Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-01


turned away with sick feeling ut his
heart. He stood in the shadow of
stack, near the hayrick, whence he had a
view of Hnnorah, whom he could dis
tinguish distinctly in the soft haze of the
early Summer night. He saw the ~
line of the girls pretty figure, and of the
splendid-looking, stalwart man who was
leaning toward her, and whom he envied
with such fierce envy that, for mo-
ment, convulsion shook his frame. Pat
Holion did not place himself there with
the intention OF being IN eavcsdropper,
but rs he stood i'll the shadow and listen
ed to the sound Of their voices gradually
the words became more distinct, and he
heard Hanoral, say can is it thrue
that Biddy Prandhergass has n fortune ?"
at is, Hanorah," he replied, "but,
inagh ! wouldn't look ut her if she had
three tifties in the bank, let alone one.'
'Och come now, Pierce p laughed
Hanorah and there was happy ring in
her tones, ''ye don't expect us to b'lceve
that Maybe, Pierce, she wouldn't look
Jay, fax Maybe not p he said.
"Ah, shure What's money if one hasn't
the happiness ?" he continued, philo-
sophically. "Bedad, Hanorah I'd SOON
er live on the clippin's Of tin with yerself,
nor with Biddy Prandhergrass an her
fifty pounds.
He drew nearer her as he spoke, and
gazed into her pretty downcast face, while
Pat Holion looked on, and heard Pierce
Joyce say, "Shure, don't ye know it's the
brakin's of my heart we are, Hanorah ?"
But Hanorah made no reply. The I'M
seen watcher crept round in the shadow
to the other side of the stack, and there
fell upon the ground in mute agony.
A merry light-hearted party it was
that set ont for Gortnachurra after the
dance. Somehow or other Pierce Joyce
and Hanorah Varily fingered behind the
others. But yet another fingered behind
them, and that was the pig-driver, who
crept along inside the hedge, and watch
ed Hanorah until she was safely inside
her own door,
Hanorah was up betimes, and at her
work early in the morning 1t was thank
less labor, trying to clear their little bit
of arid land from weeds and stones. But
the thoughts of what Pierce Joyce had
said to her sweetened her labor. and she
was singing like lark as Pat Holion was
going ON to "the big house to his work
there. He stood and looked ut her for a
minute, and then passed on with pray
er on his lips. 1t was not quite clear to
him whether or not the prayer was sent
up for Hanorah Varily, he only knew
that he always instinctively prayed when
he saw her.
The days went on, and many dance
at fair and wake did Hanorah take part
in. At the same time the shadow of
famine was again lowering over the land
The Summer had turned out wet and
cheerless. The corn scarcely ripened
and what did come to any kind of ma
turity was ''lodged" with the rain. The
potatoes rotted in the earth and the
hay, put up, perforce, when not sufli-
GENTLY dry, got heated and spoiled.
Nothing but starvation stared the people
in the face
"No use in askin' me, Pat" said Pierce
Joyce to the pig-driver, Mt the Cong No.
vember Fair. II want to sell SOW an
her nine JOncens meself. Times is bad,
an the rint must be paid next week."
"But yer well-to-do !" responded Pat
Holion. ats them that doesn't know
where to look for the rent that's to be
pitied"
He was thinking of Hanorah Varily.
With tears in her eyes the girl had that
morning told him that they did not know
where to look for their rent. Had he
not had his two sisters to think of, Pat
Holion would have given her the whole
contents of the stocking in the roof of
his cabin, and have gone forth on the
road himself. Even Pierce Joyce was in
difficulties. He walked up the street,
thinking to whom he could offer his pigs
for sale, when, upon turning the corner
by the chapel where the carts and cars
were usually drawn up, he came suddenly
upon Biddy Prendergast, who, seated
upon her fathers low back car, was speak
ing to Darby Costigan. There was a
comfortable air about Biddy which con-
trasted strongly with the half-clothed,
bare footed women around, and rs Pierce
looked at her, he thought of her fifty
pounds in the bank.
"Perce, said voice at his elbow. He
turned and saw Hanorah Varily, basket
containing some hens for sale on her
arm. She looked 80 poor yet SO pretty.
Here We are, Hanorah, he said famil-
iarly.
"Are We sellin' the hins?'
mo, she replied sorrowfully, "there
doesn't seem to be any money goin' to-
day."
"I'd take them up to Father Flavelles, +"
advised Pierce. "Yer tired, acushla !"
he continued, "Ill give you n lift home
on the cart"
With lighter heart in her bosom than
she had borne for many a day, Hanorah
Varily wendell her way toward Father
Flavelle's. For sheer charity her hens
were purchased and with few shillings
in her pocket she walked slowly down
the town looking out for Pierce Joyce.
He was not to be seen. She pursued her
course up to the chapel corner where the
carts and cars were put up, and there she
met Pat Holion, who had disposed of his
charges as satisfactorily ms could be ex-
pected during such hard times.
81 was goin' to look for ye, Hanorah, :"
he said.
Here am, Pat did We see Pierce
Joyce anywhere about ?" she asked.
"Yis he was here this minnit," was
the reply. "He KEN up to ask me to
drive We home on his cart for he has to
go somewhere else"
GAY, Hanorah yer nose is out nv joint"
chimed in Darby Costigan, who was
standing by. 'Pierce is gone home on
the low backed car wild Blddy Prander-
gass an her father. I'm thinking he's
afther Biddy's fortune these hard times. ="
eve all want the money just now,
Darby" said Hanorah evasively but her
heart felt like stone although she spoke
quietly-her woman's pride coming to
her rescue. 'I'm ready to go home any
time you are, Pat" she continued, ad-
dressing the pig-driver.
She seated herself beside Pat Holion
on Pierce Joyce's cart, and they drove
slowly along the rugged roads. The
short November day was drawing to its
close as they took their way through the
bleak country, and Hanorah shivered MS
she drew her scanty clothing more close
ly round her. Pat Holion noticed the ac-