The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-14
THE SISTERS: A
TALE OF ANNOY.
How an Ulster Man Courtcd Both
OF Them and Afterward
Repentc1.
copvr'ehf. 1902, ~ Stan ,. Ru;ocs

Jessie, hnu FIRST "" see Ter. was aged 10
Betwe"'n them We're ~ brothers. Of whom
on" had gone 10 America. the other 10 serv.
his apprenticeship IN shop in ogh"on
James, their father, n ford -boai ded
man Of ~ or thereabouts. slow moving.
industrious. ~ :, o'ch descent. owned n
farm on tie outskirts Of Annoy. within
sight Of Emo. Hannah. Their mother, was
a tall. sallow woman. Irish born ard bred
weak in health. keen Of face and mind " orr.
old and weary IN constant household ser
vices
All day long James trsmped the fields.
toiling, contrvine his heart buried in them:
day ard night Hannah padded through
tho house from room w room. cleaning.
busting. ordering; ard their lives were
hard
But they did not complain; irdeed
bad small cause Of complaint They had
enough Of tho worlds goods and to spare
James was reputed a warm" man, with
money In the bank. and his reputation in
the countryside was sound. Hannah held
Q little money In her own right, and her
stock Of household eear--of china. glass,
mahogany chairs and tables. feather beds
and bleached linen-was matchless in
Annoy.
It was good to go with James across his
bountiful fields; pleasant to come back TO
the cosey homestead, standing costly on
che high river bank, warm with good thatch
You found there that Ulster hospitality was
worth while; knew then. once for all why
James and Hannah we're respected through
bali q county and their daughters discussed
round many hearth.
They we're a. unlike In every way as sisters
could Do. Mary was tall and strong, pale.
With . broad brow and deep hazel eyes;
Sessie was slim and fair, with rosy cheeks,
. pointed chin and dancing blue eyes
Mary you thought good looking: Jessie
you called handsome. without reserve
Mary you found somewhat reserved.
thoughtful. lacking In spirits; Jessie you
cav In ono glance, q charming figure Of
life and gayety.
She laughed. chartered. joked. flashed
her eyes, was COY and demure In turn
now daring In voice and look. now arching
Der 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.
II was common opinion In Annoy and
beyond, II was the opinion OF Hannah her
eelf. indeed James also, when the fields
gave him chance to think Of such things
that when tho time came Jessie Greig would
marry quick and we'll, whereas Mary's
time. il not already past. would be slow
In coming.
Who could resist Jessie; who not b. at
tracted to her? She seemed born TO love,
fated to play the candle to every moth that
flew.
Mary Of a surety seemed not the marry
ing sort. You never saw her decked for
conquest. OF Sundays she went eoberly
10 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 pave
ment; while Jessie drew every eye. All
the day found Mary helping In the house.
or toiling In the dairy or the fields. and at
eventime she sat knitting by the heath,
perhaps spent an hour In the garden. or
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.
Perhspe 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
day. went empty. and the years passed
barren by her. And then. one day. sudden
and unexpected. her hour struck
II.
II was In hot July. Jessie was away
In Dublin. making holiday there A dry
spell Of weather had 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 d.
version with him at a race meeting In
CLAIM.
1t was the usual hillside gathering: noisy,
vivid with life and color. rows Of jaunting
cars around the course. booths. stalls,
shooting galleries, crowds Of gaudy town
folk, bevies Of roaring rustics. little sport
Q power Of fun; and Mary. sitting stiff on
the gig. In muslin frock and straw hat,
soon grew weary OF il.
Would II never end2 thought Mary,
sitting there so patiently. never guessing
what for her those weary hours held How,
indeed could she gless, how know that
fate was lurking in that seething crowd?
Had Jessie been there doubtless she
would have seen-have seen him watch
ing seen him pass and repass. his eyes
ever on Mary's face. seen him speak TO
James and turn and stare. seen him stand
q, last. as the gig went of. still watching
silently but how was poor Mary TO see or
know? She expected nothing. looked for
nothing; wante ed only to be done and away
All, the long, cruel day." sighed Mary,
her eyes eager on the homing road: nor
guessed that the day, 40 long and cruel, now
Law like shadow across her life
Two days went unmarked; on the third
came he-a tall man. ruddy and we'll
favored, with blue eyes and wavy hair.
Leaving his horse AZ the gate he strobe
up the boX-edged path past the laurels
and flower beds, knocked at the green
door and stood waiting on the step Mary
answered him
For momen, he looked at her. recall
ing her face and studying II; then, with
his ready smile and easy way, asked for
James He was in the meadows, answered
Mary
Might he 60 to the meadows7 surely,
said Mary. Might he leave the horse?
Why TO be sure, answered Mary, and
dropped her eyes before the quick nsis-
tPnce of his gaze. and turned away n ishing.
II was with her just as though a man had