Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-15
LOST AT THE MILL.

In the beautiful district Of Fannet,
on the coast OF Donegal, near Tough
Swilly-the Lake of Shadows-lived two
poor families, celebrated far and wide as
The best neighbors ever known or
heard OF.
II Martin wanted hand with his
harvest Donnelly was ready to give it
and ask no wages, and the kindness was
returned when the potato digging came
on. Their wives also lived In the great
est harmony. and they were such close
neighbors that they met continually, Tor
one roof covered the two houses.
This long cabin, or rather range OF
cabins, stood on the banks OF Mulroy,
an inlet of the Atlantic, so landlocked as
to look like a lake. Behind lowered gi-
eantic heather-crowned mountains; In
front lay the high road leading from the
sea to Milford, the nearest market
town, winding road, hard and white
from limestone, now dipping down into
a valley, now mounting up sharp hill,
and always keeping close to the blue
waters Of Mulroy, divided from 1t by
shelving bank festos,ned with wood
bino. -
Mulroy was studded with many islands
islands sacred to the "wee folks
islands in possession OF the sea birds;
| islands where sleepy broad-browed seals
basked on warm evenings.
Beyond Mulroy rose moro mountains,
the nearer hills cultivated to their sum
mits, the more distant SO pale and in
distinct that they were like smoke
: colored phantoms against the sky.
Errigal, cone-shaped mountain, the
last point OF Irish earth seen by the
emigrants as they sailed to America,
| and Muckish, the pigs back, were most
prominent in the range
The Martins and Donnellys did not
know that they were looking at one OF
the lovellest landscapes in the world.
They thought Mulroy wild. desolate
place.
Sometimes the deep silence OF the
place was broken by the keening OF
mourners or the chant Of priests, and
then the children In the cabins would
run out to the road. and look up and
} down.
. A long processir,n wound from the
seacoast and on it's way to yonder burial
ground beneath the chapel at the edge
of the lake-a holy spot, marked by
: forest OF black wooden crosses. The
priest walked first; then came the collin
followed bya motley company-men In
long gray stockings, knee breeches and
brogues, mounted on shaggy ponies
and women seated behind them dressed
in homespun and scarlet headgoar.
c The keening woke the mountain
l. echoes, the fairy glen throwing back the
sound to the flax milh that stood, gaun
>. . and grim, by the roadside; then thu
e CRYING and chanting died away ant
:. fiocks OF eurlew and plover circling over
: head sang shrill requiem.
Two OF the children were wont to FOL
= low the procession-Teague Martin ant
Mary Donnelly. They were inseparable
toddling hand in hand to school, hand II
hand to chapel, playing together, herdin
the cows together on the knowes. The
would follow the procession together a
far as the flax MILL mile from thei
own doors, and would stay there to play
The gossips Of tho country remarke
the tender friendship Of the children
and foretold that it would end In maj
trimony.
The first separation Of these littl
friends took place when they wei
thirteen years old, and league was hire
q farmer. Mary mopod and frette
when he was gone, wandering sadly +
the flax mill, their old play place, an
then wandering back again with her hea
hanging down. But she found some cor
ISOLATION In knitting his socks, washn
his clothes, and carrying the little bundl
to him on Saturday at the farm
house.
Things did not turn out rs tho noigt
bors expected. Tho friends did not b'
come lovers; they remained devote
friends, but they married strangers.
Years went by. The old Martins an
Donncllys were gathered to the
fathers" and Mary and her HUSBAND
and league and his wife, lived on In tf
old cabin, "undeI the roof wi other
and the good neighborhood was tt
u same as evor Time passed; they gre
middle aged, then old the days whe
they had played at the flax mill wei
very far away.
One day Mary was taken very Ills
i'll that the priest was sent for. 81
received the last rites OF the churt
and then she asked for league. I
was at dlstanoe-gone to Milford wi
cattle to sell-would not return hon
till late. Mary watched the door Us lol
a. her sight lasted.
lis there no word OF Teague?" was h
constant question. Hts name was t
last upon her lips.
A woeful man was league when
found his old friend gone. He walk
Y beside her husband after the coffin, q
! saw her laid low In the churchyard mou
u and then he came back to tho cabins, I
truest mourner she had. But work h
to be done, though his heart was hea'
and the next morning he took his flax
the mill.
in. As he logged along the limestone re
,sny in his cart he was suddenly aware o.
e IN figure seated behind him on the hund
tnr Of flax. How had she got there?
1t sf thrilled with terror, and 1t was all
steel could do to look round and see who ,
side his companion. An sid woman \
,iras and her rod shawl. the gray hair.
anse features. the blue eyes, which had ne
tsnd lost their brightness, all reminded
OF Mary. He looked closer.
ner 1t was Mary certainly, and no m
frae. conquer his fear and speak to her
arts the sake OF their lifelong friends
'rste Must Mary be a restless wanderor
cause her old comrade failed her?
,tiou "a thousand times no! So, Will
IN as tremendous effort. he conquered
Q lor dread
ATTY w. Mary, darlin'. Is it your" he falte
1T is, league, dear 1t is"
nrne IAN what is it, Mary, that's keC
you frae your rest Sure you had
xiso priest, an he gave W.. the viatrcum.'
The voice he knew 80 well answ
:, for in accents that pierced his heart.
There's nae rest for me. | flew u
the cato OF heaven. but / wouldna be
in and | m flying about tho world in