Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-09-18
Low RS
LUCK
Copyright, 1906. by c. H. Sutcliffe
xxnxx,

O'Gill was crossing the fields by a well
worn footpath, balancing bag of meal
on his back, he caught sight of MORA
Nolan washing linen in the little river
that brawled its way through the VII
lage of Ballymoran The brook gushed
and sang over its pebbles, and Moira's
young voice sang with 1t as her white
arms flashed in the clear water. She
was ON her knees, straight and supple
as a willow, her bare feet tucked I'M
der her with only the rosy heels show
ing. The wind caught a strand Of her
hair and whipped it out till 1t shone
like beaten gold In the sun. Barry
paused, dazzied, and gazed at her, his
mouth agape, his sack of meal forgot
ten on his back. Presently the girl
was aware of his presence and that he
was watching her.
What are We gaping at at all?" she
questioned.
at the loveliest girl In all Ireland"
said Barry never taking his eyes from
her.
Sorrow be to We II your mother
knew It," laughed Mora, bending to
her work again And angry she'd be
to find We here. Ye'd best go back to
her."
Barry flushed till his cheeks were
redder than his hair. Its here that
I'll sthop," he said decidedly, dumping
down his sack and seating himself on
| the grass.
Moira's thrust had been keen one,
for all the village knew that he lived
In fear of his mothers tongue "Shure,
it's the sting of a wasp she has en-
toircly," was the verdict of her neigh
bors, from whom the Widow O'Gill
held somewhat aloof, though now and
again she condescended to call on Mrs.
Terhune for "a bit of gossip and q
dish of tay."
Barry was Mrs. 0'Gillas only child
and the idol of her heart. Did he so
much as look at girl, Mrs, O'Gill was
filed with alarm. So while the other
lads fingered about the church steps
after mass that they might see their
sweethearts. Barry was hurried off
homeward by his mother. Therefore
| it was with a sense of recklessness
| and novelty that he gave himself up
| to a talk with Mora. She babe him
help her wiring the clothes and then
laughed at his awkwardness and
splashed him with glittering drops.
| The time went quickly. 1t was noon
| before they knew 1t, and Barry sped
| home to his dinner and scolding.
Yet he hardly heard the words his
mother heaped on him, so engrossed
was he with the memory Of MORA s
| gray eyes and the exquisite curve of
her lips. Love comes swiftly when one
is young in Ballymoran.
He and MORA met often after that,
sometimes at the edge of the little
1 river and sometimes on the roads by
| which the hawthorn hedges bloomed,
mass of pink and green. The more
Barry thought of MORA the more he
| realized that his mother would never
consent to his marriage Moira's
beauty was the only dowry tho girl
had. OF all the poor folk in Ballymo.
ran 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 NORA and for three whole
days he did not see her. Then quite
| by accident he met her coming across
| field. She was about to pass him
with averted face
'.Moirar' he cried brokenly.
at that she turned. She was pale
and there were deep shadows under hel
eyes. All that Barry had kept pent In
his heart rushed to his lips, and Mora
listened, looking down and piucking al
! bit of hawthorn she held In her hand
A lark rose from the long meadow
grass near by, and soaring into the all
poured out a song that seemed but an
echo of the ecstasy that was in theiI
| hearts. 1t was MORA who made ths
first return to earth.
Does your mother know of itf" she
questioned.
"Divvle bit,p said Barry cheerfully
"and where would be the good O. tell
ing her? She'd niver consent to 1t II
the wide woruld. 'Tis a runaway
match we'll have to make, mavourneen
Wen be afther taking a "Trip to thu
next parish and back some foine day"
But where viii we live at all, Barry
darlint:v cried Mora, still troubled.
Rest aisy." said Barry: Il can MAKE
somewhat working in the boys, an,
that win give us bite and sup. AM
there's ovid McShane's cabin that
been desarted ever since he went +
America. Troth, it's a ramshackl
place, and there's no denying it! Th
roof lakes, but can mend it with fresl
turf And though the room is as SINAI
as a nut. what foine view Wen hav
from the doorway. And il the chin
bley is ovid and shmokey, after al
twill be our own. Arrah, trust to luck
MORA, achree, And lovers luck, shurt
it's the best of air.
'.True for We. Barry" agreed MORA
and, happy and improyident, the
drifted back into their lovers paradise
and one morning before the first bird
were astir and Ballymoran lay in th
cool grayness of the dawn they slippe
away to the next parish. By the mid
die of the afternoon they were bac
again, and all the village knew of thei
romance.
Mrs. Terhune FASTENED to bring th
E news to Mrs. O,Gill, but the latte
] pushing forward chair, did not wa
for her to speak.
i "Have We seen aught Of my boy Bal
' ryr she demanded The lazy go: