The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-14

other Jessie; and they were sisters.
Mary was the elder by nearly FIVE
years; Jessie, when first we see her,
was aged 10; between them were two
brothers, of whom one had gone to
America, the other to serve his appren-
ticeship in a shop in Clogheen. James,
their father fiorid bearded man of 80
or thereabouts, slow-moving, indus
trious of Scotch descent, owned a
farm on the outskirts of Annoy with
in sight of Emo;l Hannah, their moth
er. was a tall, sallow woman, Irish
born and bred. weak in health, keen
of face and mind, worn, old, and weary
in constant household services. All day
long James tramped the fields, toiling,
contriving, his heart buried in them;
day and night Hannah padded through
the house from room to room, clean
ing busting, ordering; and their lives
were hard.
But they did not complain, indeed
had small cause of complaint. They
had enough of the worlds goods and
to spare. James was reputed a warm"
man, with money in the bank, and his
reputation through the countryside was
sound Hannah held a little money
in her own right, and her stock of
household gear-of china, glass, ma
hORa0Y chairs anu ldOlcS, Leather USQS
and bleached linen-was matchless in
Annoy. 1t was good to go with
James across his bountiful fields;
pleasant to come back to the cosy
homestead, standing costly on the high
river bank, warm with good thatch.
You found there that Ulster hospital
ity was worth while; knew then, once
for all, why James and Hannah were
respected through half a county and
their daughters discussed round many
a hearth.
They were as unlike in every way
as sisters could be. Mary was tall and
strong, pale, with a broad brow and
deep hazel eyes; Jessie was slim and
fair, with rosy cheeks, a pointed chin
and dancing blue eyes. Mary you
thought good looking; Jessie you call
ed handsome, without reserve. Mary
you found somewhat reserved,
thoughtful, lacking in spirits; Jessie
you saw in one glance, charming t1g-
ure of life and gaiety. She laughed,
chartered, joked, flashed her eyes was
coy and demure in turn, now daring
in voice and look, now arching her
neck in a mockery of haughtiness, now
sitting like a nun, eyes downcast and
hands folded by her plate. Her voice
was sweet, her laughter rippled like
harp strings. She carried you out of
yourself took captive your manly
heart; made you neglect the silent
Mary with the deep brown eyes sitting
placid beyond the table.
1t was common opinion in Annoy and
beyond it was the opinion of Hannah
herself, indeed-of James also, when
the fields gave him chance to think OF
such things-that when the time came
Jessie Greig would marry quick and
well. whereas Mary's time, If not al
ready past, would be slow in coming.
Who could resist Jessie: who not be
attracted to her? She seemed born to
love fated to play the candle to every
moth that flew. Mary of surety
seemed not the marrying sort. You
never saw her decked for conquest. OF
Sundays she went soberly to church
and prayed there; of market days sold
her butter and eggs and fastened
home. Men, for all Mary cared. might
have been posts on the wayside or
stones in the pavement: while Jessie
drew every eye. All the day found
Mary helping in the house. or toiling
in the dairy or the fields, and at even
time she sat knitting by the hearth,
perhaps spent an hour in the garden.
or a lonely While by the riverside. Her
life seemed dull and tame. shut in
there among the hills of Annoy away
from the world: but surely she was
content Perhaps at times she had her
own longings, dreams, hopes: but she
never voiced them. Silent. sober.
placid, she made her daily rounds,
wrapped close in herself; and the days
went empty, and the years passed bar
rem by her. And then, one day, sudden
and unexpected. her. hour struck.
II.
1t was in hot July. Jessie was away
in Dublin, making holiday there. A
dry spell of weather he'd helped James
with the hay-making. Mary looked
pale, he said, Hannah was ailing. So
one day, as it CHANGED, he persuaded
them to take diversion with him at a
race meeting in Clam. 1t was the u.s.
ual hillside gathering; noisy, vivid
with life and color: rows of jauntins
cars around the course, booths. stalls
shooting galleries, crowds of gaudy
townfolk, bevies of roaring rustics, g
little sport, a power of fun; and Mary
sitting stiff on the gig, in muslin froci
and straw hat, soon grew weary of 1t
Would it never end? thought Mary
sitting there so patiently, never guess
ing what for her those weary hours
held. How, indeed. could she guess
how know that fate was lurking tr
that seething crowd? Had Jessie beer
there doubtless she would have seem
have seen him watching, seen him pass
and repass, his eyes ever on Mary,
face, seen him speak to James anC
turn and stare, seen him stand at last
as the gig went off. still watching ST.
lently-but how was poor Mary to SCI
or know? She expected nothing. look
ed for nothing; wanted only to b
done and away. "Ah. the long. crue
day." sighed Mary, her eyes eager or
the homing road; nor guessed that the
day, so long and cruel, now lay lik,
shadow across her life.
Two days went unmarked; on the
third came he-a tall man, rudy and
well-favored, with blue eyes and wavy
hair. Leaving his horse at the gate
ne strobe up the box-edged path, past
the laurels and flower beds, knocked
at the green door and stood waiting
on the steps. Mary answered him
For a moment he looked at her. re-
calling her face and studying 1t; then
with his ready smile and easy way
asked for James. He was in the
meadows, answered Mary. Might he
go to the meadows? Surely, said Mary
Might he leave the horse? Why. to he
sure, answered Mary. and dropped hei
eyes before the quick insistence of his
gaze, and turned away flushing. IL was
with her just as though man had
looked in her eyes for the first time
Having stabbed his horse. George
Hand Ito give him his narnel went