The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-01-08

UARTENAH n1hbbiC - patG tSEo W Nohhy
SsHsSD her toward Carmore rs rapid
ly as the occasion demanded. She
made herself as small as possible,
held the shawl which covered her head
close under her throat and in the lulls
of the wind increased her pace to n run.
Tightly clutched I'm her left hand
was n slip of paper on which was
scrawled Il list of the articles she was
to buy and carry back to Ballyclogher.
The luXuries enumerated on h slip
OF paper were for the entertainment OF
one guest, Maggie's uncle, her moth
er's brother, whom she had never seen.
She understood him to be rich. Indeed,
he was always held up by Mrs. Coyle
as n model for her husbands imitation.
Hes hundreds" she used to say
Hundreds, an it's my belief they're
all In gowld; We can see money In is
face. It's We might be as warm, Conn,
if ye'd think av the poor childer."
She made her purchases all ut, n
shop, and then found, rs was inevl-
table, that Mrs. Coyle had miscalcu-
lated the prices and she was 2 shillings
short. Mrs. MacDonagh, who kept the
store, was quite willing to give credit
for the balance. but 1t seemed to Mag
gle that his course would be n III Of
reflection on her uncle, While she
CROPPED hopelessly in her pocket for
money which she knew was not there
she saw James Phelan pass the door.
An inspiration shot her to his side.
"Jim," she cried, "lind me 2 shillin';
I'm that short. Yell have 1t back to-
morrer."
Faith, Is 1t yer Well, we'll! Two
shillin' is 1t? How do ye think I'd
have all that about meT"
mo jokin'. It's n blessin' / saw We,
sure"
THAT'S thrue," said Jim. "The polls
might have had We else, Maggie" He
produced the money. She settled the
account and took n receipt with an mir
of grave dignity. When she came out
of the shop, Jim was waiting.
SIS it We still?" asked Maggie.
"An' why not? I'm goin' yer way,
sure, an we might as well walk in
shtep."
"I'm in a mad hurry, jim"
"Did 1 ask We to go slow for me?"
aye did not" said Maggie candidly.
THAT'S n great, ugly parcel" said
Jim, "an' too heavy for the likes av
We. Just hand 1t here, Maggie"
yell not dhrop it2 There's things
there'd break If We did"
"Pll how'd an to 1t right enough.
What's inside at all? It's morshul
heavy!'
"All sorts. We've n visitor comm
tonight-Uncle Frank Power"
can who's hep
"Sure we've heard tell av him times
an times. He's mothers brother"
"Td forgot, Maggie"
1--WE never set eyes on i'm yet, but
he's a grand, rich man, Pm towfd."
"Is he that? Thin what'll he want
IN Ballyclogher?"
"To see his own people, sure"
CHATS kind av i'm" said jim.
The wind had dropped somewhat,
and Il smart shower of rain came OH.
After a time jim said:
WED best shelther a bit"
Maggie hesitatcd. 81 could wrap the
parcel up in me shawl" she said.
"An' ketch yer death! That's likely!
There's no hurry, sure, If he's not COM
in till night"
He found n dry spot under n wayside
elm. Maggie took the parcel from jim
and carefully placed it close to the
trunk. Then the pair stood side by side
before It and listened to the hiss of
the rain In the leaves and watched the
streaming white road.
''Ye'd made boots in this weather."
said Jim, glancing at her bare feet.
mot at all! What mischief'd q little
wet doT She pressed her toes into the
soft earth.
'I'm dom well now, Maggie"
"That's good hearin'," she said.
"Aye, Pm dom WELL" he repeated.
"Yell be almost a woman now 1
s'pose?"
Seventeen last birthday" she said.
"Bedad, that's n great age! Almost
marryin' time, Maggie. 1 s'pose ye
haven't a notion nv 1t yersel'?"
"How would I, wild all thin childer
to look afther?"
Jim slipped an arm round her waist
and kissed her.
"I thought We might have" he said.
Maggie flushed and closed her eyes
for a moment. Then they opened again
to see the blurred sky and rainy road.
81 couldn't" she said softly.
Jim released ker suddenly and cried:
"Whisht! There's Mary Cregan com.
IMP
She was opposite the pair almost as
soon as Jim spoke-a tall, handsome
girl, warmly clad, though less neat
than Maggie. She had strong shoes on
her feet, too. which should have been
sufficient herald OF her approach IL
Jim had not been deaf at the moment.
She paused and looked them up and
down with n smile that had something
of scorn In 1t and at the back Of that
again a spark OF anger.
"'Tis II grand day for the like of
that, James Phelan," she said. aye
might put the comether on grown girls
an not childer."
",Tls a grand day indeed, Mary"
said James, avoiding her eyes.
"T'm for Carmores" she said. "Are
We comin'T
"Not nowi I've an errand to Bally-
clogher."
"Ah. well, good day to We" She
passed on.
"she's a hard nall" said Jim, laugh
ing awkwardly.
"Sha saw" ,.i'Is
what of that, sure3"
shell tell an u.s." 8J.F
LET her"
"Did We liver kiss her, Jimf"