Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-09-25
The Counting of
Janet and Jane
BY ETHEL A.
IRELAND.
oso@oso@o&So&oSoSoSosso

70 $3.50 NiN'hb III VIC OlTeCIlOn OF
man who lounged against a poet
somewhat apart from the group of
fishermen who were chatting on the
quay, cts no more'n half an eve
ye'u need to see what's up VII Jan
yonder."
aye, aye, it's nothin but the
Guild story-lasses, lasses."
can you're no lookin far to see
what lass it is, neither, CORY"
"Aughl No, not at ALL" replied
the other. "Why, it's just Jane, it
as"
"Janep cried Quillian scorn-
fully. "Why, it's Janet, We idiuti
Haven't We seen her wearin them
blue beads Jan fetched her over
from Kinsale? An what for 'u'd he
be bringin her blue beads an him
lovin Jane, eh ?"
"Man alive" retorted CORY,
there's no m'anin in beads at all.
Now, I'll tell you somethin. Jan
went over to Castletown the other
day, an I'm blowed if he didn't
bring a bOnnit back with him, an
James wearin that very bonnit o.
Sundays now. Aughl There's a lot
more in bonnit than there is in all
the bears as was ever made. Ave,
it's Jane, it is -
Jan had been listening to the con-
versation, and now he drew near
with a rolling step.
"Ycre just bit free WI your
tongues, mates" he said, with
twinkling eve. "Ye seem to know
more about it than l do meself. 1
love a the lasses, but it's no for
marryin ] am, for it's about as much
as l can do to keep meself, let alone
marryin. But | will say Janet an
James mighty swate CELLS, an that's
as much as I'll say"
And, so saying, he sauntered off
toward the Eagles Nest" amid a
general chorus of laughter.
Meanwhile Janet and Jane sat
chatting together outside a cottage
on the hillside, just above the bay
They were cousins, but had been
/ brought up as sisters, for James
parents died when she was a small
child, and since then her uncle, old
Tom Maddren, had been like a
father to her, and Janet a sister.
Poor sickly Mrs. Maddrel had died
when both the girls were almost too
young to remember her.
On the particular evening of
which l am writing they we're talk
ing, as indeed they often did, of Jan
lazy Jan-"Jan the ne'er do
weel," as Janet called him.
Jane" she said, with asperity,
'ye'n never be so foolish as to marry
that ne'er do weel."
Jane looked up mischievously
from her Knitting "Eh, Janet, but
think it's you'll be for margin
him an not me at all"
'Ye're just silly. Ye know I'm
no for margin. Married ife's no
that easy"
"Aye, We talk so, Janet, but it's
terrible fond O Jan We are"
Janet clicked her knitting needles
fiercely.
Its twice as terrible fond O him
We are, Jane"
''Eh, well" answered Jane, color
ing, we've no need to be maxim such
a fuss about tits p'raps not axed
we'll be at all"
A sigh escaped her, and Janet
looked up with a world of love in her
eyes.
eye needn't fear that, Jane,
ye're so bonny. But I don't want
to see We unhappy an fretted WI
an idle husband, an Pm thinkin Jan
might be a fine lover, but it's a
mighty poor husband he'd be
maxim"
"Aye, Janet, maybe ye're right"
said Jane thoughtfully.
One day Jan was seen Fastening
to Tom MaddrelPs cottage.
The girls showed no surprise at
seeing him.
"Well, me dears," he said, seating
himself on the cobblestone wall,
cts surprised yen be to hear the
news"
"'What news, then, Jan?" asked
Jane.
"Augh, just a little trip I'm
thinkin O. takin."
"Why aren't we out with the
boats this evening"" said Janet re-
proachfully. CHATS the best sort
O. trip We can take, Jan Cregeenl
instead O gallivantin off to town as
ye do, spendin all yer money"
NJanet, ye're always scoldin me,
; DO answered with laugh. eff
was the warst sinner in the island
Us no much crueler We could be
but there. yen no have me to scold
Any more" Janet looked up al
him anxiousiy. Something that wa:
not anger filled her eyes.
"What'll We be MANN, Jan~
Gust little trip West Indy way