The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-03-09
CHAPTER. TT

uay doou1 month alter the above event:
the country Is in bad way. an it's
time Tor them that love, peace and quiet
ness to spake up
True for you, Martin; an if | was
younger I'd do the same thing" Owen
kearney said, looking up from the news.
paper, in which he was reading an ac-
count of the arrest of several of the
rebels known in 1871 az the "Mollie
Maguires" from their having first met in
the house of woman of that name
Its bad for the poor boys that went
with the 'Mollies.'''
Will you Join with me, Larry?D
Martin asked.
But he shook his head, as he replied
somewhat hastily: mot |, faith; the
boys never did anything to me-"
An I'm not going to do anything to
them," answered Martin, quickly con
ly, | think it's right for us to show that
we're honest Roscommon boys, an have
nothing to do with villains who soround
the country at night, frightening women
an children and murderin' poor, limo
cent cattle, not to mention shooting
their next-door neighbor from behind
the hedge, without any reason. | know
I'd lever be sheep-stealer than Molly
Mcguire; an to show that | have no
dealings with them, I'll go tomorrow to
Boyle an list in the volunteers"
Larry used every argument to prevent
his brother going to Boyle as he said,
but without any avail; and early the
next morning Martin started to do what
numbers of the better class of farmers
sons in the vicinity of the small towns
had already done.
About twelve o'clock in the night that
Martin left his home, Owen kearney and
his wife were startled out of their sleep
by the softie rushing into their room
screaming wildly that he had a dream.
An what was it, Barney?" asked
Mrs. kearney kindly. "Don't be fright
ened now; but tell me-"
Arrah, ma'am," he sobbed. II
dreamed | saw Martin; an two men
with their faces blackened rode up to
aim on the plains of Boyle an shot him.
Oh, wirra, wirra, Que of them was Lar
ry!"
/ Poor Mrs. Kearney fell to wringing
her hands, and sobbed wildly at the
extraordinary dream of the poor fool;
while her husband rushed to his sons
room in the hope of finding Larry, but
his bed was empty, as was that of Luke
the servant. Full Of terrible forbodines,
the farmer began to question Barney
more particularly as to his dream; but
he could only repeat again and again
/ that TWO men fired at Martin on the
/ plains of Boyle; one of them was Larry
and the other was Luke; this he main
tanned with persistencv which it was
almost impossible to doubt. No one
thought of returning to bed; and while
/ they were consulting as to what was best
/ to be done, the softie again uttered a
wild shrek and rolled over on the floor,
as bullet entered the kitchen window
and lodged in the opposite wall, followed
by another, which whistled past Owen
kearney's head.
"The Lord have mercy upon u.s." he
exclaimed, crossing himself devoutly.
Where will it end?" And he held his
wife, who was almost insensible from the
! fright, close in his arms. At that
instant a bright light Illuminated the
/ whole kitchen; and in a moment the
/ truth flashed across his brain-his stead
/ ing was in flames. Not daring to open
his door to look out, he tried to think
what was best to be done for perhaps the
house over his head was blazing, too, or
would be in a few minutes. Casting a
hasty glance round he lifted his wife in
his arms, meaning to carry her to the
front of the house and out of sight of the
flames; when violent knocking at the
door startled him. and he recognized his
niece's voice demanding admittance.
Hastily unbarring it, he saw her accom-
panied by party of soldiers, who, when
they found no lives had been taken, set
to work bravely to protect the property
which was yet untouched by the fire
But there was little left for them to 10.
The cattle had been ham-strung, the
horses stolen, and lighted brand placed
in every stack of oats and the thatch of
every outside. The work of devastation
had been done only too well.
The 're taken, uncle-them that set
the haggard a-fre," said Dora, as soon as
she was able to speak. Il brought the
soldiers to the house, and, she added,
one of the villains said he had finished
off Owen Kearney. Thank God, it is
not truer' and she threw herself into his
arms.
Yes; heard him." said one of the
soldiers; "and we've sent him to safer
| lodgings than we took him from. 1t
seems, Mr.. Kearney, that your niece was
returning home from visit to a neigh
boris, when she heard two men whisper
/ ingin the lane at the end of the meadow.
i As they were in front, and she didn't
! like their looks, she kept behind and heard
them say that there were two gone TO
! Boyle to look out for the volunteer, and
| that they were going to do for old Kear-
ney and his wife, string the cattle and
/ fire the hag~ard. Like a sensible girl
she turned around quietly and ran as
quick as she could towards Castlerea.
/ By good luck she met us halfway; and
though we were going on another err
rand, we turned back at once with her,
and Melted the rascals who did this
pretty piece of business sent sixteen
men on towards Boyle, to see if they
could learn anything of the villains that
/ followed your son." added the sergeant
" Where's Larry, uncle?' asked Dora,
after she had tried Intellectually to con-
/ sole her aunt. "Why isn't he here?"
You're all / have now, alanna,"
Kearney said, pressing her to his breast
Martin is gone, and Larry is gone.
Well, well, God is good"
Miss Dora" cried Barney Athleague
family, come here minute
In the general confusion every one
had forgotten the poor softie who lay on
the floor quite insensible.
What is it, Barney? Are you hurt?"
/ inquired Dora, bending over him.
Not much; only my back is bad, and
I I can't lift my legs. Tell YOUR uncle