Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-02

The name Of one was Mary. OF the other
Jessie. and they were sisters. Mary was
the elder by nearly Ave 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
apprenticeship in a shop in Clogheen.
James, their father, a horid, bearded man
Of so OF Whereabouts, slow-moving. indus
trious, Of Scotch descent, owned a farm on
the outskirts Of Annoy. within sight OF
Emo; Hannah, their mother, 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, toll
ing, contriving. his heart buried in them;
day and night Hannah padded through the
house from room to room, cleaning. dust
ing. 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 e warm man, with money in
the bank, and his reputation through the
countryside was sound. Hannah held a lit
tie money in her own right and her stock
OF household gear-of china. glass. ma
hogany chairs and tables, feather beds and
bleached linen-was matchless in Annoy.
~ vas eSbN " ~ - eAAN "SASA1 49,
bountiful fields; pleasant to come back to
the cosy homestead, standing costly on the
high river bank, warm with good thatch.
You found there tina Ulster hospitality
was worth while; knew then, once for all,
why James and Hannah we're respected
through half a county and their daughters
discussed round many a hearth.
They we're as unlike in every way as sis.
tiers could be. Mary was tall and strong
pale, with a broad brow and deep haze
eyes; Jessie was slim and fair, with rosy
cheeks, a pointed chin and dancing blue
eyes. Mary you thought good-looking
Jessie you called handsome without re-
serve. Mary you found somewhat reserved
thoughtful, lacking in spirits; Jessie you
saw in one glance a charming figure Of
life and gaiety. She laughed, chartered
joked, flashed her eyes, was coy and de-
mure 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 heI
plate. Her voice was sweet, her laughter
rippled like harp strings. She carried yor
out OF yourself. took captive your manly
heart; made you neglect the silent MARY
with the deep brown eyes sitting placit
beyond the table.
II was common opinion In Annoy and
beyond, 1t was the opinion OF Hannah her
self, 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 we'll, whereas
Mary's time, II not already past, would b.
slow in coming. Who could resist Jessie
who not be attracted to her? She seemed
to be born to love, fated to play the candle
to every moth that few. Mary Of a suret!
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 hastened home. Men. for all Mar
cared, might have been posts on the way
side or stones in the pavement; while Jes'
sic drew every eye. All the day found Mar!
helping in the house, or toiling In the dair!
or the fields, and at eventime she sat knit
ting by the hearth. perhaps spent an houi
in the garden or a lonely while by thu
riverside. Her life seemed dull anC
tame, shut in there among the hills OF
Annoy away from the world; but surely sh'
was content. Perhaps at times she had heI
own longings, dreams, hopes; but she neve,
voiced them. Silent, SOBER, placid, sh'
made her daily rounds. wrapped close II
herself; and the days went empty. ant
the years passed barren by her. And then
one day, sudden and unexpected. her hOul
struck.