The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-28 00:00:00

THE CHRISTMAS CURFEW;
A STORY OF TROUBLE AND OF TRIUMPH.

CHAPTER I.
"EIRE rallreade were Invented tO revolutlonthe the time.
TA honoured stagecoach mode of transit, there seated (as
there still estate) an assize town some half day's drive from
the exploit al the Eineraid Isle. This town is built on the
historic Boy ow, whose 6.0 are sentineled by the frown-
ing remains of ancient castles, shorn of their once boasted
istreneth by the Lord Protector during his Roue-dare
tic Pier of the Maud. Around these ruined piles Ls gathered
tho mystery of centuries; and their very walls, black
with the grime of time, and battered with Oliver's cannon•
balls. which every where exhibited • strange autirode
y aneolts), teens to be bung wills the draper- tO, ut
beautiful legendary—fire idiot, but dr frolicsome
imagination of the Dish peasanL me
Wei, Pines castles, ho'
scent tale has ...vet, and their weird. legends, our
pr, en
guard mr es. ...thing to do. We leave them keel lug
bla. k Waters of the Boyne, which, blue by day and
,'l ht. roll on In cons lons h -Cilla_l3 to the seven:len
We want to make our way to a ie ser teen situ to
some six miles further 'into the interior;" and in doing
no we pass through vast sweeps of rich vesture-lane, well
*sterol. and with well wooded slopes, userking the vicietty
Of mmiy gentlemen's domesnee 1141-way between the two
towlis the traveller enters upon the estate ef the Reel of
bligh, air English noeletuan of immense wealth, and who had
at the twirled of which we write but just come of age, after •
twig minority—his lordship's father having beers dead for
many ;owes. The Earl of High had, on the occasion of his
comic, of age, paid • visit to his Irish estates, but had again
atur,.ed to Eugland ere our story commences, carrying with
iiim Cse wares sashes and kludly good-will of his Irish tenants.
This may seem a digressiou, but It is not, as the reader will
essay Aneweerge If he follows on to the close. We have
reached the latt-r town, and are comfortably seated on the
Christuiseeve of 17ile a sad and event ast year for Ireland
berried a roaring fire in the plerlqtr of the •• Biigh Arms."
Outside there Is a "nipping and an eager air," which
makes the glow and warmth of our new abode the
more delightfuL And now let me drop the jourualistio
pronoun, arid appear we propridperson4. As I wished to we
the 'lace, even the double inducement of frost without
and fire within did not deter me from sallying forth. The
town was little more than one long street, and in no way pine
toresqua Alter paradiog It from end to end, I strolled up a
limn to my right, and suddenly found myself within the gates
of a large churchyard thickly tenanted with the dead. Tall
trees ef antique growth margined the gravelled walk which
encircled this city of the dead. In the naked limbs of these
akeletos vegetabie giants crows' owns of teat spring's making,
now ragged and dilapidated, swung sadly In the winter wind;
whilst many of the feathered architects were blows about
the skies or perched upon the crackling branches, regarding
wth melancholy philosophy the windy dlsmantlemeot of
their deserted Domes, so cozy and so comfortable Cr. the
autumn leaves were abed. The parish chnrch stood ta the
met, of this picture of death and ruin. The church itself
was modern, ugly, hero-like building; but there woes in
front of It • espial* Gothic tower of evident age and great
beauty 'of proportions At the base of the tower was the
tomb of pences presumably of consequence in ages gone by,
for above the remains were cured is stone the figures of a
knight, in fall armour, and a lady by his side. The names
and data were obliterated by time and rough hantilher.
Az I was sumaged in examining this monument of the put,
gentleniare leading • little boy by the hand, approached me;
and in reply to my enquiries, stated that the torah was that
of one fear. floater Rotherann, who had [allele fighting for
tiro House nd -Lancaster In one of the ware of the Roses;
that the lady was his wife, who had died of grief on hearing
the news that her lord was slain; ant that their descend-
ants were still people of consequence bathe county,
After some pleasant conversation, my new acquaintance,
tannin my mission and Chat! was a perfect stranger in the
ts win courteously Invited me to join his family circle that
evening, where, as was the custuin at his house on Christmas.
eve, there Moe to be a gathering of friends of the family, and
of the servants and their newels in the servants' hall. I
gladly availed myself of the proffered hospitality, for,
need I say, that I felt additionally lonely seeing the prepara-
tions of all arouud me for the enjoyment of the coming
festival,
The shades of evening had now fallen; and as we were
approselong the gate L was suddenly astonished to hear a
peal of bsins from the steeple above me. It was not a mere
meaningless clamour and clat g of so many brazen tongues,
but the sweetly-modulated notes of an exquisite Irish melody,
which my friend called " Gramschree !"
"Ah l" said my Mend, who I may at once Introdoce to the
reader as Ms. O'Hara, agent of the Earl of Bligh's Irish
entatee, and • magistrate of the county, "That is Robert
Doenelly ringing his Christmas Curfew. it has been the
con taut custom ;if that young man for years, ever since he
was a mere boy, to ring out on the chimes this beautiful air.
at the close of the day on Christmas eve. It may sound
strange to you, that a-simple village lot should be able to
menage Might bells with one pair of hinds ; but so It Is, I
assure you. lie has the ropes so arranged that they answer
to his fingers like the sto de of an orean—nay almost like the
kesstilt piano( erte ; and he Is enc.•urage,l in hie performance
tithe vicar of the pariah, 11.111.1 appleaded by the parishioners
generally."
The bells were stun making tremniona the crisp, frosty air,
with their delicious utterances, as I and my eimpenions,
chatiing freely, reached tie matte, nen the steps of which my
neon friend pressed me to par .ake, ram cdreakmis, of the family
dinner, which wu habitually an early affair on occastons
like she present. I bail no inclination to refuse an offer
so cheerily and hospitably pressed upon see; and within the
space of half an hoar I found myself forming one of a small
beet delightful circle in the cheerful dinner parlour of Mr.
O'Hara's mandon—for such in size sad appointments it was
—live nurrutes walk from the town, le re was the host
himself geodel and courteoer, at the head of the board, mid
at the foot Mrs. Oilers, • mild-eyed lady, of sweet smile
and still sweeter voice. I was seated between the two
eldest children of the family. On my rights young lady of
some eixteen summers, in tenderness of beauty, aud gentle-
ness of manner, the refer of her mother; and on my lefts
pollth neme eighteen months younger, just returned from ,
Eton fen r the Illaistmas holidays. Opposite was the boy
whom I hail met Met his father in the church-yard--a pale,
intellectuaeleoking lad of twelve years—upon whom the
Mother cast frequent and anxious tanks and beside him, evi-
dently the father'. "pet "suet the " apotit" of the whole family
—a beaming child, surce more than half heryounger brother's
age, over whose glansing shoulders showered a wealth or
golden babe This young lady took various liberties at table,
despite the mild remonstrance of the mother and the mock
rev rty f the father—the former of which she seemed to
h. it met, whilst the latter served but to awake the ring of
her Pin Cr lee ghter, in o hi,h it must be admitted, from time
to time, we ell were contsginuly comp:Red to join. And
so with taught a and kind lo ;ks, and exchanges of pure
pleasantry, the merry meal passed over to my infinite regret.
As the cloth was being r..moved my kind host informed me
that he had no drawing-room mdsic to offer me on thee neer,-
n, foret was set oldonstatellehed rule of his for the members
of the family to join the dume-tica after dinner in the ser-
vants' hall in common Chri.tisn effort to prepare fur to-
morrow's great festival; and ho begged me to excuse him for
Shaking me to conform to this rule.
assured him, as I felt, thetnothing could afford me greater
plrrsur' than to be granted the privilege of participating in
the en diu nry pleasures of Ids bouiehold.
Mrs. O'Hara arol the younger members of the family having
re' trete, the ruder ol the h -use and I were belt to discuss the
merits of Vie wine and the w louts. Alter the exchange of
some observatious on the ordinary topics of the clay, my
tip coin ce reverted to l.he bell-rieger, whose skill had so lately
charm. d me.
" Ali " sad my hospitable entertainer, "that young men's
histery'l a somewhat strange one ; arid if
.you desire to hear
it I ehall he happy to give it to you briefly. '
I expressed my greet desire that he would so ter oblige me,
whereupon he gave flee the following narrative
Shortly after I Undertook the management Of the iffigh
estates', now some eleven lea, ye., the father of Robert,
Who was the chtd bailiff on Cr. i.e .eerty, and held in high
esteem be the late Earl, died lust, ceiy, leaving, almost totally
anprovidel for, a widow, one son—our local bell-rkiger—and
an erphee niece, whom he bad supported from her Infancy. I
took the boy Into my service at first ass gardener's assistant,
from which position lie, by studious perseverance, qualitied
himself fir that of chief clerk en my agency r Mee. Ile thuil
became the main anppait of his widowed mother, and of the
fair °rotten girl—between whom and himself, as the year.
ronot by, a feeling more tender than that of friendship, to
the evidence of observant eyes, sprang up. lint Robert was
not the only rierioua suitor of the pretty Muir, who had, and
I believe still has, • very impassioned admirer In one
William Wilkiusoo, a y mug man of fair prospects, but
Of very sullen manuer• Robert wee the favourite with the
fair one, as yen may esaily Imagine, from his constant oppor-
tinkles ; bet this did not deter the determined Wilkinson
from prosccutinz his suit. Last year, as you are *ware,
le el Birth, on att tiitog his majority, visited his Irish estates.
Ilia I. nlytiip, who did me the honour of taking up bespeak rs
at my hion.,le home, made daily private ex •actions trite the
country, accompanied, upon my recommendetton. by Rebert
Dreetelly, who speedily became a special favourite of the
Earl's. You are aware," pursued my host, "that the year
**hi h Ic how rapidly passing away, has been made miserably
Meneiraide to this country by an Insane attempt at revo-
Meon, will which the 11311.129 of thA unfortunate Lord
Illward Fitzgerald and other gentlemen are connected.
his part r the country did not escape the emurge.
Manny pets I. were implicated hereabouts, amongst ri hers
yeihat Donnelly, who on the day alter Lord Bligh's
deiertnre was form illy arraigned before me as being
sn eniconipllee in the plot to overthrow the Constituted
an ..rity. The chief witness against him was this same
'li 11 deem, his rival—a fact, which to my :Mud, perhaps
Is, •-•emn•atily, weakene it the weight of evidence. The proofs
ae..dist him were not conciusive, hot I did not dare to Wa-
r orree Mtn on my own rupensibility ; no I remanded the
Pri.ener for a week, and minted to Dublin in all baste. That
Malt I hal an interview with Lord ellgh at his hotel, and
Mxt marline he and I laid our statement before the lord•
lienn eneint. The result of that Interview was that the lord-
Haw tnit- rised me to ted.ase the prisoner, but to im-
pe, men him the necessity of twine very circumspect in
bl oreh,ct. This, need 1 tell you, I did with very great
pleasure, and Robert was restored to liberty and to love,'
" All things have gone well since, I hope," said L
"Yea," replied ()ills ra, "passing well. Wilkinson has not
been seem lu this erallity Morn than twice sioce ; said I have
ONS.ned the saectiou of Lard 1111gb to melte Robert the
tenant of the home farm of this port of the estate, whore he
Will heel. saultaide home to seedy° his bride. !My wife and
danehter intend to pievlde her with a teoußasets for her
Wedding, which ts fixed to take place on New Year's Day.'
"And is this country girl beautiful and accomplished," I
ask, 4.
rn Too rhall judge for yourself," he replied, rather dryly.
"Mt you will dame the favour to ancompeny me."
Se nosing, he arose, and led the way out of the room—l
follewiret—down a single flight of stone stepe, partly
carpeted, and, through a vaulted pusage whieh led to the
wants' hall.
Mare, to we, was confusion most charmingly confounded.
There was neither lamp nor candle-light, but untie. spacious
hearth, which bunted no grate, blazed piles of turpentine-
saturated timber, that shot their fitful lights against the
white walls and mitered ceiling, heavy with the weight of
bacon flit- bee and hams, eut end uncut. The light was un-
Certain, for here and there • separate lying ember" wroueht
Its ghost upon the floor ;" but the scene had tor me, who had
never looked upon such a sight before, • charm Inexpressibly
de IzhtfuL Tbere could Ind have been less than a down
men and women In the hall, all cheerhilly busy—some In
beading the walls with by and holly leaves, arid others
hanging festoons of evergreens along the mitered mantle
from end to end, or twathing the flitches of bacon, which
hung from those rafters, in e•nerald costumes of fermata
design In ills coons of the busy throng was a group that
at once arrested my attention. Standing on the try rung of
• stepla.Mer. at the tout of which were Mrs. tillers and her
two I sir naught...re, ston,l a young girl of beaitty priertively
beet Me. As her exquisitely rounded arms were raised at It
arrang!ng a bush Cl mistletoe, the penes, texture of her
deraty akin vied in the flashing theliget well that ef the
berries' on the meets which also was lauehingly looking up.
"There," mid my trot, "you see our ileberta future
bride, What do pro think of her I"
"happy fellow I' I endahned, with • groan, for even
then I wassail old bachelor.
"end ',ender, ite,ted by the fireside, is her more than
mother—that pshe old matron le black."
I was about to make some remark, when a servant sp.
preached Mr. (Tilers, .d eidreswe him in an uuder tone.
The letter, who was visibly aurnrised, touched me Me the
arm and bechietil me to follow him. The servant led the
sway to the library, where I was astonished to It two con- '
steels* with • go ironer Its champ, end Stall, Isles, cadaverous
Y•ekee.fasoed fell isv, v ith a tuft of yellow beard on his chin,
leaning against the wall.
I neot Zr' ,t rep .rt the conversation which ensued. &silica
It to say that the prisuner—a calm, thoughtful, delicate-MU-
M-le young man—was none other than the hell ringer, Rebert
Donnelly, who had been roarrestoil on proofs now considered
to be couclesive, and that his scouaer, the telleneyed man
In the corner, was the prisoner's old rival, William Wilkbi.
The proofs were so complete against the prisoner—his
Own l-andwrittne on document. Ideritifylne him as one of
the memeerl of the late censpfracy, se well as the discovery
of pikes and nth-- rims concealed in the thatch of hie mother's
house. that Me tellers. all reluctant as he was, felt obliged
to remand him. As the examination was proWeding, the
library gradually filled with anxious faces, conspicuatte
amongst which were those of the prisoner's mother and
eweetheart. They bait mole their way to either side ol
hlm; sssh at the magistrate pronounced his decision, the
Mother les-A into tears, and hid her face on her son's
elmulder; irlde the girl, colourless and motionless, seemed
--None! the moe
auto§ -

:-.;;,;-a-

marbie.

Lithe pollee gently removed theft prisoner. the maim tell
nto • ellairla • puska of taaveasb si Se Sa•