Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-01

pullisueu SucuutTs Ny hucs ol W PutliiiS <
them on the chain gang, body of men
who worked on the street, chained by one
foot to great iron ball.
Zone night as | was coming home from
a school concert / saw heap Of wood at
the foot of the statue Of Calhoun on the
square. Now this was only an ordinary
figure, coarse enough, no doubt, but it was
our only statue, and the town was proud
of it accordingly. Coming closer, l saw
the figures of two boys, one on tho top OF
the heap of wood, busily tying rope
around CalhoLn's waist, the other below,
begging him apparently to desist
"Ah, Masther Arty, it's hung ye'll be
an no loss!" ] heard in frightened
whisper frSm Mike.
"Get away, there! Stand back!"
"Arthur leaped down and gave the rope
a vigorous pull. Down came the figure
and, from tho sound. / knew that some
parts of it had been fractured. The boys
stood motionless.
"'I didn't think il would breakp gasp
ed Arthur.
There was sound Of approaching foot
steps.
run. run !" Mike cried, dragging
Arthur down the square. ITS ihe CON
stable"
"But they were too late. When Shoel,
the one policeman. saw the injury done
to this glory of art, his teeth actually
chattered. lie started after the rctreating
boys and after tough chase, caught Ar
thur, and Mike at once surrendered also
"a month in the chain. gangll not pay
you off for this, you young vipers!"
"Michae turned on him furiously
"Let Masther Arty 60! 1t was did it,
He wor persuadin me to stop; wern't you,
Masther Arty?"
"Arthur hesitatcd, look ing like beat
en- hound.
"I die try to stop him,"he said in a
feeble voice.
81 hurried up. Mikes keen Irish wit
read my purpose in my face. He shoob
off Shobk's hold, leaped Mt me, took m'
by the shoulder, and said, in ferc,
whisper:
"'If you tell, I'll kill you'll l alloy'
tux his batin' Is fur him.
I'm not afraid of you. Blu. you car
take Your 'batin ifyou chose
Shock hauled them both away. The
next morning they were brought up be-
fore the magistrates. Mike told his story
and Arthur sustained him in it. Arthur
was discharged, with compliments on his
kindness to the poor wretch.
That afternoon, ms soon as | was clear
Of school, l hunted up the chain gang,
There was Mike at the end, break ing
stone, the chain rafting with every
turn. He had taken off his jacket and
covered the bali with it. His eyes were
swollen with crying, but when. he saw
me, he burst into miserable chuck le.
That is what The O'More has come
tool he said.
when / met Leveridge, l told him
he was sneak, hound, etc. Thea
went to the Magistrate with my story
But, to my amazement, they poeh-poeh.
ed me away. 1t was my first insight
into the weight of caste.
Eight years after that, the war broke
oUt, Mike enlisted in the Southern
army. Arthur became paymaster in Il
Northern regiment. You would not
find that young man where any fight
ing was called for! When the army
was in the Shenandoah Valley, Lever
idge, it appears, received secret offer
of high position on the Confederate
side, provided he would betray our corps
to the enemy. The scoundrel consent
ed. BY some chance Mike discovered
the transaction. Leveridge left the
camp and rode down to the river si6e
to meet the messenger from the Cons
federate army, to whom he was TO give
the maps, statement Of the condition,
numbers, etc, OF the Union troops. He
had the papers on his person. 1t was
late in the afternoon when the CoDfed-
crate messenger approached and gave
him the signal agreed upon. Leveridge
handed him the packet, when to his
astonshment, the man tore it in half
and flung it in the river.
"'It's thrue, thinP It's an informer
ye'd bel heard talk oft in the Col
onel's tint while l was kapin' guard an
I'd not behave itp
"You rulFianl Am l never to have
done with your
Mike was powerful Irishman, and
every nerve was tense with passion.
He caught Arthur by the collar and
literally shook him.
"You shall not do It'll The man that
sucked the breast OF my mother shall
never turn informer! I've saved you
manya time, but | never saved you
from anything leike this
He turned him toward the Union
picket lire, then hurled him from him.
"There goI and, fur Gods sake be a
man Masther Arty!'
'Lcveridge painted out an oath TT
WAS your own side | was going to help,
you hound!'
"What's sides to me? An informer!
o Holy Virgin'
THE man stalked away down the
river bank. The boat lay hidden in
which he had crossed. lie got into it
and padded over.'
The Major stopped abruptly in his
narrative.
We'll, 20 on, go on we said. What
become of him.
The picket guard saw him as he
reached the open space where the moon
shone clearly. There was sharp ring
of bullet. The poor fellow sprang