The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-02-10
the fire, brushing the snuff from his cam


gravely; "and perhaps it would be better
to have called out the best part of their
manhood, instead of the worst"
Tom turned this over in his mind, but
could make nothing of it. But at the
next words he pricked up his ears.
"By the way, Kelsoe, there is a queer
story going that one Of your dairies is left
open at night, from which the crOppy
families can help themselves to milk and
bread. Surely, there is no truth i'll it ?"
"Thc women and children are starving"
said TOMS mother, quietly.
"You encourage the rebellion, madam"
"If thine enemy hunger, feed him"
said Mr.. Kelsoc.
eff you are trying to make man out
of a croppy, through gratitude, you are
bribing swine with pearls" said the Cap
tain.
All this perpleXed Tom. OF course his
father must be right. But it was so easy,
like the Captain, to see no good in those
who differed with you, to deny that your
enemy was only faulty man, like your
self, and to call him a brute He went
down that very night, and stood on the hill
to watch the lean, ragged women stealing
into the open dairy for the food left there
for them 1t was all that stood between
them and starvation They were huddled
into the huts on the ClOyne estates, and
their husbands were all IN the rebel army
CHAPER III.
Nearly year had gone by. One cool
evening Just after harvest time, Tom sat
alone on the doorstep, looking over the
dreary fields. He had just eaten miser-
able supper the usually bright, cheerful
room was dim and dirty, the ashes of the
fire were scattered over the hearth. There
had been sickness in the house for many
months, and trouble almost want-had
come, so that the old orderly routine had
long ago given way to discomfort.
Tom crcpt up now and then to the door
of his fathers room, and listened to his
heavy, feverish breathing, or looked at
his mothers pale face bending over the
bed, and then down again. The doctor
came down after a while from his daily
visit
allow is he to-day, SIR"
"The same, my lad Typhoid is slow
disease. But hope it will all come right,
in time" He looked pityingly down on
the boy, who had followed him to the
gate, and stood with his hand on the
horses NAME "The farm needs your
father sorely"
eyes. If was only man, -
The doctor was silent This terrible
year of war and pestilence had made the
sky dark for them ALL The rebels were
conquered, but were still in hiding among
the hills, shot down like dogs whenever
they ventured out: in every house there
was disease or want, but the jolly Kelsoc
household seemed to have Jared worst of
ALL
"What is wrong, Tom, boy? Perhaps
I can be of some help to YOU"
"My father was in debt, it seems. One
of the creditors is pushing hard for u
small sum- The Sheriff served writ to-
day; if my father was not so near to
death, he would be in jail at this minute p
Tom broke down here, altogether; lie
was only child, after all and he hid his
face against the doctors knee, and sObbed
out loud
"Tut, tut Poor lad This must be set
right at once I'll see to it, Tom"
But Tom, when he looked UP, had no
brighter face than before. SO many Of
his fathers friends had gone to Z" see to il"
and there was the end of it. There was
nothing so plentiful as goodwill that
year, or so scarce as money.
"If your crops were in "-hcsitated the
doctor
"If the crops were III, we would be
safc," SAID Tom, eagerly; but look at
them" pointing to the great fields of un
cut grain, beginning to droOp from over
ripeness. There is not man to bc
found to cut them"
"Thcre arc not half dozen labOrcrs
left in the county; we miss the crOppies,
IS fr1 %
"There is no chance Of pardon for
| them." asked Tom, anxiously.
Pardon Why, regiments from Dub
lin are guarding every cross road through
the hills and, as soon as Il rebel thrusts
his head into sight, he is shot down like n
rat in hole But that is not our trouble
| just now. I'll do what / can"
"Yes, sir" But Tommy sat down
again, despondingly, on the step, not even
turning his head to see the doctor ride Off
If he had done so, he might have caught
sight of dark shadow gliding swiftly
away from the hedge by which they had
stood, through the furZe-bushes.
1t was boys figure, and one sleeve
hung empty by his side.
DR.. Lannan did what he could the next
day, but it was not possible to raise the
money. lfKelsOe's crops were harvested,
every body said, "they could be sold in
an hour" But the crops were not har-
vested.
keep good heart, Tommy" said the
doctor, as he babe him good-by the next
evening. "Your father has been true to
his God and his friends, and neither OF
them will desert him."
"I don't know" said Tom, drearilv.
But his heart grew warm and light. He
ran to the kitchen, and brought smoking
cup of tea up to his mother. She would
drink it from him, rather than any of the
maids. She looked at his bright face, as
she gave the cup back.
=" Is there any good news, TOm?"
"Well, no not exactly news. But il
will come, mother" said Tom, conf.
IDENTIFY.
AS he came down the stairs with the
empty cup, he saw a dark figure standing
in the dimly lighted hall. He stopped
with thrill of terror the man was
masked. He had heard of cases where
desperate from hunger, the rebels had left
their hiding places, and gone into farm
houses, both to rob and murder Whether
these stories were true or not, it is nc
wonder that Tom drew back as the maI
came close to him. But he only held out
| i'''ci anu "Hcu IoIh took IL, ulsip
peared. 1t was square, dirty paper, sealed
with the mark of a thumb upon the wax
Inside were these words:
"Let no one teaue this house to niqht. O,
pain Of death.
(Signed) by order of
"THE SHAN VAN VOGHT"
And underneath we're scrawled these lines
For Ould ireland shall be free,
| From the centre 10 the sea,
| Says the Shan Van Noght."
What the Shan Van Voght might be
Tom did not clearly know A mystcriou
power which the rebels obeyed, he ha'
heard, no matter what deed of wicxedncs
1t dictated To them. lie sat down on tn
stairs. "Thcy will carry off all the stock
and leave us to starve," he said desperate
ly. They will burn the house, and u,
. | Lii q rata In horn o-,...a. 4. IL.