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

yet, the respectful homage yielded up to
her by Pat Holion was such as IN en-
press might feel grateful for The girl
was rustic belle the merriest laugh at
fair or wake was Hanorah Varily's hers
was the lightest foot in the dance and
she had lovers in plenty. Pat Holion
| worshipped her Unknown to her, he
followed her home constantly from wakes
aud dances, simply for the purpose of
keeping watch over her to make sure that
no one insultcd her. She was the lode
star of his existence, but, aware of his
own personal defects, the man never
dared to be one of her lovers.
He was the pig-driver at "thc big
house, and, having put up his charges
for the night, Pat Holion wendell his way
toward his own little cabin, where lie
lived with two unmarried sisters, some
what older than he was. They were hard
working, swarthy, low-sized women, much
of the same stamp MS their brother, who
was soon seated Mt his supper of potatoes
and buttermilk
Bridget Holion stood ut the cabin door
knitting. Not stockings for herself-for
neither she nor her sister had ever worn
a shoe or a stocking in their livcs-but
for sale ut the town of Cong on market
and fair days
There's Hanorah Varily crossin' down
by Murtagh's doyreen," she said sudden
ly. can shure enough there's Pierce
Joyce wild her It's the fine couple they
do make !"
"Ay," assented her sister, coming to
the door and shading her eyes with her
hand rs she looked after the receding
figures. can n good thing it nd be il
Pierce Joyce or some one would marry
the yi,sha !, for shure it's sore an sorry
time av it she does have wild ould Ann
Lynch.
81 suppose they're goin' to the dance
at Bob Kenealy's, said Bridget. "Well,
well God be wild the time whin l could
fut it wild anyone
The dance at Bob Kenealy's had been
long klooked forward to in the neighbor-
hood. 1t was one of the events of Sum-
mer in the estimation of the young men
and maidens for full three parishes round.
Not to be seen there would have been vir-
tually taken rs declaration that the I'M
fortunate wight was mot in society" in
Gortnachurra or Moytura, aad, for that
matter, even so far away rs Cong itself
Many were the appointments made by
the lads and lasses for days before. No
one in the parish had more engagements
than had pretty Hanorah Varily. Chief.
est among her suitors was Pierce Joyce,
n well-to-do man with two cows horse
and cart and ut present, fine field of
turnips. But to give Hanorah Varily her
due, she did not value Pierce Joyce SO
much for these material advantages rs fol
his own handsome coaxing self. Was he
not the finest man among all the Joyces
in the barony, race famed for theil
great physical strength, gigantic stature
and rare beauty?
Pierce Joyce was over six feet two il
height, and was the best wrestler, dancer
and plougher in the parish. And the
sight Of his handsome, dark, Spanish.
looking face and stalwart form, as he
came to the door of her aunts cabin
shortly after Pat Holion and his pigs had
left, caused Hanorah's heart to pulsate
wildly. Ann Lynch was n wise woman in
her day and generation. She knew Pierce
Joyce would be n splendid match for q
poor girl like Hanorah, and therefore
allowed herself to be persuaded into per-
hitting her niece to go to the dance.
In her bare feet, barehcaded too, Han
srah Varily tripped over the fields by the
side of Pierce Joyce. She woreno tinery
of any kind. A bit of lace or ribbon she
had never possessed during her existence
and as for collars and cuffs, Hanorah Va
rily had no use in her life for them. For
she always wore her sleeves short to her
elbows, and the front of the body sloped
low, across which was pinned little
checked shawl. A short bedgown sort
of dress of blue cotton with small white
spots on it, and a faded red linsey petit
coat completed her attire. Her eyes
| ~, al,
as, looking the very incarnation of youth,
beauty and health, Hanorah varily, ac,
companied by her stalwart, handsome
cavalier, stepped into Bob Kenealey's big
barn, where considerable number OF
the company had already assembled.
In ere was many pretty and comely
girl there, but none so pretty as Hanorah
Varily. Some of them-but they were
the exceptions-were better dressed than
Hanoruh, and none wore shoes and stock
ings At one end of the barn sat the
blind fiddler, Gibbon Lynot, three or
four elderly men and couple of old wo-
men grouped around him Among them
was old Bob Kenealey. Bob was bach
elor, and gave this dance once year to
the young people in the parish.
well, then Hanorah !" he exclaimed
Hospitality "an' it's welcome yer pretty
face an yer light fut is Bedad if /
wasn't 80 ould, it's spakin' to the priest
I'D be about We meselfW
Hanorah Varily laughed merrily. She
was accustomed to these compliments
from old Bob Kenealy.
"Och ! fax ! Bob you'd have no
chance there y said Kitty Blake, an old
barcfooted crone, draped elegantly in a
patchwork quilt, worn shawl-wise. "Shure
it's no saycrot that Hanorahs match is as
good ms madel Didn't We see," she add
ed significantly, "who it was she KEN in
wild ~
| "Who was it ?" asked Gibbon Lynot.
"pierce Joyce, from there be wan side
nv Coolavin."
"There's many's the wan nv the boys
does take me to the dances an back
again, replied Hanorah, crimsoning ia
the roots of her pretty black hair.
Och but, Hanorah jewell" continu.
ed Katy Blake, ''why not another av the
boys is n man nv fortune like Pierce
Glory be to goodness who's that wild
Guild Dinis Prandhergass p
81 forgot to tell yez, said Bob Kenealy,
chats Biddy Prandhergass that wint
away saryice. She's back now, an has
fifty pound in hard cash in the bank. Hel
misthress left it to her in will for be-
ing kind to her whin she was sick"
Five years before had Biddy Prender-
gass, through the interest of n lady liy-
ing in the neighborhood, procured stu.
alton to attend upon an invalid lady.
During the five years she had never paid
a visit to Moytura, and now returned the
heiress to fifty pounds ! Biddy was
dressed with an attempt Mt fashion she
, wore soiled blue silk dress, pair OF
yellow kid gloves, and brooch and ear.