Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-24


low, dressed in rough tweed, who came
forward and asked my leave. For what?
All, he knew the girl. Came in, went
over and land a rough hand ON Mary's
shoulder.
"Ah, don't" she said. 'T'll 90
home, I'll go homeI'
"What ails We, Mary, at all?'' said he
and shook her again. She turned.
"Ah, God Almighty, JamesP' she
cried, and her tears went "it's your
Where are ye goin? What brings ye?
Who towId YEP
James sat down heavily and began
beating his boot with his stick. All,
he'd been to the fair, had sold early,
was waiting for a traiu to take him
home.
"Where are ye goin?" he said over
his shoulder. "What were ye bleartin
about?"
She looked up at him quickly, almost
defantly.
''To the United States'
He nodded, began again the tattoo on
his boot, and before another word came
the train had started.
"We're goin," said Mary. "Hury
Ind say goodby, or they'll shut ye in. I"
"No matter" he answered. "I'll
g'wan bit"
The maid sat apart from tho man and
answered his abrupt. mannerless ques-
tions as bravely as she might. Why was
she going? All, he knew. There was no
need to ask. Why had she not told himf
Better not. What was the use? All was
over between them.
The man eyed her wonderingly.
Over, he repeated. Over? Did she not
know he was ready to make it up-to
do his best? Aye, yes, she knew, still
Still what? 1t was better TO go, she
said, and looked tearfully out at the fly
ing fields.
Yes, it was better to go. I agreed
with Mary. He was a lout, for certain !;
good for nothing by all chance. She
would lose nothing by leaving him.
There-there, sitting beside her, was
the trouble about which she had spo-
ken. She had come home to settle down
with him, but things had been trouble
some. All, yes, one knew it all. He
had been easy going and lazy; wanted
things to turn up; felt no inclination to
hurry into married cares. All, sure, he
could wait awhile, and if he, then
Mary. Something like that it had been;
anyhow Mary had not settled. They
had quarreled, and now she was leav-
ing him for better or worse. She was
wise. Had the man no bowels? Had be
nothing for her but hard questions and
pitying looks? Would he not, before he
went, say one kind word to this girl
who had trusted in his word and man.
hood, and, finding them wanting, was
now leaving him forever? Did there not
some golden memory linger about his
heart? Not one. He was wooden TO the
core. He would sit ON there, tapping
his boot and staring at his big freckled
hands, neither hurt nor sorry, but just
wondering that girl could be such q
fool. The train would stop, and, with a
nod and flabby shake of the hand, he
would take himself out into the rain.
And good riddance.
The train slowed. Mary's lips began
to quiver. The train stopped. gather
ed in my legs, SO that the fellow might
pass without touching me. He raised
his head and looked out at the sky.
"Ah, I may as we'll g'wan to the
junction." he drawled. eth be all the
same. One could do nothin such day
anyhow"
"Yis," said Mary, not cheerlessly.
"Sure ye may as well. ,"
We sat silent all the way to Droghe-
da, and there we particularly, so it
was set down, to catch train north,
James one back home and / to do my
work in town.
Two hours afterward I met the two
in the rain swept streets, and in my
surprise stopped short before them.
Mary looked up and laughed.
"Ah," said she, "I'm here yit. That
train went without me-"
ooh. said l, "that' s very bad. Why,
the next won't be here for hours. And
you're drenched. But--but''-- and I
looked at James as he stood slightly
flushed and dripping wet, blandly star
ing across the street.
"Ah, yis," Mary answered. "James
missed his too. I'm not goin at all.
Sure we've made it up" I put my
watch slowly back into my pocket and
nodded. "James has promised me, she
went on, and her eyes fell, 'an we're
goin to get married come harvest time,
an he'll try hard for place wi the
marquis. An-an--God knows, sur, I'm
not sorry, for me heart was sore at Paw
in home"
They knew their own business best,
but there fell an awkward silence, SO
asked James concerning his prospects.
Did he see his way clearly? All, he did,
and began tapping his boots. Sure there
was always way if one could only
wait till it came. isn't she better here
anyway, whatever comes," said he and
gave me moments glimpse at his face,
ethan out yonder wild the strangers
Sure twas madness av her to think ay
it. Sure Providence sent me to NaviI
fair" Providence? And had Providence
sent also that dismal procession to the
| fish van, that Mary might see it anG
sob for her friends and her James ant
the home Of her heart?
"And you, Mary" I asked, ''are yor
quite satisfied?'
"Ah, yis," said she mournfully,
"Ah, hope so.
took her into q shop and bought he
little wedding gift-a silver brooch
shaped like harp and set with greer
marble-then wished them more happi
ness than expected they would hav,
and went my way.
Three hours afterward saw me q
Drogheda station again, and there wa