National Republican., 1883-03-03

"It is Hanorah," he replied, "but indgh !
wouldn't look at her IL she had three flfties
in the bank, let alone one
Och come now, Piercep laughed HanO-
rah, and there was happy ring in her tones,
| "yc don't expect us to b'lcove thatl Maybe,
| Pierce, she wouldn't look at your
Ay, faixl Maybe not" he said. "Ah,
shure What's money if one hasn't tho happi.
ness ~ he continued philosophically, Bedad
Hanorah I'd sooner live on the clippin's of
tin with yerself nor with Biddy Prandher-
grass an her fifty pounds
He drew nearer as he spoke and gazed into
her pretty, downcast face, while Pat Holion
looked on and heard Pierce Joyce say, "Shure,
| don't yc know it's tho brakins of my heart
ye are, Hauorah2' But Hanorah made no
| reply. The unseen watcher crept round in
the shadow to the other side of the stack and
there fell upon the ground in mute agony.
merry, light hearted party it was That set
| out for GOrtnachurra after the dance. Sonle-
how or other Pierce Joyce and IIanorah Narily
| fingered behind the orthers But yet another
fingered behind them, aud that was the pig
driver, who crept along inside the hedge, and
watched Hanorah until she was safely inside
her own door.
Hanorah was up bestmes, and at her work
early In the morning. It was thankless labor,
trying TO clear their little bit of arid land
from weeds aud stones. But the thoughts of
what Pierce Joyce had said TO her sweet
"
lark as Pat Holion was going ON to q the big
house " TO his work there. lie stood and
looked at her for n minute, and then passed
on with prayer ON his lips. II 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 ho
saw her.
Tho days won't on, and many dance at
fair and wake did Hanouh take part in. At
the same time the shadow of famine was
again lowering over the land. The summer
had turned out wet and cheerlcss The corn
scarcely ripened, aud what did come to any
kind of maturiny was lodged" with the
rain. The potatoes rottod in the earth and
the hay, put up, perlorcc, when not su0i-
ciently dry, got heated and spoiled. Moth
Ing but starvation stared the people in tho
face.
No use In askin' me, Pat" said Pierce
Joyce TO the pig driver ut the Cong November
fair. " want TO sell u sow an her nine bo-
mems meself Times is bad, an the rint must
be paid next week"
But yer well TO do" responded Pat Holion.
l" It's them that doesn't know whore to look
for the rent that's to be pitod"
He was thinking of Honorah 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 the cabin, and have gone forth on
the road himself Even Pierce Joyce was in
difficulties He walked up the street, think
ing 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 Prander-
gast, who, seated upon her fathers low
backed car, was speaking 10 Darby Costigan.
There was q comfortable air about Biddy
which contrasted strongly with the half
lalA I.I luw. .N.l
Pierce looked at her he thought of her fifty
pounds in the bank.
| Pierce" said voice at his elbow. He
turned and saw Hanorah Varily, a basket
containing some hens for sale on her arm.
She looked so poor yet so pretty.
Horo ye are, Hanorah," he said familiarity.
Are ye sellin' the hinsp
| NO." she replied sorrowfully, "there
doesn't seem to be any money goin' to-day"
I'd take them up to Father Flavclles,"
advised Pierce. Yer tired acushla," he
continued, I'll give you lift home on the
cart"
With lighter heart in her bosom than
she had borne for many q day, Hanorah
| Varily wended her way toward Father Fla
velle'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
weres put up, and there she met Pat HOliOn,
who had disposed of his charges as satisfac-
torily as could be expected during such hard
times.
al was goin' to look for ye, Hanorah," he
said.
Here am, Pat. Did ye see Pierce Joyce
anywhere about" she asked.
"Yis; he was hero this minnit," was the
| reply. "Ho KEN up to ask me to dhrive ye
| homo his cart ha has IN pn pr
else"
"Ay, Hanorah, yer nose is out av joint"
chimed in Darby Costigan, who was standing
by. "Perce is gone home on the low backed
car wild Biddy Prandhergrass an her father.
I'm thinkin' he's afther Biddy's fortune these
hard times"
ave all want the money just now, Darby"
said Hanorah evasively; but hor heart felt
like stone, although she spoke quietly-her
woman's pride coming to her rescue. Pm
ready to go home any time you are, Pat" she
continued, addressing 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 tho bleak country, and
Hanorah shivered as she drew her scanty
clothing more closely round her. Pat Holion
noticed the action, and stopping the cart, he
| took the coarse sack upon which he had been
| CONcTeu up DuTe leeU WIN ".
"Now, asthOreen, that's betther," he said.
"Thank ye Pat Glory be to God but it's
the hard winther that's afore us. What are
we to do at all, at allT'
"Gpd's good" replied the pig driver.
=" Have ye any more of the rint, HanomhP
"a few shillins. We have q pound Of it
now" was the answer in despairing voice
"and shure we want one pound fifteen more,
an where we're to get 1t God only knows"
Pat Holion was silent, He knew what kind
of man the agent was, and that were the
rent not paid eviction would be inevitably the
result.
"We'll needn't beg, HanOrah."
"Shure it's hard to get work, an one can't
starve."
"Ye'll be in house av yer own. Hanorah," !"
he said, half questiOningly, "isn't it thrue
that the match is made betchune you am
Pierce Joyce"
"Ay, likely !" she exclaimed, with an af-
fection of sullenness, but the tears stood in
her eyes, If our match was made is il likely
that you'd be drivin' me home 2"
"Thaps thrue," assented Pat Holion, as
they drew up at the door of Ann Lynch's
cabin. well, anyhow, Hanorah, yen never
want roof over yer head while our little
cabin is standin"
Tis you was always the good nabor, Pat"
said Hanorah, as she got off the car. I" Thank
| ye, an Bdnndcht Lddth now"
Pat pursued his way toward his own little
cabin, where he had promised 70 put up the
horse and cart for the night. The man was
trembling with excitement as he thought of
the proposal he had made 20 HanOrah. He
wondered if she Would fancy he meant any,