Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/98

84 the thing at last. You imagine that you would be doing a wrong to Short Mary if you were to marry her. You are refusing to do that wrong, for the sake of justice and right. You are trampling upon your own heart for the Saviour's sake"

He had no time to say more. No sooner did Shiana hear those words, "for the Saviour's sake," than he was outside the door at one bound, and was gone.

In the meantime Michael and his mother were hard at work finishing the match. They had almost decided who were to be present at the wedding feast.

They heard someone coming toward the house. They sprang up and stood looking out at the door. Who should go past the door but Shiana! He looked in at the two. He never moved his lips; he only looked at them. You would think that look had chained them to the ground. He did not pause in his walk. He merely looked at them and passed on.

Neither of the two spoke for a long time. At last the mother spoke.

"Well!" said she. "What do you say to yourself now?"

"I say that it is an extraordinary kind of courtship," said Michael. "A man about to be married,