Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-17

said. TIN tired Of the life here. I'll
by an ass an cart packed with delf
ware an go thrnvei."
The father was willing to give him
his portion and let him 60 out into the
wofh and forget the girl who was
swamped in the morass. Owen got the
blessing Of his parents and went forth
to see the world.
He struck across the bog and over
every road that branches from the
track led his little grny ass. And every
cabin he first came to on each separate
road he asked the folks IL they had
seen a yellow haired woman passing
that way In company with a white
faced man. II they said yes, he went
that road until he could 60 no farther.
Then he came back with a sadder coun-
tenance than he had before.
He went to and fro over Ireland seek
ing that which he could not find. And
the sloe black hair upon his head began
to whiten, and the light of youth went
out Of his blue eyes. At last he almost
forgot what he was searching for. The
dullness of age crept upon him. He
and his little patient beast grew grny
together.
One evening they came into a village
on the shore. and the sea was spread
out before them. Green islands rose out
Of 1t. and foam flashed from Its break
hg billows. 1t was the eve of the feast
Of Patrick. and the peddler had Pat
rick's crosses to sell to the mothers for
their children. A little child came over
the sandy street to hlR and saih:
There Is a woman bere who wants
to buy cross for me-
He drew the old gray ass over the
way, and 1t was hilly. and he knew 1t
was hard upon the creature. He felt
hcartsick of wandering.
"I'll go home to the west" he said to
himself as he crossed the road. 1T is
good for man to die among his own"
He stopped before doorway, where a
woman was standing. She was worn
woman. not young. Faded yellow hnir
was lying upon her forehead.
God save ye. good man. she said to
Owney. Where did see your face
beforeT'
"1 think It was In Connaught
smithy." said Owney Joyce. And his
weakness and age went from him in a
moment, for the woman he had spent
his life looking for was before him.
'Ye stopped to get shoe on colt that
didn't want It," said Owney. IAN your
cart was hnngin on its shafts by n
few splinters. An We had great NAL
let to smash through them when the
right minute came, which was at the
edge Of Quakin morass. An ye sent
the colt racing homeward with the
shafts at his heels, while you stole
away into safety with a man escnpin
the gallows. But, my woman. only
cut out the dints left by your mallet in
those same shafts before the kings Of
f1cers put an eye on them It might have
gone harder with ye." The woman for
got the child aud its PatrIck's cross.
She stood silent, looking at Owen
Joyce.
where Is your brother now?" asked
Owney.
The child was patting the ass, feed
ing It with tufts of fresh green grnss
which she gathered from a garden by
the path. The woman led Owney
away. She brought him to n grave
yard of the street. An old, wind worn
chapel stood In the midst. There was
a sheltered corner. with sweet violets.
A mound rose out of the violets.
"My brother an his wife nre lyin
here" said the faded woman. "An in
my cabin out In the street I've reared
his children for him."
Then think It's time that ye should
rear children of your own" said the
peddler. And by the time Patrick's
eve next came around the faded wom-
an was sitting by her husbands hearth
In the matched house beside her Con-
naught smlthy. And her own child
was sleeping upon her bosom.-MaInly
About People.