Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-06-08

/
There was nothing TO charm me in anything
l saw so | hurried on.
| After ten hours almost constant waking,
\ the country began to improve, and presently
found myself in the little village OF Ballysa-
care. Here halted, for as may be expected,
l was both tired and hungry.
good dinner, however, soon made
wonderful change in me for the better. There
were still couple of hours to pass before
dark, and how better could employ them
than by attempting TO cover in an easy way
the five miles yet between me and Sligo?
Once there, could make up by days idle
ness for this day of extra exertlon. So, after
n short rest, L shouldered my knarsack,
grasped my stick, and started off again.
Once clear of the village. the country be
gan rapidly to improve, and the scenery at
one or two spots was so pleasant was tempt
ed TO loiter was not more than half the
way, when | suddenly wakened to the fact
that night was beginning to fall about me
fast.
Il cannot reach Sligo now before dark;
that's certain" l muttered, as l hoisted my
knapsack an inch or two higher, and began
to cover the ground at my best rate "How-
ever the sooner get there the better
Presently, l reached spot where four
roads met, and while l stood doubtful which
to take gig driven by some one singing i'll
loud key overlook me. At sight of my
lonely figure, the gig was halted suddenly.
and the driver ceased his song.
"Ah, thin, may l ask, is your honor going
my way" said full round voice. ats my
self that's mighty fond of company o nights
about here"
81 don't know what your way may be, l
replied. 81 wish TO 60 to Sligo"
"Ah, thin, an it's that same Sligo, the
weary be on it, that I'd be aiiher goin to my
self, answered the driver. but your hon
or looks tired-manin no offence-an per-
haps you'd take lift in the gigi"
Thank you; will take lift" replied.
as l stepped forward and sprang quickly to
the seat. The truth is, feel rather tired,
US you say"
AN has your honor walked far?" asked
the driver, us the gig rolled on towards the
town.
live walked from Ballina since morning."
/ replied quietly.
From Balllnal There. now. the Lord
save us" cried the man, as he half turned in
his seat and gaZed at me In astonishment.
why, that's days work for the best horse
in the masther's stables"
''Your master must keep good horses, if
may Judge by the one before us" | answer
ed.
The best in all the country, your honor.
hough say it. There isn't q gossoon in
the three baronies but knows that
Your masters a biz of q sportsman,
them"
''Yes, your honor: an if he'd stick to that,
it's himself'd d be the best liked man from Bal
lima to Ballyshannon. You wouldn't find
better rider or warmer heart in days
march. But thin politics has been his ruin
with the people
"Oh, ali; have heard that Sligo is rather
a hot place during elections, lrephed. But
surely the people don't turn upon their
friends at such time?"
They'd turn upon their own father, if he
wint agin them, replied the driver solemnly.
''See now, here am, driving the masthers
own gig to town, just by way of bin, ye
see, while he's got to slip down the strame in
Jimmy Sheridans bit Of boat All, thin
politics, thin politics.
"Oh, then, there's an election about to
take place, | presume?"
"1hrue for ye, your honor, thrue for ye,
replied the man dolefully There nivir was
such ruction in Sligo before. in the mimiry
of man. Two lawyers a-fghting like divils to
see whose TO be mimbir."
Then I'm Just III time to see the fun"
Fun, your honor echoed the man. at
not meself that id object to bit of a scrim-
mage now an agin. But it's murther your
honorll See before it's all over, or my name
isn't Michael O'Connor. Whist nowi Did
ye hear nothin' benin that hedge there?"
At this moment We were about the middle
of a rather lonesome stretch of the road, one
side of which was bounded by a thin high
hedge. The dusk of the evening was fast
giving way to the gloom of night.
'I-ah-yes, surely there is something
moving there, | replied. ITS some ami
NAL, most likely"
Down in the satel down for your lifer
cried the driver, in his terror he brought the
horse to a halt, i"
His speech Was cut short by II couple of
loud reports. A lance-like of fire gushed
from the hedge and one il not two bullets
whistled close past my ear.
''As sprang TO my feet in the gig, the
driver slid down TO the mat, and lay there in
heap, moaning. Are you hurt" l asked
rs l strove TO get the reins out Of his palsied
| hands.
I'm kilt kilt intirelyr be moaned.
"Aisy now, aisy there, your honor" cried
a voice from behind the hedge Just as / had
gained the reins. its all mistake, your
honor. all mlstaker
Give the mare the whip give the mare
| The whip cried the driver, he stroye TO
crawl under the seat; well all be murthur-
| ed"
Instead Of taking his advice, however, |
held the mare steady, whAe a man pressed
| through the thin hedge and stood before US,
q yet smoking gun on his shoulder
What's the meaning of this" | asked
| coolly, fer the newcomers cOolness affected
me. Did you want TO murder person you
never saw before"
I'm raalc downright sony, your honor,
replied the man in just such tone as he
might have used, had he tTod upon my toe
| by accident but ye see you're in Wolf
| O'Neil's gig, an took ye for him. WAere's
that fellow Michael"
As he said tins, the man prodied the driv-
er with the end of bis gun, while II ac-
tually laughed outright at the slrangeness of
the affair.
Go pway with ye. 60 away moaned the
driver. "Murtherl thaves, murther'
Get up with ye, an take tho reins. you
| gomeril you, said the man, ns he gave Mich
ael another prod that brought him half out
You're as big coward as my old granny's
pet calf Get up. an take the reins, OF I'll
'Oh, don't; there, don't say nothin', for
the love OF heaven" cried the driver, M he
scrambled into his seat again. and took the
Ieins in his shaking hands. "1'll do any
thin We tell me, on'y put that gun away"
'SIhere, replied the man, he lowered
the gun tall Its mouth pointed to the ground /;
''will that phase ye? Now. tell me where's
Squire O'Neils"
He's in the town be this" replied the
driver 80 thin politics, thin politics.
Hum; so he's managed to get past us,
after all Well, tell hm from me, Captain
Rock, that if he votes for the snrjnt to-mor-
row, it's an ounce OF lead out of this he'll be
after trying to digest. Now, mind"
''Ill tell him, captain dear I'll tell him. -
replied the driver, as he fingered the reins
nervously. "But maynt We 60 on now:
mayn't We goon:'
''Yis, whiniver the gentleman phases re-
| piled the man. "An' I'm raule sorry, |
tould your honor, I'm raale sorry at the mis-
| take"
"Well, TN pleased. no; sorry" replied,
laughing ''fOr if you'd Int me, it wouldn't
have been at all pleasant. But let me ad-
wise you to make sure OF your man next time
before firing Good night"
food night, your honor, good night.
cried the man, as Michael gave the mare the
whip, and sent her along at the top of her
speed to the now fast-nearing lights of the
town. In less than quarter Of an hour We
bad dashed through the streets. and halted
opposite a large hotel Here Michael found
his master, as he expected; and here put
up for the night, very much to the astonish-
ment Of every one Soon after my arrival