Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-01-13
NO. H..
Gales ano Skettbes.
tom CONLAN'S TRYSTE.

"Spake the words aither me. Mary:
sure they're gey an easy. Come now.
darin'. this is what we're to say. takin'
my han" and lookin' me in the face;
II gie to thee INV rl'ghted ,roth.
NV faith an roth an INV right ham,.
That IL vou'll mary nae ither woman,
Then will marry nae ither man.
\ couple who were poor as their coarse
dress testified. but rich in youth and love,
stood close together on the chapel road,
half way between MssSmount and the lit
tie 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, who passed by.
Ii was in the dead of winter. and pierc-
ing winds swept across the Lough. caus-
ing the dark water to crash upon the
shinglc almost at their teet. Masses of
heavy cloud hung low in the heavens.
resting on the gigantic mountains on the
further side of Murroy: the boats that hal
conveyed part of the congregation to mass
were dancing up and down at the end OF
the pier beyond the chapel, and their pas
sencers were assembling in the grave
ward. which bristled with rude, black
wooden crosses. The chapel. large
plaid building. had in itself nothing to at
tract the eve. but its situation on i mount
overhanging the Lough was picturesque
in the extreme.
Women were keening, their piteous
wall rising above the wind. and the bell
was toling. for coffin was being carried
into the graveyard. This was the reason
that the horses were still fastened in a long
row to rings in the wall that the empty
boats rocked at the pier. and that our
young couple fingered in the distance.
The youth must needs accompany the
party in the last boat, his home lying be-
yond the hills that loomed so darklv on
the opposite side of the Lough. He heard
the women keen and clap their hands he
heard the OMNIBUS tolling of the bell-but
he needed these sad sounds very little his
heart was warm with love. and his hopes
frightened the gloomy landscape.
He was so young' IL did not grieve
him To think that he must live in an oh
scure corner of Donegal all his lite--that
he must work hard winter and summer.
and that the best fare he could hope to
earn would be oatcn cake and buttermilk.
potatoes and salt herring. with u morsel
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, ne Mary's plump hand lay in his
own.
"weel. dear. We hanna said the words
vet, said he. bending his handsome head
to look under the hood Of the cloak mt her
downcast face. Sure. Mary. vou like
me? The whole townland o. Tamney
allows that we're sweethearts. an it's
true we ha' been speaking. since we were
that big" putting his hand on level
with Mary's shoulder.
"Av. Tom. dear knows I like YOU ~
replied the maiden. glancing at him with
IA charming mixture OF affection and
coquetry in her gray eyes. She knew she
was bonnie in the estimation of the coun-
try youths, who always prefer her style of
good looks, viz. red cheeks. black hair,
and sturdy, wel-rounded figure. to the
most intellectual or refined beauty
Mick Scanlon and that Duggan boy
has been trying to speak TO me, an |
wouldna' look at ane o them but I'm
time enough-sure I'm weel done for
wi the mistress dinna. be for marrying
yet. Tom,
.'God send me patience !" calculated
the wooer "that's what you've said any
| time these tour year. when fleeched you
to fix the day It's ave the mistress. an
we couldna' think ofleaving the mistress
! know Mrs. McGarvey's guide. an very
guide. an we've n right TO respect her, Tor
she showed you great gratitude. but she
wadna' be agin your taking me at last an
at long
"Ne. then. that's nae word o. lie,"
said cheerful voice, and Mrs. McGarvey
joined them. She was a plcastant-l ook-
ing middle-agcd woman. whose comfort
able dress told OF easy circumstances,
| Mary had never had any other mistress.
or indeed, any other mother. Exactly
| eighteen years previously. the good wo-
man, going out to her cowhouse one even
| ing. had discovered small bundle lying
near her threshold. A pitiful wall pro-
ceeded from the bundle, which she un-
folded. and saw little Mary. so enfeebled
| BY cold ard hunger that she could scarce
| " cry. The widow carried the poor found
ling 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. She
| tried 10 serve them in every way she
worked indefatigablv-mi the cows.
made the butter, knitted the socks. and
mended the well-worn garments Of Joe.
Willy, Ann and Matty.
She was ten years old when Joe went to
America. and Mrs. Mc.Garvey found it
necessary to hire a lad to herd. and make
himself otherwise useful ON the farm.
Tom Conlan then little fellow Of twelve
years old. was the son of small farmer
who lived across the water. almost oppo-
site Massmount in straight line, but =
considerable distance away among the
hills. Toms father was glad to let one
Of his large family begin to earn wages,
so the boy became Mrs. McGorvcy's SER
want and Mary's companion A dear
friendship arose between the two children
which gradually as the years went on, rip
ened into something more tender than
friendship.
When Tom was eighteen he was sum-
moncd home to the farm across the water.
One of his brothers was dead the other
gone to America, and he was required to
assist his father in working the little farm.
He then asked Mary to marry him. and in
reply she said she loved him dearly, but
could not think Of leaving her mistress