heavy cloud hung low III
the heavens resting on the gigantic mountains
on the further side of Mulroy the boats that
had conveyed part of the congregation TO mass
were dancing up and down ut the END OF 'he
pier beyond the chapel, and their passengers
bristled with rude, black wooden crosses
The chapel, large plain building, had in itself
nothing to attract the eye, but its situation on
mount overhaDging the Lough was picturesque
III the extreme.
Women were keening. their ,piteous wall
rising above the wind, and the bell was tOlling,
for a coffin was being carried INTO the grave
ward. This was the reason that the horses
were still fastened IN long row to rings III
the wall that the empty boats rocked at the
pier and that our yoOng couple fingered In the
distance.
in the last boat, his home lying beyond the hills
that doomed so daTkly on the opposite side OF
the Lough He heard the women keen and clap
their hands he heard the OnlnOus tOlllng OF
fine bell-but he needed these sad sounds very
little: his heart was warm with love. ard Dis
hOpes Enlightened the gloomy landscape.
lie was so young! 1t did not erieve him
to think that he must live in an obscure corner
of Donegal all his life-that he must work hard
nd and that the hest fare he
could hope 10 earn would be Oaten cake and
buttermlk, potatoes and salt herring, with
mowel of bacon on Sundays and holidays. Per
haps he did not look forward at all. but was
satisfied with the present, so long, at least as
Mary's plump hand lay in bis own.
'Weel, dear, We hanna said the words yet
said he, bending mis- handsome head TO look
under the hood of the cloak at her downcist
flee. Sure. MaIy you like meq The whole
townand % Tamney allows that we're sweet
hearts, an It's true we ba been speaking
since we were that big, putting his hand on a
level with Mary's shoulder.
iAy. Tom, DEAF knows like you = replied the
maiden, CHANGING at him with charming mix
ture of affection and coquetry IN her gray eyes:
She knew she was bonnie In the estimation or
the country youths, who always prefer her style
of good looks, viz, red cheeks, black hair, and
sturdy, well rounded figure, to the most intel
lectual or refined beauty.
Mick Scanlon and that Duggan boy has been
irving to spake to me. an wOuldna' look at ane
o. them but I'm time enOugh-sure I'm weel
done for VII the mistress dinna be Tor marry
ing yet Tom.'
God send me patiencer calculated the
WOoer that's what you've SAID any time these
four wear, when l feeched you to fix the day.
It's aye the mistress" an we cOul ina thnk
on having the mistress" l know Mrs. Nc
Garvey guide, an very guide, an we've I1ght
to respect her, for she showed you great grs IT,
tude, but she wadna' be agln your taklDg me
at last an at long
No then. that's nae word o. lic,' said a
cheerful voice, and Mrs. McGarvey Joined
them. She was a pleasant-looklng middle.
aged woman, whose comfortable dress told VI
easy circumstances.
Mary had never had any other mistress, or
indeed, any other mother: Exactly eighteen
years previously, the good woman, gong out
small bundle lying near her threshold. A pitt
full wall proceeded from the bundle, which she
unfolded, and saw little Mary, so enfeebled by
cold and hunger that she could scarcely cry
The widow carried the poor founding INTO the
kitchen, and fed and clothed it before her vast.
warm chimney. Her youngest Child was almost
the same age as the stranger she nursed them
together. The child turned out grateful She
loved her mistress and the children dearly, and
tried to serve them In every way. She worked
indefatigably- MIXED the cows, made the
butter, knitted the seeks, and patched the we'll
worn garments of Joe and Willy, Ann aud
Matty.
She was ten years old when Joe went to Amer
ica and Mrs. McGarvey found i necessary to hire
a lad 10 herd, and make himself otherwise useful
on the farm. Tom Conlan, then little fellow
of twelve years old, was the son OF smal farmer
who lived across the water, almost opposite
MassmOunt in a straight line, but considerable
distance away among the hills. rom latner was
glad to let one of his large family begin to earn
wages, so the boy became Mrs. McGarveys
servant and MaIy's companion. dear friend
ship arose between the two children. which
gradually, as the years went on, ripened into
fond arf han frla 6chl
When Tom eighteen he was summoned
home to the farm across the water. One OF bis
brothers was dead, the other gone to Am RIGA,
and he was required 10 ASSIST his father IN work
iDg the little farm. lie then asked Mary TO
marry him, and in reply she said she loved him
dearly, but could not think Of leaving her mis-
tress just yet. Over and over again, during the
two following years, had the persevcring sultOr
made his way To 'Iamney, to ask the same ques-
ton, and to receive the same answer; but ne
was now resolved to make a last appeal to the
young giifs affection, and should she remain
Obdurate, 10 threaten to break the net she had
cast over him.
You see, Mary, my father says we maun
hae woman in the house there's twa pigs
now, an big whean o turkeys, fOrbye the
hens TO look after, an weer ain meat to max
ready, an he's aye threepng Oh me to get
married. III dIDna bring VIE 10 the mouse,
he'll hire q servant
MaIy was beginning her usual excuse, when
Tom interrupted her Indignantly If you say
@Nnn this time, Mary, III never AK you again.
By the Blessed Virgin and all the saints
'Whisht, then, wlisht 7 cried Mrs McGarvey,
having her hand on his ann; Mary III no say
tIon foolish word Where would she get a boy
like YOURSELF Not in the townland o Iamncy,
I'm thinking. An | maun die some DAY an
lave her She be TO look out for wee spot o
her ain then
The kind woman turned from the lover to her
dear founding. and said fondy: Ay, dear,
you ba been guide daughter to me since the
door siane an ! know you'd stop WI me II l
said the word; but dnna say it, Mary. You
maun Join the world Q.e: marry soon or syne;
better soon nor syDe! TAX this decent boy |
IL. la Il ~ hao niaca Ia |