National Republican., 1883-03-03

"Biddy's q great catchP remarked Ann
Lynch. "Troth wish yer match was made
wild him, for maybe it's takin' Biddy an her
money he'll be, I'll spake 10 Father Flavcllo,
an ask him If he knows any thing.
Don't go say any thing about me, aunt"
| exclaimed Han0ralf, her eyes flashing. 81
don't want to throw myself at anywan's
| headp
"But yer match must be made for ye' re.
| torted her aunt.
al don't want to have any matol, made for
me" said the girl. = want 10 be axed."
"Arrah, don't be foolish. Shure, what
would the nabors say if yer match wasn't
mado for ye like any other dacint girl
| Throth,' she continued quorulously it's the
sore an sorry handful you ever war to mo
| If yer match isn't made, an that we're put
out on the road, wherell yo go to2 | know
Molly Flanagan, my husbands-God rest his
sowl first cousin, will give me q shakcdown
until look about me-"
Hanorah was decidedly piqued and jealous
that Pierce Joyce should have left her. and
have gone home with Biddy and her father.
| The girl had plenty of spirit, and she'was
| goadcd almost TO madness 10 think her aunt
should try to make match " for her with
one who, whatever he may have said in the
way Of love making TO hcr, had certainly
never asked her to marry him. She lay awake
long that night, thinking of handsome Pierce
| Joyce, and thinking over all he had said to
that he had said very littlo more to her than
had her many other lovers whom she had led
on with her pretty laughing face and her
lively ways.
| The rentday was drawing nearerand nearer,
and yet they had only made up a few shillings
more. They had fire only ON very rare oc-
casions and there they sat in the little cheer
less, frelcss cabin, knitting stockings from
morning till night. Tho rain was unceasing,
the sky was one uniform leaden hue and
universal gloom seemed to have settled over
the place. One day, after having knitted away
in silence for considerable time Ann Lynch
suddenly stood up, put on her capaci0us
hooded red cloth cloak, and said:
II won't bo long but / won't tell you
where Pm goin',' and so saying she walked
out of the house. Along tho roads she
trudged in the misty, thick, binding rain,
her bare feet plashing along the badly kept
| highways. On she went until she came TO
decent little cabin, and there she knocked
Justify at the door. There was no answer.
For full an hour she waited in neighboring
cow shed awaiting the return of Pierce Joyce,
for she had determined to ask him, for
Hanorah's sake, for the loan of the rent due
the next day.
Meanwhile Hanorah, her strong 1.-the
young frame weakened from want of proper
neurishment, had stood up and leaned against
the open door knitting. She felt very lonely.
Since the fair day at Cong she had neither
heard nor seen anything Pierce Joyce. What
would she not give to see him With the
natural desires Of youth yelling up in her
breast, she longed for little brightness in
the roughness and darkness of her life
Some one.came along the road. Hanorah
Narily looked up-and saw Pierce Joyce
Ho stopped when he saw her, and ran toward
the cabin.
"Come in out av the wet" said Hanorah
"Why it's good for sore eyes to see you !
where was ye this while back2"
"Many's the place was in," he replied,
looking around where's your aunt Y'
"She's out" Hanorah could not trust her
self to say much.
"An' how are ye all this long time, Hanorah ?
Throth it's donny enough yer lookin'."
"Shure itsno wondher. Times is very hard
an it's no weather to get days work in
now." She looked up wistfully at him as she
l spoke.
Don't be downhearted, HanorAh,' he said
in his customary kind tones which made
the girls heart beat wildly. 1--WE must look
out an get some dacinct boy to put the
conedher on ye. I'm goin' to set you good
example myself, for ! just was spakin,'. to
Father Flavelle about me an little girl"
"Arrah! What are you spakin' about2 p"
asked Hanorah quickly, looking up at him as
she spoke, while the color came and went in
her face, and her heart beat fast.
Didn't ye hear anythingT' he said, rather
awkwardly.
About whatT Hanorah looked down, and
busted herself about the heel Of her stocking.
"Shure / neve seen ye since the Cong fair
day, whin you left me all aft wild Biddy
| Prandhergass."
Despite all her efforts to suppress it, there
was temper in Hanorah's voice.
raal dacint girl is Biddy," he said,
looking at Hanorah's downcast face, and
wishing he was out of the place. Halo |!
| rhnrp'a tbut onrnarn PAT Hnlinp ~ hn
exclaimed, by way of changing the conversa-
ton, and he nodded to Pat as he passed the
cabin door. But Hanorah was bravely de-
termined to know the worst and she asked
In q voice so schooled by her womans pride
that its calmness was almost supernatural.
Maybe Biddy Prandhergrass was the little
girl you was spakin' to Father Flavelle about
was she {"
Maybe she was" was the evasive reply.
"Was she, Piercep almost demanded
| Hanorah.
"Well-she was" he admitted, with little
uneasy laugh. "An' shure | want you to
come an dance at our weddin', for it's to be
on Satherday."
1.-THE day afther to.morra ?" she said, in the
same steadyvoice " to be shure | will"
"Thats right, Hanorah !" he exclaimed, ap-
parently much relieved "Now l must be
| Off"
When Pierce Joyce left her Hanorah Varily
| walked SUrhlRnU OUT OF Ino mouse ana DOWN
the rugged slushy road. The evening was
closing in fast, and the thick rain was falling
yet. On she walked quickly, unheeding
where she went. The girl wanted to get
away from her thoughts and from her own
aching heart, and fully two hours elapsed be-
fore she again entered the cabin door, where
she found her aunt, who told her what her
errand had been.
"You wouldn't have got II If Pierce Joyce
was there" said Hanorah bitterly. "Pierce
Joyce was here wild me whilo you were
away"
"Well pin an eager tone" Is ii settled
When Is the match to be made?"
" It's made" she responded, in the same
bitter voice. "Pierce Joyce tOuld me thae
he's goin' to be married to Biddy Prandher-
grass ON Satherday"
Ann Lynch was furious. She upbraided
Hanorah for not playing her cards better.
| Don't talk TO me like that, aunt or I'll go
madl" she almost shrieked, 81 tell you
that Pierce Joyce doesn't want to marry me
because I'm poor girl If had 60 more
nor Biddy he'd have married me!
| FaiX! Then ye must marry somewan,
for even if the agint let's the rint lie over |
can't be feedin' great hulkin' girl like vel"
| thundered the old woman. "Out you'll go
| your not worth yer keep !"
God forgive ye, aunt, for sayin' that, for
don't work for ye airly am late! But" she
added, laying down the stocking she was
! knitting, "I'll take ye at yer word. I'll go
now, for know nabor that will give me
nights lodgin'," and before the ungratetul
old termagant could recover from her sur
nrise HanOrhh WAS sDeedinb down the road