The Lincoln County herald., 1872-11-13
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

Three years after the opening Of Ger.
tain well,kuown line Of railway in the
southwest of Ireland, there occurred upon
it one of the most tragieal incidents the
annals of crime have to offer.
A young gentleman of independent
m cans, about twenty six years old, took
it into his head to make a tour through
that portion Of Ireland in which our
story lies. There was nothing very re.
markable in his appearance. He was
gentlemanly looking, with brown hair
and whiskers, an aquiiino nose, bright,
intelligent eyes, and stood about Eve feet
ten. His name was Gerald Fairfax.
After some weeks of rambling about,
our young friend reached the town Of
D., intending to take the train the next
day for Dublin.
The scenery about D. is the most
glorious in that part of Ireland. Fairfax
was delighted with it. In all bis excur.
sions be had found nothing to approach
its beauties. He resolved to prolong his
stay there until he should grow tired Of
the scene; and day after day wandered
among the mountains, or rsclined, pipe
in mouth, watching the wild glories that
nature on all sides unfolded to his gaze.
One morning he sat at the open win.
dow of his hotel, shortly after breakfast,
pondering the direction he should take
that day for a walk. The street he
looked into was quiet one. Some mean
looking houses confronted him a little
way up some squalid children we're play.
ing; further yet a priest was sunuing
himself in the genial morning light.
Presently a man came down the street,
fellow dressed 10 the garb of an Irish
peasant, with very broad shoulders and
brawny arms. His face was pale, a
pallor almost corpse like. His lips were
thin, and being tightly compressed, made
a mere line of his mouth. His eyes we're
small, black, anu brilliant, illuminated by
q ray singularly sinister and malignant.
Fairfax could hardly help taking par
tlcular notice of him for, as he passed
with a slow, furtive gait, the hotel, he
eyed the young fellow so closely that the
gaze became embarrassing, and Fairfax
dropped his eyes. He walked to the end
Of the street, and then came back, fixing.
as he passed, the same sinister lsok upon
the young fellow, and presently disap-
psarsd.
"Sems bsggar, I suppose" thought
Fairfax, "examin,ng me with cunning to
remark if l looked ignorant and bsnevo,
lent enough for him to practice bis
sloquence on"
He lett tho hstsl, struck off to the left
aud began to explore fer new bits el
scenery in q portion Of the country be
had not yet traversed. On returning
leisursly 1t about half-past one, he en-
tered . narrow defils that led through
some frowniag rocks to the shore of the
lake.
He was whistling pretty msrrily, when
he suddenly paused, for, turning the
angle of a cliff, he came right upon q
q ysung man and girl, seated in a very
lover like attitude On fragment Of rock
The girls head was upon the youna
mans shoulder, his arm was around bel
waist.
He was good natured enough to un
derstand the wickcdnsss Of spelling this
kind Of sport, and strodo on, after steal
ing q brief glance at the young couple
who, on seeing him, instantly abandoned
their amorous posture, aud sat stiffly
upright.
The young girl was singularly bsauti
fuI ho hardly wanted 10 inspect he
long to see that. She vas pure typ
ofths Irish women, With great black eyes
pale cheeks, red lips, and masses Of blacI
hair, which she wore piled upon her hsat
10 a beautiful, though srhstic confSsios
But what had struck Faivfax mos
than the beauty Of the girl, end vhis'
would have caused hin to liSgsr
moment or two longer bet for the en-
bssrassmsnt so rude an act would hsv'
eutailed, was the appsssases ofshs yosnI
man.
With his brown hais and whiskers. hi
squilius nose, and bright eyes, be was tn
| yerv OouptsrDayt Of Fairfax himself