The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-03

if you pulled the wrong ear when you met
James it was only because you missed
Mary. They were divils-pure divils.
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 a day when
sport had to stop, and work looked them
in the eyes. For James twas spade
and pitchfork, for Mary Bosom and
churchstaff; for both bent backs and busy
hands. Only of a Sunday, now, could
they fling their heels, or an odd while
at a fair, or an hour maybe before the
fiddler at dance or wedding; and when the
long 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 another. Never did they forget those
Old free days, those mad wild times of
innocent childhood. Side by side, you
might say, they grew together and put
the years behind 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 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 fher
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 a 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
FOL vyi1 well
and looked below the bark, you were
blind If you saw no difference between
them. Difference? Why, there was the
wide world of a difference James was
a big, strong lump, sober and willing,
and ready with mis- 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 colleen with hair
like jet and eyes that were always dream
ing She had the look, sometimes, OF one
/ that sees things in the air, or pictures in
the fire. You'd find her standing by the
roadside just incoming at the sky, or sit
ting by the hearth staring at the crook;
and II you spoke maybe she'd hear you
and likely she wouldn't. What used she
to see? What kind of a mind had she?
What was it she found IA big thick-wit-
ted James to care about? How was II she
gave herself 90 him? How was IT, at last,
that she nearly broke her heart when
one day they quarrelled over trihe, and
he left her there on the hillside, and took
the Queens shill ng. and staggered away
to foreign parts? God only knows. No
man can read the heart OF woman.
She's a curious unknowable mortal and
Mary was more than unknowabc, with
her big eyes that looked az you and never
saw you.
80 James marched away IN his regl-
mentals out into the big world and
there behind him Mary waited and watch
ed on the days Of his soldering, hearing
from him once IN q blue moon, writ ng
90 him often and often; just lived lonely
an tho hillside ana waited patient all
one day he came swaEgering back % her,
straight in the back and IKE "A Niger in
the face. bringing little with him bot hla
BIZ Ell, ana . handful of gines from BE-
hiId fha rea. and = speQf wound from a
healhsn below hiG EbiA Man. but he