Show BETS matchmaking MATCH MAKING the only time I fever ever tried matt match h ma king in my life was when I 1 was seventeen and I 1 then so burnt my fingers over the business that I 1 took care never to meddle with it again I 1 was living at the time with my stepmother on her farm near ballymena Bal lymena my aly father was dead and my mj stepmother did not lii III like ilko me she had placed me ine for a time with a milliner in the town but finding it expensive supporting me apr aar aparic from her had me taken away again she was thinking of a second marria marriage 9 e though I 1 did not know it at the ti time me but this I 1 did know that she had written to some distant friends of my fathers in america who had unwillingly consented to take me off her hands I 1 dont think it would have been half as hard for affie me to have made up my mind to die for I 1 was a shy little thing without a bit of courage couran to deal with strangers and my heart heary was fit to burst at the thought of leaving the very few friends whom wilom I 1 had to love iove and my own little corner of the world where the trees and tha the roads knew me but I 1 felt fell it would have to be done and I 1 lay awake all night after the letter arrived trying to think how ever be brave enough to say goodbye good bye to my dear friend grace byrne and to grades graciel s lover donnell anido nell neil gracie was the cleverest of all miss dorans apprentices she was anor phan without a friend to look after her and she was the lowliest lov iov liest girl in the couret courtly cou rily people said she was proud and vain pub put ut I 1 never could think she was either she and I 1 loved one another dearly i though I 1 cannot think what attracted tra eted her to poor little plain me she had plenty of admirers and she it finely amongst them but the only one to whom I 1 would have given hec her with all my heart was donnell adon nell and oh dear he was the veri verb very one whom she would not look at donnell and I 1 were great friends and I 1 had promised to do all I 1 coula to help heip him with grade gracie he was young and strong and as bonny a man as could be seen he had a fine farm all his own some three miles across the eoll coli country from my stepmothers place if grade grase would but marry him she would jive live like jike a lady and nd drive info into ball Bal ballymena lymena mena menn on her own jaunting car nutz ButZ but she ewas was always saying that she would go away to london and be a great west vest end milliner this terrified me badly seeing that london is such a wicked place my stepin stepmother other uther was always crying out that grade graue would come to a sorrowful end which made me wild andas I 1 lay acae awake that wretched night I 1 thought a great deal about what M might eglit ha happen pen to her if she went to london by ier Ler herself herself self seif handshe and she so handsome and not having a in r nd at all wifel arial aridi I wished th athe would marry donnell cdonnell MD onnell before I 1 went away to america which would ease my mind about him for I 1 felt the greatest pity lity in the world for kind big donnells disappointment ay my iy stepmother raither was provoked at my tit sad L la lace face next day and call cali called calledo me ii e ungrateful but when I 1 cried bitterly she got a little kinder and in the evening abow elul elui edme e d me to go into ballymena Bal lymena to see gracie so towards sundown when N maen the snow was getting red on the bences fences I 1 wrapped my shawl about me and sa set sei off for the town sobbing loudly to ease easo my heart ila lil eart all along the lonely apall where there was no one to hear me but dutche the robbins the brown trees against the dusky red sky the white swe swelling ailing lines of the fields the dark chimneys of the town on before me were aa all blent in a dismal inaze maze when jhb should S leap over the stile and stand beside me but Gr grades acles great lover do don I 1 1 nella T T told him my eyes eye s were wet wei re only on 1 y watering with coid cold and he lie turned and walked alongside arne rine of me for a why wiy way while we e talked of gracie grade of course he was very angry at her and said she was playing fast and loose with him making him the sport of the town and the hesoun country I 1 took grames grades part and so we went on till we came to the last white gate on the road and began to meet the townspeople then I 1 told him I 1 was going away and he looked so vexed nearly cried again I 1 felt feit feliso so glad to see sea him sorry well little bet said he we must give you a L good dance over in yon big farmhouse of ours before you go and in the m niti nili meantime ill see to your business donnell said 1 I smiling never ever fear but ill do db your business to the last then he shook my two hands till he pearly squeezed them into a jelly and left ma me when I 1 went to miss dorans it was past the work hour and the girls were putting gutting on their bonnets to go away grable grabie ra ele cie was only sitting close to the ca candle n candie putting the flowers ona on a ball dress for one of the country ladles ladies ing the nicest I 1 had always the honor of giving y tl the D finishing touches to the most rin fa particular work word she bhe looked very tired itoh so handsome with her pale cheek against the yellow light and her dark head he ad leaning over over a mass of white ana and rose tulle A abud bud here said baid she and a spray there and abid then I 1 have done come home with me and sie sleep ep that cross stepmother of yours wont see dougain you again gain tonight to night dont talk taik that way gracie grade said I 1 but 1 I game dame came intending to stay and the work being finished we went home to lie ile her lodgings A lovely bunch of flowers was on ht hen her table and she laughed an and blushed and looked beautiful beautieu fu when she saw it who is that from gracie said 1 I donnell wo indeed said she tossing her head but I 1 N yas yag wag sure that was a fib for she looked as possible lying resting herself inner in her arm chair beside the fire while I 1 set out the tea things she looking so glad and the shabby room roo in looking so snug and our little tea drin king hi ng bei bea being ng so cozy I 1 could not bear to tell her the bad news now and began to set about boun bonn donnells ells elis business gracie said 1 I 1 I wish you would marry donnell soon soon said she opening her eyes and looking at me angrily ill never marry him I 1 blit butyok yau know gracie said 1 I getting hot hob about it that you ought to marry him he says that is I 1 know you haqq hav made him the laughing stock of the country and very fine cried she and so he has teen been jeen complaining to you has he addid did not say that said 1 I but oh gracie ae I 1 know you like ilke like ilke some one I 1 sa sawami y U gover a letter the other day juat jet the way you are smiling now I 1 do said she laughing ancl and tossing her her head that does not prove rove that it must be donnell there is no one else as good said 1 i ea eagerly e aly it could not be any one else pon ron my word said she staring at me I 1 think you had better go and marry bim him yourself 1 oh Gr gracie acie acle said I 1 stir starting ting up and sitting down again and beginning to r I wanted to tell you that I 1 am going it merica ou may be sure we talked no more it ut donnell that night dannell nuell did not fail to keep his word abd abo giving 1 me a feast before I 1 left the country y I 1 he xe invited three pipers fo play pla yand and half the countryside to dance na I 1 met amilie at he crossroads an and walked ri i I 1 c over to the farm together slid sh bringing a troop of beaux with herf henf ibin the town the farm is a dearold dear old oid place with orchard orchard trees growing up round the house and it looked so homely that frosty night donnells mother met us at the door and unpinned un enned our shawls in her own room grade racie raele looked beautiful ina new dress and bright ribbon donnells donnelis Donn elPs mother stroked my hair with her hand and stuck a bit of holly in the front other of her black frock she kept in me with he rafter gracie had gone down stairs holding my hand h and and she asked me about going to america and the place felt so safe and warm and she was so kind and motherly whick which which I 1 was little accustomed to at home that my heart got so sore I 1 could scarcely bear it we had a great tea drinking in the parlor and then went out to the kitchen hitchen and th the ep pipers iper s fell if work and G gracie ra eie cle was amiable as possible to donnell burjust But justin inthe the middle of our dancing the me door door latch of the back door was lifted and squire hannan walked in in his to top boots t wanted to speak to you on business cdonnell MD onnell he said but I 1 will not disturb you now will you do me ms the honor of joining us sir said donnell and squire hannan needed no second invitation he was soon making his bow before gra gracie cle eie and donnell saw no more of her smiles that night she danced with ohp squire till it was time to go home and then after she had set out ou for the town escorted by him and her other beaux donnells mother kissed me and donnell drew my arm through his and walked home with me across the snowy fields to my stepmothers house he was vas abusing ying ting gracie all the way and I 1 was as usual taking her part he came to see me one day after and brought me a basket of lovely winter pears p e ar he leaned against the wall and i watched v a t c ed me making the butter ile he was disgusted with gracie graefe he said she was a flirt and he did not care a pin about her only he would not be made a fool of she had refused to let him walk with her across the fields next sunday to the consecration of the new church and if he did not get some token that she had changed her mind between that and this he would never he swore look her way again but go and marry some one else for spite oh no donnell 1 I promise me you wont do that for I 1 was sure that gracie liked him all the while but I 1 will said he smi lingat least if other people will have me oh dont dont sald bald I 1 but he would not promise its my mind said my stepmother after he had gone that yon lads more like ilke a lover of yours than hers hera why dont you catch him and then you nee dent go to america mother I 1 cried and felt the room i ning round with me till I 1 caught and held by the door well well she said you look so mad many a garld be glad of him 1 I thought a great deal about how lie he had sw orn that he would marry some one else if he did not hear from gracie grade before benore sunday im sure she likes him I 1 thought she cannot help it she must have ht a ve seen how mean even squire hannan looked beside him the other ni night ahti and it would be a most dreadful fu ith thing ng if he was married to some one else he did not care about and if she went on to london with a broken heart to a west end milliner I 1 thought about it and thought about it there was no use going to gracie grade for she would only laugh and mock at me all at once a bright idea came ino into my head I 1 was afraid to think of what I 1 was going to do but aut that night when my stepmother had bad had gone to bed leaving me to finish spinning some wool I 1 got out a sheet of paper and a little note of grades cles des which I 1 had in my workbox work box and began to imitate grades Gr acles handwriting hand writing I 1 had not much trouble for we wrote nearly alike and afterwards I 1 composed a little letter dear mr BI Donnell it said I 1 have changed my mygind mind and will be very glad if you will join me on the road to the consecration on sunday yours sincerely GRACIE byrne what harm can it do to send it thought 1 I trembling all the while I 1 folded it up upland and put it in an enve envelope envelops lops lopp directed to mr donnell cdonnell MD onnell the buckey farm and it may do such a great deal of good in the first place it will prevent his marrying for spite before sunday and then she will be so glad to see him coming in spite of her crossness that she will be quite kind to him he is always so stin stiff nand fand and proud aoud when she treats him badly badior that I 1 am sure suro it makes her worse she shotwill will never find pu pub pul th athe got any letter hot at least till illey they are quite good friends frie d married arrles m berh perhaps a ps and then they will both thank me so the next ei evening about du dusk I 1 slipped slip itter etter quietly into the town and posted maetter my letter ietter I 1 was dreadfully afraid of meeting donnell or gracie grade but I 1 saw no one I 1 knew I 1 dropped the note in I 1 the letter box and rushed off towards home again at full speed I 1 ran nearly all the way the snowy roads were slippery in the evening frost and near our house I 1 fell felt and hurt my foot A neighbor found me leaning against the stile and brought me home I 1 was to have sailed for america the very next week but now I 1 was laid up with a sprained ankle J and my J departure r was put off I 1 on sunday evening a neighbor woman who had been at the consecration ca came me in to tell us the news th this Is one had been there of course and that one had been there for a wonder graue grade byrne had been there in a fine new bonnet the girl was going to the mischief with dress and squire hannan had been there and given her the flower out of his bis buttonhole button hole and donnell mcdonnell MD UD onnell was with her of course said taid I 1 I 1 ay deed you may swear it lt said i the woman be a match before long he walked home with her to the town and her at him like ilke the first of june be married before I 1 go away said sald I 1 to myself and I 1 leaned back into my corner for the pain of my foot sickened me donnells mother brought me a custa custard rd and some apples the next day donnells gone to the glens my dear said she or he would ha hal been ever this mornin to see you he went before we heard of your foot and he wont be home for a week he doin there asked my stepmother step mother he has land there you know said donnells mother and lie he goes whiles to settle his affairs with them that has charge chargo of it I 1 dont know rightly what hes gone about now something has went again him lately for hes not like himself those few days back he said about goin to be married when he come home but if he I 1 is its not aether his heart for or I 1 never sa saw w a bridegroom so glum on the head of it adt dear I 1 thought it was das was you hi he e liked so he fie does mrs 31 Donnell cdonnell MD onnell said 1 I but not that way not for his wife well well my dear said donnells mother wiping ping her eyes everybody was coming to see me now on account of my foot gracie grade came the next day or so and surely I 1 was ama sedat at the glory of her dress my stepmother step mother who did not like her left us alone alona together and Gra grades cies cles news came camhout out she was going to be married on next tuesday I 1 know that said 1 I how do you know it said she donnells mother told me donnells mother nothing but donnell and donnells Donnel Vs mother from you forever how should she know oh gracie his own why she burst in you dont imagine that hes the man why its squire hannan only think bet of your gracie being the squires lady I 1 was quite confounded oh oh ob gracie I 1 stammered well said she sulking are arc you not glad oh yes I 1 said very on y your youn our oun account but what will become of donnell donnell again now listen to me bet I 1 know when a man likes me and when ho like me just as well as any other girl and lve ive seen this many a day that donnell care a pin about me not he he only wanted me to marry him that the people might not say I 1 jilted him I 1 told him that the other day when he asked me to have him no |