, 1874-12-06

Gregg and his faction skunk out Of town.-most
OF the followers being tipsy. and ell crestfalleu
| and luarIel50lue.
1t seemed that all my g1andfather's plotting
aud cscalatling were just 20 many devices sot on
| foot to be detected aud thus attract attention
from tho real project. than which nothing could
haTo been more simple. He had merely to pay
good price for the 1se OF tho adjoining house,
and the rest was easy.
As for the bride, it turned out that, about the
moment her flight WAS discovered, sho WAS re-
celslng PLAIN gold ring from tho hands OF my
61anQfateer IN church some ten miles OF.
defeated thus eEregiousy y,-balneu as lover,
and. whatho felt perhaps % keculy, as tho head
OF bis house,-Mr. Gregg made oath to slay 1ls
r1val. Ihc1o was, however, q difficulty, ir1emoy-
able for the time, in the way Of cyectiug bis 1ur-
pose. Ho could not "cai him out" It was
generally allowed that my grandfather had fairly
Won his bride, and deserved to enjoy his bappi-
ness without molostation On that account. 4
cartel, therefore. would have evoked universal
reproDation against the sender, and was not to
be thought OF. Mr. Gregg determined, then, 10
bido his tlnc. Ho felt that his vengefu1 purpose
would lose nothing by a little keeping; and he
was confident that tho usages Of the day would
aoon provide him with u fair opportunity OF
meeting his foe sword to sword. as became man
! Of honor. Nor WIS ho disappointed.
In that old time @ fair WAS rho chosen scene OF
Irish revelrr ind riot. About three montha
after the clopement came the fair of NJ. It
was the resort Of all classes for mics round, aud
never had it been known to close without one OF
more nurderous anrays, some OF which occa-
slonally attained tho dmensiohs Of serious
| combat My grandfather determined to attend
the fair, and so dlu lis foe. There was no COM
munlcasion bctweau them On thls point. Each
was assured Of meeting the other there. 1opged
| indeed to Go 90. and made his arrangements &C.
| cortl!ngly. No secret WAS rnado of the purpose
Oh eitlor slio; tor weeks before it Was GENERALLY
anticipated that this particular fair would be en-
lirened by drawn battle between tie Grants
| and the ErcGgs.
| Fnt~
being attracted thitber by the hope of '.seoins
| the fun" About noon tho rivals, each with d
formidable band at his back, mot in t1e middle
Of tho High street, AMI instantly assa1led one
pie With equal good will tho gentlemen among
| them drawing their swords, and tho plebeiana
handling their cudgels. Nor was the fray CON
fined to tho factious- The very few peace-lovera
first indication Of riot. or tho multitude that
t remained, every ono loved row for its own SAKE
t a1d most nour1Hhed private grievances, TO, tho
qualification Of which the OCCASION offered ire
slstible temptations. Those who had weapons at
band plunged At once into tho fray, and those
who had not these indspensables hastoued to i'm
provlse them. Some did 30 by smashing the
chairs in the tap-rooms and appropr1ating tho1
legs. Others fitted themselves for combct by
breathing the poles OF tent and stall into hsndy
| lengths 10th proceedings Of course begot a
series OF by-quarrels, which added much to the
uproar. Tho last was tremendous. It was
scene OF widest confusion. The mir yibEated
with one incessant, ear-piercing yell. There were
solid masses ct men surgiug to and fro sea
OF heads aud perfect forest OF sticks, with hors
and there dashing blade, was all that could be
seen from tho windows. Sometimes vigorous
charge OF the Grants rolled the conflict to the
southern extremity OF tho long High street,
while the foe went down before them BY dozens,
to be trampled upon by the roaring tide Of com.
batauts. Here the Grants would scatter; soms
rushing eagerly forward in pursuit and othars
$n1r. tf~n
would rally, close their ranks, aud. charging
again in one dense masa, sweep the town in pre-
clsely similar fashion.
At times the main conflict would subside in
order that "Rmple space and verge enough"
might be given to the struggle between two re-
doubtable champions THIS being decided, the
mobs wou1d close again with redoubled fury,
and so the tight rolled on
MY grandfather and his antagonist had 81
changed but u few passes ere they we're hurled
asunder BY the torrent Of their partisans. Nor
was it until near an hour had passed that they
encountered again. BY this time the majority Of
the rioters was nearly worn ont, and the chiefs
therefore we're allowed to fight out their partic-
gathered round them in ring. encouraging
them by their cheers OF approval at every dex.
terous parry, home.thrust, or sklilful cut.
have already described my grandfather: Hi.
antagonist WIS much taller, over feet, md
largo. heaTy man to boot. eoth were skillfui
swordsmen, aud both as brave rs men &ou1d be-
The contest was an obstinate one; bet Gregg
was oTer1natched from ths first. He carried
moro flesh than man should do who has to
battle for his life, whllo constant exercise had
rendered my grandfather rs tough IS stee! IN
every muscle The latter, too. WAS renowned fol
immense length Of arm. The fight, however,
did not s., altogether IN his favor BY soma
means slash reached the little finger Of hi1
sword-hand and dryided the bone. I. hung moi
only useless, but seriously impeded the manage
ment Of his weapon, Taking advantage Of
rush that interrupted the struggle for q moment,
be Urung the finger of and turned again ou hi6
foe. The latter stood up to his man With deter.
mined hardlhood, until he was literally sl3shcd
to pieces. lie fell at last through sheer ex<
haustion.
The general fight was then resumed, but tho
Greggs were disprited by the fall Of their chief,
and, after short struggle, were driven from thd
town. Then took place tolerable amount Of
what the natiTes Of tho Green island used to
term ''rlm-W1ackin-' That is to say. the victors
assailed such dwellings, OF their opponents al
happened to be handy, tore off tho roofs, and
destroyed the furniture.
Having completed this last crowning achieve
ment, tho Grants and their paEtsans mustered