The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-08-08
FULTON COUNTY NEWS.
The Courting of
Janet and Jane
BY ETHEL A.
IRELAND.

man who lounged against a post
somewhat apart from the group of
fishermen who we're chatting on the
quay, "t's no more'n half an eye
ye'll need to see what's up WI Jan
yonder."
"Aye, aye, it's nothin but the
ould story-lasses, lasses."
Gan 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, 1t
is"
"Janep cried Quillian scorn-
fully. "Why, it's Janet, ye idiutl
Haven't ye 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 Pm blowed if he didn't
bring a bonnit back with him, an
James wearin that very bonnit o.
Sundays now. Aughl There's lot
more in a bonnit than there is in all
the bears as was ever made. Ave,
it's Jane, it isp
Jan had been listening to the con-
versation, and now he drew near
with rolling step.
"Yere just bit free wi your
tongues, matesp he said, with
twinkling eye. "Ye seem to know
more about it than l do meself. l
love a. the lasses, but it's no. for
marryin l am, for it's about as much
as l can do to keep meself, let alone
marryin. But l will say Janet an
James mighty swate gels, an that's
as much as I'll say"
And, so saying, he sauntered off
toward the Eagles Nest" amid
general chorus of laughter.
Meanwhile Janet and Jane sat
chatting together outside 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 Maddrell, had been like
father to her, and Janet a sister.
Poor 'sickly Mrs. Maddrell had died
when both the girls we're almost too
young to remember her.
On the particular evening of
which / am writing they were 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'll never be so foolish as to marry
that ne'er do weel."
Jane looked up mischievously
from her knitting. ''Eh, Janet, but
l think it's you'll be for marryin
him an not me at ALL"
"Ye're just silly. Ye know Pm
mo- for marryin. Married life's no
that easy"
"Aye, ye talk so, Janet, but it's
terrible fond O. Jan ye are"
Janet clicked her knitting needles
fiercely.
"It's twice as terrible fond O. him
ye are, Jane"
"Eh, WE'LL" answered Jane, color
ing, "we've no need to be maxim such
fuss about tits p'raps not axed
we'll be at ALL"
A sigh escaped her, and Janet
looked up with world of love in her
eyes.
eye needn't fear that, Jane,
ye're so bonny. But / don't want
to see ye unhappy an fretted VII
an idle husband, an Pm thinkin Jan
might be a fine lover, but it's
mighty. poor husband he'd be
maxim"
"Aye, Janet, maybe ye're right"
said Jane thoughtfully.
One day Jan was seen fastening
to Tom Maddrell's cottage.
The girls showed no surprise at
se,ing him.
"Well, me dears," he said, seating
himself on the cobblestone wall,
: "it's surprised yen be to hear the
news"
"What news, then, Janp'' asked
Jane.
"Augh, just a little trip I'm
thinkin o. takin."
"Why aren't ye out with the
boats this eyenin ?" said Janet re-
proachfully. "That's the best sort
O. trip ye can take, Jan Cregeen,
instead O. gallivantin off to town as
ye do, spendin all yer money"
"Janet, ye're always scoldin me-"
he answered with laugh. 'Tf l
was the warst sinner in the island,
PTS mo- much crueler ye could be,
tut there, yen mo- have me to scold
amy more" Janet looked up at
him anxiously. Something that was
not anger filled her eyes.
"What'll ye be MANN, Jan2"
Just little trip West Indy way,
gels, an a little fortune to make an