The Argosy — page 255: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

238 Jom Conlan’s Tryste. During their conversation the funeral service had been performed, and the boats had all set out from the pier. The rough country ponies had been unfastened from the rings in the wall, and, a man and woman upon each, were being ridden homeward as fast as their double burdens would admit ; for the piercing wind had fallen, and the heavy clouds were coming down in snow. “Come to dinner wi’ us, an’ we'll fix the day, an’ notice his reverence, Father Dan,” said Mrs. McGarvey. So Tom dined at Tamney, and before long everything was<arranged. The wedding was to take place on the following Wednesday. The snow was still falling thickly, when Tom tore himself away, and, much against the advice of his friends, set out for the ferry. He declared that they had no reason to fear for him; that he knew the way well, and must certainly get home that evening, as he would have little enough time to prepare for his bride’s fitting reception. The snow was several feet in depth next morning, but notwith- standing outward gloom and cold, the preparations went on merrily. Mrs. McGarvey hired a fiddler: she unhooked her finest flitch of bacon from the beam before the kitchen fire: she ordered a piece of beef, and she sent her son to a shebeen house to bespeak a huge jar of poteen. | Wednesday morning arrived, and found a blithe stir in the farm- house. The boys and girls, friends of the bride, who were to ac- company her to chapel, were there in their Sunday dress. They had come singing and joking over the crisp snow, now so frozen as to afford pleasant walking; and as they looked round at Mrs. McGarvey’s bountiful preparations, and complimented Mary upon her dress and her good looks, they began to wonder that the bride- sroom did not appear, for the bridal train could not set out for Massmount until he came. So great had been the bustle all the morning that Mrs. McGarvey had forgotten to milk the cows at the usual hour; she now repaired to the cowhouse, with her gown tucked up, and carrying the piggin and milk-can. Poor Mary, a little annoyed by the remarks of the young people, found out her whereabouts, and followed her. ‘‘T canna help stranging that Tem’s no here yet,” was her mis- tress’s greeting. “ Ay, that’s what they’re all saying,” replied the bride, letting a tear fall upon the fine white ribbons of her new bonnet. ae, ‘‘ Dinna tak’ on, dear,” said Mrs. McGarvey, observing the signal of distress, ‘‘ dinna tak’ on, for he’ll be here in a wee minute surely.” “ There he is, coming to the byre,” cried Mary, in a very different tone. “Where, dear?” asked the mistress, looking up, bewildered. ‘Why there—there in the doorway.” ‘I dinna see him ; there’s nobody there, Mary, darlin’.” “ No, for he’s just gone awa’ to the house, an’ he didna speak to Gomicbooks.com