Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-07-14
JoaNna's RO|nanCE.

Where I first saw Joanna was In
the diapers shop Of a stagnant little
country town, place storied enough
for . hundred towns, small and great.
The place was quite dead, and given
ever TO its illustrious ghosts, and to
the lashing. tearing voices Of the
Atlantic, that even In the mild
autumn shouted and smote inces-
santly. making q tumult In the air.
The shop was hung with shawls and
cheap, shoddy prints and linseys, so
that in the dark one could scarcely
80 Joanna's bright head ut first, as
Que camc blinking out Of the day
Hight; the shop was sunk step or
tWo below the street.
She was u big, generously built,
handsome girl. Her hair. twisted In
splendid coils, was OF that pale color
which IL rs much silver as gold; her
Gace. with its regular, large features,
Was suffused with u healthy color |;
che looked ut US from large gray eyes,
clear N agate and as hard.
Our business was to make some
small purchase Of basket, II we
could find one. to carry home speci-
mon Of the towns manufacture
Il rough red pottery. Joanna as
sisted Us I'm this to the best Of her
power, and then some remark about
tho slowness of business brought
down upon Us u perfect avalanche
Of explanation.
Joanna had little to do at that mo.
ss1,nl To- hasso mn
~ convcrsed with her, her customers
Wcre . small child for n half penny
spool, and girl who came back re.
penting a purchase, and wanting the
noney restored. With these Joanna
DEALT summarily and came back to
the chat she was apparently eager
for. She set us couple OF chairs be.
tween the lines Of shawls, and leant
forward herself with her arms akimbo
on tho narrow counter.
Here was q discourse on the Irish
Land Laws, the relation between
landlord and tenant, the deteriora'
ton In the condition OF the Irish
pear, with Emergencies to the gen.
oeal subject OF labor, the cause OF
strikes. and great many other
things. We were we'll content to
listen. The girl was extraordinarily
veil informed and intelligent. The
soft brogue was musical.
Also we were In the very midst OF
q disturbed and distressed district,
and were both keenly interested. We
were not English tourists, but a pair
Of Irishwomen with n certain knowl
edge Of the matter, though without
.JOannn's illumination from within.
We were both filled with admira.
lion for tho creature before US. For
In tho excitement OF her voluable
talk Joanna had grown brilliantly
handsome. What girl to be doing
cut farthing purchases In this melan
,choly, haunted little place, which
,vas only tolerable because OF the
contrast to ones own vivid life fai
vw1y in the world. As we talked the
Wind dashed the sea-blown alders and
Q dreary patter OF dead leaves came
down the street, where, ut long inter
walls, human football sounded.
''You will not always stay here, ,
Rosa said, with sudden, quick sym
;patty. ''You are saving your wages
no doubt. and will get away some
day to . bigger place, because you are
such . clever girl"
Saving" echoed Joanna scorn
fully. mo indeed then; II you knew
what my wages were tits little you''
talk Of saving. And what for would
I savef am as happy here as II
went foreign to Dublin or Cork
What for would ! 60 saving an roam
ing?"
Rosa answered deprecatingly.
''But q fine, handsome girl like 20,
won't spend all your life behind THU
poor little counter? You will wan
Q business OF your own, and it is per
haps possible you might think o
marriage"
Marriage! % said the girl almos
fiercely. "There's not a man to b,
had here less nor three hundred
. pounds. An them ould shows O
widowers, for theirs nothing els
here. Why, IL ever could have
under the sun three hundred pounds
is it on the like Of them I'd spent
sIt?"
Her wailing Cork brogue rang on
'vehemcntly IN her indlghation'
was our first experience OF the re
suits Of the Munster match-makinI
system. Rosa looked rather shocked
i felt vastly amused.
But, my dear" said Rosa, "yo'
IRE young and clever and handsome
There are many men in the worl
who would love you just for you
own sake. Do you only think O
marriage in the way you have said
and not at all as union in While
you would be dearly loved and love i
rctnrn?"
Men and love" said Joann
enthusiastically; II don't set any stor
by them. People marries for Low
foreign In Dublin and Cork, not here
A friend OF mine married for love
and what came Of IL? Twas love the
had to live on no more. Och, he wa
the worthless stranger with his love
lie brought her to live on his fathe
a. long as the ould man would IL
them. Then when they were turnc
out he took her 10 America. Bu
there was no place there for him al.
his idle ways and his love. And no