Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-18
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa JANUARY 18, 1866

y
explained under what odd circumstances
the Colonel had picked up this little paint
ing or that usitg every delicate art her
pride would allow to achieve her fathers
purpose whilst maintaining at the same
time her own personal reserve trying to
avert the guests oppressive attention from
herself to the objects for which she claimed
his notice COll Dhu followed his conduc
tress and listened to her voice, but what
she said mattcrcd nothing nor did she
wiring many words Of comment or r-rcpIy
from his lips, until they paused in 4 retired
corner where the light dim, before a
window from which the cnrtain was with
drawn. The sashes were open, and moth.
ing was visible but water the night At
lantic, with the full moon riding high above
a bank Of clouds, making slvery tracks
outward toward the distance Of Infinite
mystery dividing two worlds Here the
following little scene is said to have been
enacted.
This window of my fathers own plan
ing, is it net crcditable to his taste 2" said
the young hostess, as she stood herself like
CLEAN OF hcanty, looking on the moon
light.
Coll Dhu made no answer, but suddenly
it is said, asked her for rose from a clus-
ter of flowers that nestled in the lace on
her bosom.
For the second time that night Evleen
BIakC's eyes flashed with no gentle light.
But this man was the saviour of her father.
She broke off blossom, and with such
good grace, and also with such queen-like
dignity as she might assume, presented it
to him Whereupon, not only was the rose
seized, but also the hand that gave it.
which was hastily covered with kisses
Then her anger burst upon him.
" Sir" she said, " if you are gentleman
you must be may! If you are not mad,
then you are not a gentleman !"
"Be mercifnI," SAID Coll Dhu. 81 love
you. My God, | never loved woman be-
fore All y he cried, as look of disgust
crept over her face, you hate me. You
shudder the first time your eyes met mmc.
| love you, and you hate me !"
4" / do" cried Evleen, vehemently, forget
ting everything but her Indignation
!"Your presence is like something evil to
me. Love me? your looks poison me,
Pray, Sir, talk no more to me in this strain
q will trouble you no longer" said Coll
Dhu. And, stalking to the window, he
placed one powerful hand upon the sash,
and vautcd from it out of her sight
Bare headed as he was, Coll Dhu strobe
off to the mountains, hut not toward his
own home. All the remaining dark hours
of that night he is believed to have walked
the labyrnths of the hills, until dawn be-
gan to scatter the clouds with high wind.
Fasting, and on foot from sunrise the morn
ing before, he was then glad enough to see
Il cabin right in his way. Walking in, he
asked for water to drink, and a corner
where he might throw himself to rest.
There was a wake in the house, md the
kitchen was full of people, all wearied out
wi h the nights watch old men were doZ-
ing over their pipes in the chimney-corner,
and here and there a woman was fast
asleep, with her head on a neighbours knee.
All who were awake crossed themselves
when Coll Dhu's figure darkened the door,
because of his evil name but an old man
of the house invited him in, and offering
him milk, and promising him "a potato by
and by, conducted him to a small room off
the kitchen. one end Of which was strewed
with heather, and where there were only
two women sitting goSsipng over fire.
" \ traveller" said the old man. noddng
his head at the women, who nodded back,
as if to say. che has the travellers right "
And Coll Dhu flung himself on the heather,
in the furtherest corner Of the narrow room
The women suspended their talk for a
while ; but presently, guessing the intru-
der to be asleep, resumed 1t III voices above
a whisper There was but patch of win
dow with the gray dawn behind it, but Coll
could see the figures by the firelight over
which they bent an old woman sitting
forward with her withered hands extended
to the cmbers, and girl reclining against
the hearth wall, with her healthy face,
bright eyes, and crimson draperies, glow
ing by turns in the tlickering blaze.
Il do know" said the girl, d" but it's the
quarest marriage iver hard of Sure it's
not three weeks since he tould right an
left that he hated her like poison.'
whist, asthorecn !" said the colliagh,
bending forward confdentiaIy; "troth an
we all know that 20 him But what could
he do, the creature When she put the
burragh,b bes on him !"
"Thc what ?" asked the girl.
"Then the burragh-bos machreo-0? That's
the spanche o death, avourneen ; an well
she has him tethered to her now, bad luck
to her :"
The old woman rocked herself and stined
the Irish cry breaking from her wrinkled
lips by buryiug her face i'll her cloak.
But what is It :" asked the girl, eagerly.
"What's the burragh-bos, anyways, an
where did she get it 2"
"Och, och it's not fit for comm over tc
young ears, but cuggir, (whisper,) acushla.
Its sthrip O tkc skin o a corpse peeled
from the crown O the head to the heel
| without split or crack, or the charms broke
an that, rowled up, an put on stirring
roun' the neck o The wan that's cOwid by
the wan that wants to be loved. An sure
enough it puts the fire in their hearts, ho
an sthrong, afore twinty-lour hours is
gone"
1 The girl had started from her lazy at i
r tude, and gazed at her companion witt
eyes diiated by horror
"Merciful Saviour :" she cried. Not {
, sowl on earth would bring the curse out o
: heaven by such black doin"
"Aisy, Biddeen alanna, an there's wal
r that does it, an isn't the devil, Arrah, as
t thoreen, did ye niver hear tell o Pexie nj
!: Pishrogie, that lives betune two hills G
: Maam Turk :"
81 hard o her." said the girl breathless