Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-19
THE THREE FINGERS.

together to destroy, without exception, every
suspected man and grown-up boy in the coun-
try; but they usually, except in rare instances
respected the lives of women and children
1he gentlemen, gay, gallant, well-mOunted
and weil-armed, formed themselves into yeo-
manry corps for the defence of their lives and
properties A large mansion in each district
was selected. into which as many of the neigh
b0rs IA tho rooms would accommodate eongre-
gated. Despite of the burnings piekings muir
deIs' anu eruelnes Of the most stroeious de-
-erlPtlOns which were going on around, the
party inside cOntrived to Rmuse themselves
With eating drinking, laughing, dancing. and
lOve-makIng IN a satisfactorily and thoroughly
Irish manner
The old house Of Carribawn. situated some
miles distant from the town of kiflysiaughin
WAS selected for this purpose, its master and
mistress being kind and hospitable pair. new
40 happy a. when every closet and canny-
hole were crammed full Of guests The man
siOn Itself was as curious and comfortable a
specimen of in-and-out style of architecture as
ever was seen. 1t and the fine old estate that
lay around it arc now gOne-the one into ruins
the other into the EncuIn bered Estates Court
But some sixty years ago both were filled with
life and merriment. Family after family had
arrived, and been Hospitality welcomed by Mr.
and Mrs. Synge-
Ii was a dull, drizzly day in autumn. such "a
Is very common in the south Of Ireland when
such feeling Of thorough and difused damp
ness that you inyOluntarily hang over the FIRE
Rs n to air not only Your garments but yOur
hands and face. After breakfast, the gentle
Hen, as usual. went out in party to patrol.
the ladies amused themselves n they hest
might, with neede-wOrk and gentle gOs1iping
How | wish, said Mrs Synge. laviny down
her embroidery. and politely trying To suppress
ydyI, THAT Hugh Lawronce were here He
l. the very life and soul of party. and so good
natnred-thcre is nothing he would not do to
ObIgc a friend -
Yes" said Mrs. Warren. ''and children are
80 fond of him. Ny little Ellie who is so sby
to every one else, actually flies into Hugh Law
rences arm. and will not leave him for nurse
Gr any one else"
lie paid morning visit to US n few days
sgO, said Mrs Synge, and We urged him
strongly to leave his lonely thatehed cottage,
where he has no companions but his dogs and
come into barracks like every one else WHY
my dear lady. said he, who would hurt me
Thank God, / don't think have an enemy in
the country, among rich or poor; aud then
hsye my steward. that faithful fellow Henne-
s., who would give his life for me, living at
the lodge.
The conversation then took another turn.
and the afternoon passed somewhat wearily
away, ITS mOnOtOHy and then cniivened
by the unayailing efforts of the matroh$ to pre-
serve order amongst the Juveniles, each lady
protesting that her boys and girls were the
quickest creatures imaginable when at home
aud that II was only company that excited
them To rebel
The gentlemen returned in good spirits to a
late dinner, and reported that they had seen
or heard nothing alarming.
About ten O'Clock the house was disturbed by
ludd ringing at the hall door. 1t was no light
matter 10 open at that hour. 50 the visitor was
challenged by the master of the house
Who's there -
"A friend-Hugh Lawrence
At the sound Of that we'll known voice bolts
and bars were speedily withdrawn and the
whole party crowded into the hsll to receive
the welcome guest, who looked pale and sgi-
tated.
'.Synge,' he said. Il have n dreadful thina
L. tell you My house was set on fire this eve
hing. and everything in X burned. | don't
csTe for the furnitur but my poor little dog
MiEny. that was licking my hands an hour be-
fOre-she has perished." And the tears stood
in his kind. honest eyes.
Ii appeared that while sitting after dinner,
Esperceiyed strong smell Of smoke, and rush
ing 70 the window, he the dark figures who
had put the live sod OF turf to the thatch mOv-
ing in front Of the house. lie had been out
shooting that day, and his Gun stood loaded in
the corner Of thc room
- / seized it. he said . and fred off both
barrels at the fellows, but could not tell in
the twilig ght whether 1 hit any of them or not
1 saw one man. whose face was blac kened take
delIberste-aim at me; and heard an expIo-
sIJn n II the gun had burst ia his hand. They
rushed 10 The door. forced 10 in AMI In another
Iaiment would have murdered me- when by
God : providence. a party of soldiers who were
passing Saw the flames, and galOped up the
avenue. The fellows. of course made of; and
the soldiers tried in vain 10 catch them es-
capped just a. the roof was falling IN, and came
on here, as l knew you would not turn NE
out
warm pressure Of the hand was Mr.. Syngs's
reply,
he.
They were out, was the reply The old
cook and the hOusemaid had asked leave 10 %
10 a wake in the. ighborhOod; and Leary, nv
nan-Of-aIl- work. had gone out to the stable to
feed the horses.
Mr. Synge and the othor gentleman looked
grave.
Whore was Hennesy, your steward ?'' asked
Mr. Warren.
Oh poor fellow, he has been sick these two
days, replied Lawrence. - sent for him this
morning, and heard that he was confined 70 bed
nth a heavy cold. AMI there 1 found him with
Ia head tied up when | went down To see him
AIi take him few things thai thought would
do him good. If he had been with me, he a
have shed his last drop vi blood for me; YOU
Ennw he's my foster brother"
Next morning, at breakfast, the delight Of
the children at meeting their friend was yoeif-
erJus. lie was lot so much inclined to play
with ihem IS usual; for the loss Of his fayorite
Ettle terrier lay heavy at his heart And the
bright, TOdnd eyes that were fixed on him soon
nlled with tears when they heard the fate of
Minny. who had been 80 weli-known. and al
most a. much liked aS her master.
Af,eT breakfast. all the gentlemen accompa-
hied Hugh Lawrence IL his cottage now heap
of smoking ruins. The police were also in at
tendance with view to make every possible
lnyesti cation. or coarse there was no chance
II rliciting any information from the servants
~ peasantTy. They hai seen nothing known
E0thing, aud the party were On the point Of
going away. when one OF the police picked up
"a tAe lawn gun with the barrel burst aud
three fingers Ot Il mans hand which had evi-
IDENTITY been Llnwn of by the explosion. Here
was clue. The party immediately set of,
and visited every house for miles round with
oat hnd!Gg disabled hand; but as they were
returning from their fruitIess search they
passed BY ;he cJttsge 0f Iennessy. the steward
There no occasion. my friends" :" said Mr.
Lawrence. = for any uf You to come in here t;
hut III just step in for a moment TO ask how
poor Tuia Is to-day