The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-08-20
NUMBER 90.
A THRILLING CHAPTER
IN THE HISTORY OF
r O B E r T EN- EFT

3 =. A bright summer shower came anoing dow
the dusty road, and the Widow Miles had bu
barely time To whip in "a few thing" " this
Sr Wsre crying on the hedge close by, when /
1t seemed as il it had been running n Yao
With small party Of soldiers who were comm
IN the opposite direction, and who, on percelv
ing it's approach, rnshed on double ouiok. i,
first. '''o' in'
In the furry Of resoung her oaps, that wor
| peAnuinily starched and as white as q hound
tooth, Mrs. Miles had not observed the red
coats until they had entered the tsp-room =,
the number Of dozen or so, and had bepu,
ordering her, in no very refined language. Z.
| bring on some of her best.
The apartment. which was roomy CONTAINED
Two long tables, and some common chairs end
| forms one of the tables was placed midyav
| across the room between two dours ths one tbs
! principal entrance, and the other loading opf
into the rear promises. Tao remaining taLle
wa" placed at right angles with this and near
tho wall. ' W S''i
After stacking their arms ia n corner tba
soldiers seated themselves OF the former ana
began To enjoy their glass.
There were only t&o persous hesidea kho.
widow. in tho room when they entered and
one OF these was apparently o peitIer for a
p"TS Ts.o WIN snou straps lay at his fset.
creature, with a singularly brilliant eye, and n
restless though aimless snirk on his connie
nance, "hl0h, together with other peculiarities.
seemed to Indicate that he was one of thoaa
poor, harmless st1npletons not rcquently mot
in the highways and bywsys of ireland.
.,sE re " was dressed in an old military suit.
pAtchea IN Beversl place, and had O woodan
oirclod his waist SA
His shoee were not of the best, although his
hot was OF the most pTeteBtious chsracter Ia
being decorated with BpanHles and pescook's
feathers.
As bis coat fitted him like a sentrv.bo1 :.
Was difficult to say whether he VIVA symfna-
tIiraily formed or otherwise; nOtwithstsndinu
Lh"t' hA "as plainly Us wiry and as supple as
'as Tor when be caught, through the open
Iir, glimpse Of the soldiers spproachin1 the
l"nse, ho sprRER with great agility from hia
'eht Hs il to apprise the widow bnt ON per-
ewing her abseuce he regained it once more,
lad crossed the threshold
Ills COMPANION. the peiller, " ho was tressed
a q a Init OF well worn itSut frieze, waa remark
.hy handsome for one OF his lRborioun caIIinr,
!it eyes and thick cnriy hair wsr. IA dark n.
Midnight, and his form athletic and spleudidIy
eYeloPed. He was in the foil hIsh of oarlv
laAhond' and was considerably over the middle
eight.
His countenance WAS frank and open, and his
manner easy for he retnrned the rude in
hiring stare Of the soldiers with n IooL ~
Ihaly ciVlllty, but. without psusipR in the
DnVersatiOn that he appeared to be holding
lth his comioal military friend when they en-
,red the house.
The widow seemed TO bs we'll aco,ai,4os
nth both; for no sooner had the red-coatn
'ated themselves than che exclaimed, in A
erry, bantering tone:
Come, GinerAl Jack, let us know what von
ave been d0in' since saw you last. Have You.
Mister Norris, there. caught McCabe vet. and
DC Eeted the five hundred that's offered for him
tho Castle"
Now, quit OF yer capers, Biddy Miles, and
'eGk what's mkt yer heart" returned GinernI
sck, as the SimPleton was called, for don'E
'n know that it's 700 Tm Ron' to ketch the
tst, for the purpose of maxim You change the
'lor OF that bit of black ribbon that's on your
Up, without botherin' myself about a rebel
retched"
" That's well done, general" joined in the
'ddler, with laugh and I'm sure Mrs Miles
n scarcely misunderstand your proposition
whatever way she may think proper to en-
rtSin it,"
" God help you, Mister Norris,n reioiped
Ick, Struggling hie shoulders in great RIee-
but it's you that knows little about sioh
ings, else it's at home with young wife
'u'd have been these five yeafs brInSinj mn
tie soldiers for the king instead OF Tanderin'
out from post to pillar, with such load an
at on your Shoulders."
i There's some truth in that" observed the
'geant who commanded tho party. But, as
. King has more enemies than friends in this
n OF the country, and as IL is necessary that
should be able 90 distingu'Hh the one from
. other, shall take the liberty of calIiny
on your acquaintance, the Peddler, there, to
oduce his passport"
= Haix, yer right, sargsntp replied the gen-
Al, in fit of the greatest merriment FLOR
re know myself that he's the Rreatest rebel
the country, and ss bad as McCnbe himself.
d more betoken, didn't try 70 get hin
bbed the week afore last when he was sellin'
, colonel happened TO know him, and laugh
me-"
The soldiers now looked ct each other. "A IL
~ considered the sergeant had been somo-
AZ premsture. Bat, without seeE1ipR TO no.
their hesitation, the poddleE eo0lly drew .