The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-11-12


catching her breath with something that
sounded like sob passed around the
tiny matched hut, and so over the stile
to the river. Down ON her face upon the
grass she threw herself, careless of the
yellow sash of which she had been so
proud; the yellow beads burst their
string and some rolled down the bank
into the river. She lay very still and
quiet, so quiet that nightingale gave
her no heed and began to sing. A whip
poorwil called on the opposite bank, and
far off in the woods came the answer of
his mate. The cleaning moon rolled
slowly into view and silvered each
branch and blossom.
The birds Sang on, but Mona heard
them not. She was thinking-one hand
on the heart that beat so fast, the other
arm pillowing her head. She did not try
to analyze her feelings; she would not
have known how. There was dull ache
in her breast, and memory was torturing
her.
"Holy mother" she began, whisper
ing, and could get no further.
"She will not help me now; am too
bad, too bad at ALL"
She thought how unkindly she had al
ways treated Gerald; she had laughed
then to herself.
"Och, wirra, wirra," she calculated.
And now Aileen had taken him; it was
Aliens fault, not Gerald's; how could
she do it, how could shep
And wear his kerchief-the prettiest
girl In Kilgarnock-those were his
words, and now she knew what he had
meant Oh, why had not Aileen staid
awayl And now Gerald was gone from
her entirely.
Slowly she made up her mind that she
would be brave; no one, not Aileen nor
Gerald, should ever know the truth.
Gerald should never know she was sorry
now, and so he would be happy. She
murmured him farewell In soft Irish
words, Gerald, anoon ma Gerald"
The slow tears trickIed down her
cheeks and CLEANED upon the grass like
diamonds The moonlight lay over the
prostrate figure In broken patches.
Gently the breeze lifted and let fall
again each dark ring of silky hair curl
ing over her head and down to the white
neck that shone all the whittier.
The moon reached the middle of her
jeweled course. The nightingale sang,
all unconscious of the silent grief be-
meath him. The lashes lay over her
flushed cheek like dark shadow; in
very WEAKNESS and worn out with her
misery she had fallen aeleep.
an hs1.1 To- 1.
treble and flew away. He had heard a
hasty step over the grass. But Mona
heard not, saw not. Somebody came
down to the river bank almost on run,
and stopped short at sight of the little
figure lying there so motionless. He
knelt down beside her. With quick
eye Gerald noted the tear stained cheek,
the parted lips, whence came long
drawn sobbing breath.
Without word he gathered her up in
his arms, asleep as she was, but Mona
stirred and then started from him wide
awake.
1-you-oh, Geraldr'
"They are all ahunt for ye," he an
swered eye have scared the heart 'av
me. An why did ye come down hereP"
Don't" she whispered, trying to re-
member her resolution. 81 will go back
now" She stood up and then swayed a
little, dizzily.
"Mona, mavourneenl" said Gerald,
holding her close.
She struggled to release herself, and
stood back from him pitifully defiant
eye shall not touch mel'' she cried.
$50 back to Aileen; go back to her and
spake your words. Tell her that same
mavourneen story; she will believe We.
Let me pass; can go home; I'll not
need"- but the proud curve of the lips
weakened, and the eyes commenced to
brim with tears. She turned away her
head and tried to spring past him. Ger
aid stood motionless at first, looking at
her in surprise, and then he caught her
by the arm.
"Mona, stop Bit" he said, almost
sternly. "What is this come to ye?
What av Aileen to me? Are we dhramin',
childf'
'Let me CO." she whispered; ''let me
CO."
"No, I'll not let you CO. Spake to me,
Mona. What is ita Nay, ye cannot go.
Tell it to mep'
She faced him then, and her eyes
flashed through the tears.
can ye would talk to me, would yef
An we would wait for me to market;
an ye would sing to me under the thatch
at night; an ye would tell me ye love
mel Och, it is not thrue at all, at all
Ye know l am speakin' but the truth,
an ye will make me say it. All, but
the heart av we Is black. Aileenis there
dancin' tonight; Aileen is there waitin'
for ye with your kerchief round her
neck-the pink kerchief ye showed me
and said twas for the purtiest gurrl in
Kilgarnock; go to her, go"
The little figure was quivering with
wrath and emotion; then she remem-
bered all at once that she had broken
her promise to herself, but having brok-
en- it she was not going to yield an inch.
"Shure, it's not that care for ye; It's
the base desateI hate. Let me pass now,
If ye plase"
can don't phase, Mona" he said.
"Is that all? Now ye shall listen to me.
Ye would never hear to me afore, Mona;
It's not my fault. do love ye, an ye
wrong me when ye say no. Shure, ma
vourneen, love the very ground ye
walk on, and the sound of your voice Is
music to meself. The kerchief-aroon
are ye angered with the poor, pretty
thing2 See, have 1t yet for the purti-
est and smartest gurrl in Kilgarnock.
An won't ye wear it now? | knew not
even did Aileen wear one, an twas not
mine she had ON her neck. Aye, bide
your head; tbs here on my heart is the
right place for it. No tears, Mona;
Mona, mavourneen; It's all right now.
An won't ye wear the poor kerchief, col
leenT
He drew it around her neck, and held
the ends close up under her chin. Pres
emily she looked at him, shyly, from I'M
der lowered happy lashes.
"Ah, Gerald, It's too beautiful for
mer'-George Wilson Prescott in Times
Democrat.