Evening star., 1901-03-02

always a roof to stop the rain and hedge
to turn the wind and a place to stretch In
at night. What clothes they had let out the
wet and let in the air; some days they went
to school, most days didn't, and for play
ground handn't they the width of a county?
They were like hares for wildnesS, and for
devilment in every shape you couldn't
match them from Mail Head to the Cove of
Cork No man might fathom their tricks;
and if you saw the whinns alight the
HILL or a neighborS donkey without a tail,
or a stone flying through the window, ten
chances to one if you pulled the wrong ear
when you met James it was only because
you missed Mary. They were divils-pure
divis.
Anyway they grew up. and in the course
of time things tanned them. Like every one
else in this world Of pain and hunger, they
found day when sport had to stop. and
work looked them in the eyes. For James
twas a spade and pitchfork. for Mary be-
som and church staff: for both. bent backs
| and busy hands. Only of a Sunday, now,
| could they fling their heels or an odd while
| at a fair, hour maybe before the
fiddler al dance or wedding; and when the
| lcng day was done, If one met the other by
| chance in the boreen, twas, Good night.
| Mary and Good night. James, and so.
quick and tired to their beds. But always
| they had sight and knowledge of one an
other. Never did they forget those old free
| childhood. Side by side, you might say,
| they grew together and put the years be-
| hind them. Always, through thick and
| thin, they were fast friends. And at last,
\ as was only natural there came a time
| when they were more than friends; when
1 James didn't pass Mary in the lane, but
| strolled with her across the hills or stood
| looking at the moon, with her across a
| gate, or sat with her on the warm side of
| the hedge. Ay. that day came 1t comes to
| US all. Sure it's love that makes the world
| go round. James, dear says Mary; Mary
| darlin,' stammers James. and there's new
| world spinning below the stars. All, sirs,
| but youth Is heaven
| ITO all appearances they made a we'll
| matched pair, as likely, you might say as
| two saplings that grow on the same ditch
| only, when you eyed them we'll and looked
| below the bark, you were blind If you saw
| no difference between them. Difference?
! Why, there was the wide world of a diff
! ference. James was big. strong lump,
sober and willing. and ready with his
| hands, good looking, too. in his way, and
| big of the heart; but as obstinate and thick
in the temper as a tinkers mule. Humor
James and he'd go on wheels; thwart him
| and he was like any gatepost. But Mary
was slim and supple and soft. likely col
leen with hair like jet and eyes that were
times. Of one that sees things In the air. OF
pictures them in the fire. You'd find heI
I standing by the roadside just incoming al
the sky. or sitting by the hearth staring al
| the crook; and If you spoke maybe she'd
| hear you and likely she wouldn't. Wha,
| used she to see? What kind of mind had
| she. What was it she found in big thick
witted James to care about? How was II
she gave herself to him? How was 1t, al
| last, that she nearly broke her heart wheI
| one day they quarreled over a trifie. and he
| left her there on the hillside and took the
| queens shilling and staggered away to for
elgn parts? God only knows. No man car
read the heart of woman. She's curiou!
unknowable mortal; and Mary was more
| than unknowable. with her big eyes, tina
| looked at you and never saw you.
| so. James marched away in his regl-
| mentals out into the big world. and there
behind him Mary waited and watched al
| the days of his soldering. hearing from
| him once in a blue moon writing to him
often and often; just lived lonely on the
| hillside and waited patient till one day he
! | came staggering back to her, straight In
the back and like negro in the face
bringing little with him but his big self
and a handful OF trifles from behind the
! sea and spear wound from heather be
low his shirt. Man. but he marched a here
among the hills! Boys, but his tongu,
scattered lies about the hearthstones! All
sir. but Mary was glad to see him ant
: walked proud by his side. She was happ!
, now. happy any queen. There was n,
dreaming in her eyes now when she looked
! at James, no signing when he spoke. NJ
incoming when she sat by him at tn
!. hearth She just worshiped him. and h
! thought well of her. to be sure, and on
! day they Joined hands before the parsol
i and he married them.
n They settled down on wee farm bacl
! there beyond the canal. and In their wa.
b managed bravely. True enough their rose
I had plenty O. thorns; still, blossoms cam
, sometimes. James was steady and ready
= the knack Of work came back to him afte
J. | awhile, he did what he could. Mary strov
n her best. looked happy and was contented
!, Like many another couple in these parts
!, they seemed settled down for life; littl
+ beside them. little except drudgery befor
n them. but enough with the help Of God TO
n | all their needs. They had health they ha
!. friends, they had a roof above them, bi
y | to eat and much to spare as would pa,
| the rent; what better or more could the.
: want? So the days passed and the month