National Republican., 1883-03-03
CHAPTER III.

There 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 Hanorah, and
none wore shoes and stockings. At one end
of the barn sat tho blind fiddler, Gibbon Ly-
not, three or four elderly men and a couple
of old women grouped around him. Among
them was old Bob Kenealy. Bob was bach
elor, and gave this dance once year to the
young people in the parish.
"Well, then, Hanorah !" he exclaimed hos
pitably; "an' it's welcome, yer purity face
an yer light fut is! Bedad If / wasn't 50
ould, it's spakin' to the priest I'd be about
ye meselfp
Hanorah Varily laughed merrily. She was
accustomed to these compliments from old Bob
Kenealy.
"och faix! Bob, you'd have no chance
there ~ said Katy Blake, an old barefooted
crone, draped elegantly in a patchwork quilt
worn shawlwise. "Shure it's no saycret that
Hanorah's match is as good as made! Didn't
ye see" she added significantly, "who it was
she KEN in widP'
"Who was it ~ asked Gibbon Lynot.
"Pierce Joyce, from there be wan side av
Cooavin."
"There's many's the wan av the boys does
take me to the dances an back again." re-
| piled Hanorah, crimsoning to the roots of her
pretty black hair.
"och! but, Hanorah jewell" continued
Katy Blake, why not another av the boys
is a man av fortune like Pierce Glory be TO
goodness! who's that wild ould Dinis Prand-
hergass!"
II forgot to tell yez," said Bob Kenealy
that's Biddy Prandhergass that wint away
sarvice. She's back now, an has fifty pound
in hard cash in the bank. Her mistress left
1t to her in q will, for bein kind to her whin
she was sick"
Five years before had Biddy Prandergast
thrDuUh tha infarngt n n la1u liUino In ba
neighborhood procured situation to attend
upon an invalid lady. During the five years
she had never paid visit to Moytura, and
returned the heress to fifty pounds! Biddy
was dressed with an attempt ut fashion she
wore a soilcd blue silk dress, pair of yellow
kid gloves, and brooch and earrings that
looked like gold, Hanorah gazed at her at
first in some perplexity; she was awed by
Biddys grandeur and reputed wealth. Then
seeing that the heiress condesconded to speak
to some of her old friends, she made her way
toward her and held out her hand, saying
"Ah then, Biddy welcome homel Shure
it's as grand as the bellows, ye arep
Biddy looked decidedly discounted, and,
after o very cool greeting TO Hanorah, turned
TO speak to Darby Costigan, handsome young
| farmer who presently lead her out to the
dance. Hanorah Varily had for her first
partner Pierce Joyce, but another and yet
another did she tire down." and only
nNoppSh NhOh Aho ulAalb NNhSbhs lnb QuttH
of the dance Hanorah undoubtedly was, with
her flashing face, her light step, and her
graceful, 1.-THE form. Not that she had much
opportunity of displaying much grace, for an
Irish Jig, as danced by Irish peasants in an
Irish barn, is surely as solemn performance
as was that of the patriarch before the ark.
Come out, Hanorah will yep asked
Pierce Joyce, as she came near the door
There's lot of the boys an girls sittin out
there ON the half cutaway hayrick. Come
on"
Pat Holion, who had been watching his di-
vinity in tho dance from n convenient coign
of vantage Just outside the door, heard the re.
| quest and saw Hanorah Yarily comply with
IL. The pig driver turned away with sick
| feeling at his heart. He stood in the shadow
Of stack, near the hayrick, whence he had u
view Of Hanorah, whom he could distinguish
] distinctly In tho soft haze Of the early sum
mer night. He saw the outline of tho 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 a moment, II convulsion shook his
frame. Pat Holion did not place himself
there with the intention of being an caves
dropper, but as lie stood in the shadow and
listened TO the bounds of ther voices gradu-
ally those words came more distinct, and he