The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-14

shr,sleeves, arms folded, knees crossed
! and straw hat poised upon them, James
| sat cycling him. a smile on his rugged face.
well, I'm listenin'. Mr.. Hand said he.
with nod; and at that George plunged.
/ It's isi this, he said. A day or -
ago met W. al the races beyond in Clam.
I was was glad to ~ ye; but gladder. I'm
I OF opinion, Ia sac some one else. ! watch' =
. her all day
J "A hundred times was wishful u speai ;
twenty times ] went searchin' for yoursei'
'neanin Ia ask We To to prceent me. ~
twenty times stopped a, sigh, OF ye -,
vas loatn was tinorous.
But nov - Again George pau-en
I again rushed lis words. But now I'm
! como. Mr. Grcig,. TO ask Your Leave t" pay
! Ter me respects.
! II was out al last; and, being our. Georg.
sa' upright. lis eyes hard on james's face.
! james nodded. "a, back in his chair and
looked at 'hc ceiling,
i know" - >aid. Aye. I know" he
It's my gu Mary We rnean, / supposef'
, he asked
i, is" answered. George I'm hcarin'
that's her name"
TO be sure" said James. why. TO
be sure now. Am rigl' in sayin' that so
far you've no more than seen herr
We passed a word a; ,he door a while
ago answered George. Yes. wc did
| had half a mind to--bu didn't No.
just waited LOT WpTu WIN NDN
Il know. Aye Aw. to be sure, James
sat considering. a hand tapping the crown
OF his hat. that slow smile playing on his
face. Well" said he In minute, as We
say, Mr.. Hand. 3 curious, an it's sudden
but -" II was his turn TO hesitate. "Oh,
it's your OWL business, I'm OF opinion. If
80 be you're sure o yourself On"
I'm certain sure said George. Her
face is burnt IN me. I've seen II day an
night. ever since, FRS, sight Of ii under
that big hat. an 1t 10 pale an tired like
took the heart in ne. Aw, I'm certain
sure.
Il know" James nodded his full under
standing. An you'd be wishful 10 try
your arts upon her.
wi it'll your good leave. sir
An you'd mean we'll an you'd do we'll
by her, IL ~ be-
MIR g eig.' said George, I'm a man We
just a. am your daughter'll see me. She
can Judge for herself. I'll come open
handed leavin' all I've got at her two feet
an her wish'll be mire. All want is a
chance" said George.
Then he. being al Ulster man. and having
therefore an eye 10 business even In love
affairs. went on TO refer. handsomely enough
TO his expect atoms ia the matter of 1cwvy
But James would not hear him
Leave that ill afterwartl." he said and
rose frowning Time enough 10 buy the
salt when you We caught your fish
Hannah took the news kindly. as was her
way, and thankfully. az well she might; oil q
James had counselled. that he should go
warily.
Mary was strange in her nature. said
Hannah was shy, was self-willed. was little
used to men and their ways, wanted leading
WI ted humoring.
.You'n find her a good girl, Mr.. Hand
though dear knows I'm not the one should
say ia better wife or housekeeper no man
in the world could find. Her butt er gets
top price In the market, her breads the
sweetest ever was baked; with needle or
crochet hook she's just matChlcss-
Ma am said George. \ can well believe
An can say is this. Mr. Hand an God
knows ! say II from me- heart she's as
good girl as ever breathed. an | wish her
the best in life All. III tie sorry to lose
her., sighed Hannah. Il will. will. For
MIA am" said George. its the way Of
the world. Trust me, Mrs Greig; trust me
An may God prosper the match"
Amen" was Hannah's words; and the
thing was settled.
There remained only Mary 10 be con.
sidered; and with her all did cunningly.
went softly. warily. In strict accord with
rules laid down. James kept TO the field
wise hints. precepts. hopes; gave Geor &c
good welcome. shook a warning finger
at the door. and left Mary TO his caro-.
Every opportunity he had. every good
wish. and he took them bravely Never
was more thoughtful lover or discreetsr.
Mary had but to sit demure. in pa rlor
or kitchen, at table or window: just sit
and be wooed. Nothing to do but listen
and watch. smile, laugh. be agreeable
as she might, George did everything
His ways were mighty pleasant Before
a week he had Hannah at his feet had James
in chains had Mary
II took longer than a week to charm
Mary's heart: Meek though she was and
docile, unsophist icated. backward; vet be-
hind that calm brow was power Of will,
might propose; b, fore her the path might
be laid smooth; but. after all. the dis.
posing was hers. and no leading might
persuade her to walk the path blindfold
She read beneath her mothers limiting
and her fathers silence; sat wide-eyed before
the man George, seeing him palmer. mayb
than he knew
Now and again it happened that Mary
sat watching him. wondering in herself
whether some day change might come.
S ppose a year gone? Suppose them
always together, face to face az the same
table. living always under the same roof
from morning TO night?
Was his admiration genuine and his soft
speech-and himself Did he really care
fancy that might pass, or. worse, a liking
that owed something 10 what she might
bring-money. help. youth?
These things Merry asked Of herself some-
times. as she lay thinking beneath the
thatch. went soberly her daily round in
house and dairy stood leaning across the
gate below the solemn stars when George
had gone.
But an, he was kind and pleasant; doubts
and all, she liked him very we'll. No one
was perfect Her doubts were foolish,
unjust. She longed for him to come;
missed him when he went
Slowly hut surely her fondness for him
grew, day by day. night by night: and at
last one evening in early September, by
the river bank, and under the stars, he
asked and she gave herself TO him.
Mary" he said, I'm a little TO have
and nothing TO boast about; but such as
/ am will ye take me for your men? Will
ye. Nary All will We. Mary
She stood quiet a minute. looking out
through the twilight flushed trern,ious,
not doubling now. but hating ere she gave
will We, Nary All. girl. girl Tell
me, Mary--tell me?"
She turned quickly.
I'm here, George" said she; and gave
herself TO his arms.
III.
That same week Jessie came home.
fresh from the sights and pleasures of old
Dublin. Her stay there had changed her