The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-08-02
From the Argosy.l
FATHER GILES OF BALLAMOY.
BY ANTHONY TRoLLoPE.
CONCLUDED.


''He shall be hanged if there's law in Ire.
land" said a voice down below and as faI
as l could see, it might be that should be
hung When heard that last voice l be-
gan to think that | had in truth killed q
man, and cold sweat broke out all over
me, and stood for a while shivering where
| was. Then | remembered that it behoov-
ed me as man to go down among my en-
emies below, and to see what had really
happened, to learn whom | had hurt-let
the consequences to myself be what they
might. So quickly put Oh some of my
clothes-a pair Of trowsers,a loose coat, and
pair Of slippers, and descended the stairs.
By this time they had taken the priest into
the whiskey-perfumed chamber below, and
although the hour was late there was already
six or seven persons with him. Among
them was the real Pat Kirwan himself, who
had not been so particular about his CO.'S
tune as | had.
Father Giles-for indeed it was Father
Giles, the priest of the parish-had been
placed in an old armchair, and his head
resting against Mrs. Kirwan's body. /
could tell from the means which he emitted
that there was still, at any rate, hope of life.
Pat Kirwan, who did not quite understand
what had happened, and who was still half
asleep and as | afterwards learned, half tip
sy, was standing over him wagging his
head. The girl was also standing by, with
an old woman and two men who had made
their way in through the kitchen.
'sHave you sent for the doctor ?" said l.
"Oh, you born blagghuard !" said the
woman. ''You thief of the world That
the like of you should ever have have dark
ened my door ~
''You can't repent it more than do, Mrs.
Kirwan but hadn't you better send for the
doctor"
''Faix, and for the police too, you may
be sure OF that, young man. To go and
chuck him out of room like that, his own
room too, and he priest and an ouId man;
he that had given up the half of it, though l
axed him not to do so for stranger as no.
body knowed nothing about"
The truth was coming out by degrees
Not only was the man | put out Father
Giles, but he was also the proper occupier
of the room. At any rate somebody ought
to have told me all this before they put me
to sleep in the same bed with the priest. |
made my way round to the injured man,
ing that perhaps | might be able to ascer-
tain the extent of the injury. But the an
CRY woman, together with the girl, drove
me away, heaping on me terms Of reproach,
and threatening me with the gallows at
Galway. l was very anxious that doctor
should be brought as soon as possible and
as it seemed nothing was being done Of
fered to go and search for one. But | was
given to understand that should not be al
lowed to leave the house until the police
had come | had therefore to remain there
for half an hour, or nearly SO, till ser.
geant, with two other policemen, really did
come. During this time was in a most
wretched state of mind l knew no one at
Ballymoy or in the neighborhood. From
the manner in which | was addressed, and
also threatened by Mrs Kirwan, and by
those who came in and out of the room,
was aware that should encounter the most
intense hostilities. | had heard of Irish
murders, and heard also of the love of the
people for their priests, and ] really begar
to doubt whether my life might not be ii
danger.
During this time, while was thus wait
ing, Father Giles himself recovered his con
seriousness. He had been stunned by thu
fall, but bis mind came back to him, though
by no means all at once and while l wal
left in the room with him he hardly seemed
to remember all the events of the past hour
was able to discover from what was sale
that be had been for some days past, OF, as i
afterwards turned out, for the last month, tn,
tenant of the room, and that when | ar
rived he had been drinking tea with Mrs
Kirwan. The only other public bedroom il
the hotel was occupied, and he had, will
great kindness, given the landlady permits
sion to put the Saxon stranger into hi
chamber. All this came out by degrees
and could see how the idea OF my bas
and cruel ingratitude ranked in the hear
of Mrs Kirwan. 1t was in vain I expostu
lated and explained, and submitted myseI
huInbly to everything that was said aroun
me.
''But ma am" said eff had only bee
told that it was the reverend gentleman
bed ~
bed, indeed To hear the blagghuar
talk, you'd think it was axing Father Gile
to sleep along wild the likes of him W
were. And there's two beds in the room a
dacent as any christian liver stretched in.
1t was new light to me. And yet ha
known over night, before undressed, tn;
there were two bedsteads in the room
had seen them, aud had quite forgotten Il
fact in my confusion when was awakene'
had been very stupid, certainly. l fe
that now But l had truly believed tht
that big man was going to get into N
little bed. 1t was terrible as | thought
it now. The good natured priest, for IL
sake of accommodating stranger, ha
consented to give up half his room, and ha
been repaid for his kindness by being
perhaps murdered And yet, though jul