The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-29
TIE EVENING STOR Z
Lovers Luck.

vi DflBhl May morning, as 0dAAJ
Y CHI was crossing the fields oy
Weil-worn footpath, balancing a bag OF
meal on his back, he caught sight OF
MORA Nolan washing linen IN the little
village of Ballymoran. The brook gusn-
cd and sang over its pebbles, ana
Mo1ros young voice sang with It as ner
white arms flashed IN the clear water
She was on her knees straight and sup
pie as willow. her bare feet tucked
under her with only the rosy heels
showing. The wind caught a strand OF
OF her hafr and whipped 1t out I'll II
shone like litten gold in the sun. barry
paused, dazzled, and gazed at her, his
mouth a-gape, his sack of meal forgot
ten on his back Presently the girl was
aware OF his presence and that he was
What are you gaping at. at ALP
she questioned.
AT the loveliest girl in all Ireland
said Barry, never taking his eyes from
Sorrow be toyet.if your mother knew
1t, laughed Mora, bending to her work
again. And angry she'd be to find
ye here. Ye'd best go back to her..
Barry flushed till his cheeks were
redder than his hair. IT'S here that
III sthop,' he said, decidedly, dumping
down his sack and seating himself on
the grass.
Moira's thrust had been a keen one,
for all the village knew that he lived
in fear of his mothers tongue. "Shure,
it's the sting of wasp she has en-
tOirely. was the verdict of her ne1gh-
bors from whom the widow OGfl1 held
somewhat aloof, though now and
again she condescended to call on Mrs
Terhune for "a bit of gossip, ana a
dish Of tay.'
Barry was Mrs. O'Gilrs only child,
and the idol of her heart Did he so
much as look at a girl, Mrs. O'Gin was
filled with alarm So while the other
4 lads fingered about the church steps
after mass that they might see their
sweethearts, Barry was hurried on
homewards by his mother. Therefore,
it was with a sense of recklessness and
novelty that he gave himself up to
talk with Mora. She babe him help
her wiring the clothes, and then laugh
ed at his awkWardness and splaShed
him with glittering drops. The time
went quickly. It was noon before they
knew it, and Barry sped home to his
\ dinner and a scoIding Yet he hardly
heard the words his mother heaped on
memory of Moiras gray eyes and the
exquisite curve of her lips. Love comes
swiftly when one is young in Bally-
moras-.
He and Mora met often after that,
| sometimes at the edge of the little
river and sometimes on the roads by
/ which the hawthorne hedges bloomed,
a mass of pink and green The more
Barry thought of MORA the more he
| realized that his mother would neves
]
beauty was the only dOwry the girl
had-of all the poor folk in Bally-
moran she was by far the poorest.
Nor was Barry much richer. 1t was
| his mother who held the purse strings
/ Once in desperation, he thought OF
giving up MORA, and for three whole
days he did not see her. Then quite
by accident he met her coming across
a field. She was about to pass hin
with averted face.
stMoirai'' he cried brokenly.
At that she turned. She was pale
and there We're deep shadows under
her eyes. All that Barry had KEPT
4 pent in his heart rushed to his lips
and MORA listened, looking down. and
plucking at a bit of hawthorne she
held in her hand. A lark rose from
the long meadow grass near by, and
soaring into the air poured out a song
that seemed but an echo of the
ecstasy that was in their hearts. It
was Mora who made the first return
to earth.
Does your mother know Of it," she
questioned
fully, land where would be the good
o. telling her? She'd niver consent to
it in the wide woruld- It's a runaway
match We'll have to make, avourneen.
Wen be after taking a thrip to the
next parish and back some foi1e day
But where will we live, at all,
Barry, darlint2" cried NORA, still
troubled.
REST aisy." said Barry, II can
make somewhat working in the boys
and that will give us a bite and sup.
And there's ovid McShane's ca bin
that's been desarted ever since he
went to America. TrOth. it's a ram
shackle place, and there's no denyins
it, The roof lakes. but I can mend il
with fresh turf. And though the room
is as small as a nut, what foine view
we'll have from the doorway And il
the chimbley is ovid and Smokey.
after ALL twill be our own Arrah.
trust to luck, Mora, achreet And
lovers luck, shure. it's the best OF
air.
True for ye, Barry agreed MORA,
and, happy and improvIdent, they
drifted back into their lovers paradise,
and one morning before the first birds
were aStir, and Ballymoran lay in the
cool grayness of the dawn, they slip
ped away to the next parish By the
| middle of the afternoon they were
back again, and all the village knew
of their romance
Mrs. Terhune FASTENED to bring the
news to Mrs. OtGfll. but the latter,
pushing forward chair, did not wait
for her to speak.
Have We seen aught of my boy Bar
ry2's she demanded. THE lazy gos-
sooni Gone since morning, and not a
bit of work has he done the day, bad
cess to him.'
) It was a fine opening for Mrs. Ter
hume, and sitting on the opposite side
of the hearth she told her story, Mrs.
O'Giu interrupting from time to time
with passionate CALCULATIONS. 'HThe
curse Of all the crows upon hini And
sorrow to me for having a bowld de-
caitful son numbering my heart with
his cruel actions. May he niver cross
my threshold againi It's a serpint's
; tooth he is. a serpint's toothi"
Mrs. Terhune wagged her head WISE
". He is So" she agreed with relish
! che Is SOL The most good-for-nothing
/ lad in the parish. and he marrying the
poorest CURL Of it There's not a boy
for miles around but what would have
more senset My children, now, they're
foine, clever lads. and ochi woman