The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-02-20

/ w Hy you, Oh course, dlthOuSA you
don't deserve to be told so-and little Mary
and dear little cosy home'
"You are a good 'un, Fanny. There,
! my girl, mark my words-so long as l live
l never will be jealous again"
Jealous Why, you great big stupid,
don't you think that l would stick to you
before any one? Why, Luke, if the Shah
of Persia was to come here and to offer to
make me Queen of Arabia, what do you
think l would say? Why, l would send
for policeman, and give him in custody
for his impudence, that 1 would, as sure as
my names Fanny Dalton
''Of course !; but then, you see that there
chap is a furriner, while young Squire La
! Wis is"
/ "A fine young man, with no more harm
III him than that pretty rabbit that Mary IS
playing with" =
'GOu are always right, Fanny. Well, I
! will never say another word about it as
long as | live but what could 1 think ?''
Think ?-why, of your tea, which is
getting cold while we are talking. There,
finish like dear old boy, while l get your
pipe
And SO the matrimonial tiff ended. But
there was little uueasiness in Luke's
mind, in spite of his reassuring words.
1t eventually appeared that the secret
| amusement in which Luke Dalton INDUCED
was poaching. The companions he was
! wont to meetat the village ale-house served
to form band of which he was the &C
knowledged leader. By-and-by old 'Sqnire
LAWS up at the house got scent of the dep
relations, and the guards of the woods and
the stubble were doubled. The news of
/ this move, while filing Luke's companions
with dismay, gave the leader of the band
unqualified satisfaction"
'Now, it really will be fun" he said
when the tactics of LAWS were explained
to him. ''We shall have a chance of a
row but mind, use your fists, my lads
and leave your guns for the partridges and
pheasants.
The '1ads'' seemed more inclined to
leave the affair altogether. However, Luke
talked them over, and it was decided that
one last attempt to get some game should
be made OH the Saturday following the old
SQuire's announcement.
Until the day arrived, Luke was less
cheerful than usual. In spite of the ques-
tions OF his wife, lie anaged to ep
his secret, though, had he made a clean
breast of it to Fanny, | could have been
saved the trouble of telling you this story.
The Saturday at length arrived, and
Luke met his companions, as agreed, at
the LAWS Arms.
''Now, my boys" said he, '.you have
only got sticks, ELI? You have left your
guns at home ?''
Yes replied fellow with a hang-dog
expression Gf countenance, one William
Smith, known by the uncomplimentary
nickname of ''Sneaking Billy''-''Yes. we
have all left 'em at home but why have
you brought yours, Luke ?''
because I can trust myself, Billy, but
can't trust you
Mr.. William Smith growled out an oath,
and slouched up to Luke with threaten
ing GESTURE.
''Why can't you tIust me ~
because you're an ugly customer in
your cups, my man. We don't want any
murder tonight"
''You mind what you say"
81 shan't mind yOu," retorted Luke.
"You are not man enough to fight fellow
in straightforward way"
mo quarreling," cried another man.
Come, Luke, he didn't mean any harm
now, dd you, Billy ?''
Not I. Only Luke will have his joke,
and he hits rather toe hard sometimes.
Here, Luke, give us your fist, and let's say
no more about it"
Billy took it. and shook it; but rs he
turned away he murmured, "All right my
fine fellow-I shall owe you one for this,
and yours is debt shall pay some day"
The men took up their sticks, and, head
ed by Luke carrying his gun, made for the
wood The band marched along in silence.
When they had arrived at their destination
they halted, and Luke having loaded his
gun with shot, laid it down beside him on
the grass. Then there was moment of
silence, and then were heard tie following
words spoken in the well-known voice of
old Sdnire Lavis-''You had better surren-
Ger. There's ten of us, and you're only
five. Come quietly, and you shan't be
hurt"
81 am afraid we must run for it, lads"
sang out Luke. ''Let us bolt"
At that moment there was scuffie be-
tween two men, and then the gun WAS
seized and fired, and the man who had fired
it followed his companions so quickly, that
it was impossible to distinguish him from
! the rest.
| .This is very serious" said the Squire,
bending over the bleeding body of the
game-keeper. ''Who did it?"
! Here's the mans gun, sir, said SER
want, picking up the still smoking fowling
piece.
do you know whose it is ?'' asked the
! Squire.
! Yes. sir; 1 recognize it at once. 1t be-
longs to Luke Dalton"
! sI.uke Dalton ~ echoed the Squire.
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