Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-24
THE TEST OF OD.
An Irish Tale.
BY JOHN BROUG GRAY.
Thou shalt do no murder"

You won't dance with me, Kathleen"
No, Luke, / will not"
I" For what reasOn!'
don't choose it. Besides, I'm engaged to
Mark Dermot''
The above, very slight conversation in itself
was to the individuals full of the greatest i'm
port. To explain it, it will be necessary to take
a Parthian glance at our subject. Kathleen
Dwyer was the pretty. spoiled village pet, with
quite sufficient vanity to know that the prefer
Gnce was deserved. Every young man in the
place was anxious to pay court to her; and,
SOsth to say, she impartially dispensed her
smiles to all, reserying, it must be admitted,
her more serious thoughts for one alone. That
one was Luke Bryant; and, as he really loved
her. the Aightiness of her conduct and her in
terminablo firtations gave him very great un
easiness. Often and often would be reason
with her, imploring her to dismiss the crowd Of
purpOseless suitors that ever huttered around,
and select one, even though that selection
would doOLn him to misery.
No, nO," the little madcap would saw with
bright smile, " L cannot give up altogether
the delight Of having so many male slaves in
my train; they are useful; and if you dom (
like it. you know your remedy"
. But do you think it ID right?' he would
say; suppose there may be some, even one,
vino loves you truly, to lead him on by the false
light Of your encouraging smile, to perish at
Last
Pshaw,' would she answer; "men are not
made Of such perishable stuff"
Well, well, kathleen, have a care IL any
one Of your numerous admirers feels towards
You Is | DO, TO lose you would ba the loss of
everything"
AZ may be reasonably supposed, these con-
Vers .iiOnS usually ended in u little tiff; when
the Wild, gOOd-hearted but giddy- headed girl
would select some one from her surrounding
besu1, to play off against Luke; generally pitch
ing upon the person most likely TO touch his
feelings to the very quick; herself the while, I
must do her the justice to say, quite as misera-
bic, If not more 50, than her victim.
And now, 70 return, let me describe the indi-
vidual whom she has chosen this time to infict
torture upon her lover, and think you will
agree with me that he has cause for more than
discomfort.
Mark Dermot, or, a, he waS most generally
denOminated Black Mark was one of those
persons We sometimes meet with in the world,
Oh whom prepossessins appearance and great
natural ability are bestowed only to be put TO
the basest po. sible uses Character be had none
except Of the very worst kind his Ostensible
pursuit was smuggling, but crimes of the dark
est nature were freely whispered about him,
and yet, in spite of all this his dashing dare
devil nature and indomitabIe impudencs, ena-
bled him to show himself in places where al
thOug his evil reputation was well known, he
was tolerated either from supineness, or more
likely from the fear of his enmity.
Ii is not 10 be wondered at then that. a
Luke stood by and saw this ruffian carry of
his souls beloved, his very heart should quake
from apprehension. He was unaware until
this moment that she ever knew him, and his
feelings, as ever and anon Mark would seem 10
whisper something in kathleen's ear, to which
she would seem TO smile an approval, can only
be imagined by such Of my readers if any
he h.. hay
smiles which they would fain mOnOpolize.
Jealousy Of the most painful nature took
Possession OF Luke; he had often experienced
sensations Of annoyance before but never To
this extent Her fame-her character-wsre
compromised; for be knew Black Mark to be
the very worst description Of man for a woman
u come IN cQnt1ct with at all, caring nothing
for the ties Of morality, or for the world opin.
lon-TeckleSs, bad hearted, and moreover un-
comfortably handsome in the eyes of a lover
Tie dance now over, Luke imagined that
she would give up her partner and Join him
but no, the silly girl seemed proud Of her con-
quest, and TO take a sort Of mad delight in
Wounding Luke's feelings TO tho uttermost
khe approached the spot where Luke with
folded arms was standing, and leaning famil-
larly upon the arm Of Mark, said laughingIy
Why don't you dance, Luke? Come, TIL
find partner for you.'
Called TO the very quick, Luke answered
with .sperity-" Thank you, Miss Dwyer, you
have found one for Yourself, and''-looking at
Black Mark, az jealous lover only can look
us% 80 " pA'a0n me- out l a0n' IKE the sam
Mark regarded him with q scowl of the deep-
ss. malignity, while Kathleen, the real feelings
Of her heart kept down by coquetry, exclaimed
with laugh
Don't mind him, Mark, he's only jealous,
poor fellow Come, will you not dance again ?'
nj
replied Mark Come
And as they went to rejOin the dancers,
Kathleen caught the expression Of Luke's fea-
tufes, anu there ~ So mu;h misery depicted
that she would have given worlds to have re-
called her words. She yearned TO irnplore bis
forgiveness, but her Unsuitable appetite for
admiration restrained her. Never mind"
thought she, when the dance is over L can
easily make il up with him." and away she
went, thinking no more about it,
At the conclusion of the dance, her better
feelings all predominating, she Quilted Mark
and rushed syer 10 the place where Luke had
been standing, but he was gone; with that un-
feeling speech ranking in his heart, he had
lett Ii was now her turn to be miserable not
all the soft speeches that were poured into her
ear had power to console her. but her annoy
ance Was at Its height when Black Mark pre-
suuIing upon the encouragement which she had
given hiIn, seated himself beside her, and in ar
asnt language declared himself her passionate
lover Poor unthinking Kathleen, she had
evoked spirit which she had not the power TO
quell.
/, was more than a week after before Luke
could bring himself to venture near Kathleen;
but finding that each succeeding day only made
him still more wretched, he determined to know
his fate at once, and with q sorely palpitating
heart be neared her abode, lifted the latch, and
entered; the frst ight that met his eyes was
Mark and Kathleen, sitting near to each other,
the deep blush that erimsOned her to the very
throat, eyineed 10 Luke the interesting nature
Of their conversation. She could not speak,
neither could he, but giving her one look which
sank into her very brain, he left the place in
vain she called after him, he turned but once
"a deep curse was on his lips, but his noble
heart refused 10 sanction IT,
Farewell, beloved Kathleen be cried,
while bitter tears flowed fast as hs spoke; May
tho good God protect you now, for you will
need II And Luke rapidly strobe towards
the village, inly determining TO 20 to sea on
the morrow, and never look upon her or bis
loved home again.