The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-10-09

. the sound CT hamnering. a redheat-
; ed boy stood at the door.
, Good luck to you, Cian,' said he.
| Go in and put your hands on the
sword the Gobhan has for you
Clan ran in.
Where's the cow" said the Cob.
han.
She's outside said Clan. my
head to you if she is not
shes with Balor." said the Coz
han. and he ran to the door. The
COW was gone!
Take my head, o Gobhan saor,"
said Clan.
Its little use your head would be
to me- said The Gobhan. Keep i
yourself and swear true you VIII
travel and travel and travel till you
reach Balor's country. and that you
will not leave it without the halter
of the cow"
Il swear it, said Clan. II will no:
come back to Ireland without th3
halter OF the cow"
Clan set out and travelled and
travelled till he came to the dark
waters. He crossed them, and travel
led and travelled till he came to
Ralor's Court like a poor man look
ing for work.
What brings you here?' said
Balor.
THE wish to get work." said Clan.
"Why would take a stranger,
said Balor, when 1 have plenty CT
men OF my own"
Maybe l could do what none OF
your men can do"
whats that" said Balor.
Make trees and grass grow in your
country that never had a green thing
since first the wind travelled over
it,"
you're the man l want" said Ba'
lor. Make apple trees grow. and
when l see apples on them I'll give
you your own asking of a reward
I'll name my asking now" said
Clan. Twill you give ME the halter
OF the Gobhan's cow
Il will give you that" said Balor,
without deceit"
Clan set to the making of the
trees, and hard work he found 1t, for
! every leaf and twig that grew for
him in the daytime was withered up
by Balor's breath at night At last
he made a crystal wall round the
garth of apple trees, and the breath
of Balor could net touch them.
They grew then and blcssomed, and
when the news of that got out every
one in Balor's country came begging
for a branch with blossoms. Clan
denied it to them; he was every day
| denying it till beggac-woman came.
What makes you think you Will
! get the branch?" said Clan. when
l would not break it for gold aud
| jewels and the wealth of Balor's king
dom, why should break it for you?"
Because said the woman, II
have dreamed of your country She
! took the cloak from her face then,
and Clan saw she was as good 70
loox at as any woman of Erin. He
broke off a branch and gave it tt
her. Like to like" he said. She
took the branch and went away. and
Clan saw the people staring as she
passed and bowling themselves. "Who
is that woman" he asked, and the
folk about said: ut is Balors one
daughter. She has the face OF
foreigner, and it is said she will bring
| ill-luck on Balor.'
Apples came on the trees after
that. and Balor's crooked mind began
to twist itself. He took the halter
and hid it under seven knots of mag
ic and cunning. No one but himself
or his daughter could undo the knots.
When the apples were ripe Clan came
| to ask for his reward.
'FMy Grief and my TROUBLED" said
Balor. 1.-THE halter is gone from me.
! and there is not hand or an eye
belonging to me that is not searching
for it this moment" That was true
enough, for every one in Balor's
house was hunting for the halter.
while he stood outside wringing his
| hands
Balor's daughter looked out OF the
| window. She had the halter in her
hand. Make an end of your lamen-
tations," said she, "for the halter is
found" Throw it here to mel" said
iBalor. Now Balor stood to the left
Of her and Clan to her right. She
made a crooked cast of her hand and
| threw the halter to Clan.
Its a good daughter have!" said
| Balor.
Sure" said the daughter. "if you
were as wise as you think yourself
you would know that q woman can