New-York tribune., 1880-04-06
KEEPING TIE WOLFFROMTHEDOOR
CHAPTER /.
UUNCpY TO MADNFS Sc

blood afOTe another sunrise"
The speaker was a large. wel-built man of sixty
with fllrrowed face and long gray hair and beard
covering head and face.
Fatherw came a sweet voice. and delicate
hand was laid upon the strong MANS arm, and a
sweet face was upturned toward the stcrner vlsage
! in q wiStfu manner.
pair of lovely blue eyes encountered the blood
shot orbs. from which flashed glanccs of fury.
Father, yell not lave the house this day" came
the command from as red and pretty pair of lips
NJ were ever owned bya beautiful daughter OF
Ireland.
"My child, do not restrain me!'
"Yes father tell ye shall hold ye from going
out this davl"
"Child. do We know yer mothers children arc
starvn and can stand it no ongerp
Father Yell not bether the children. nor apDease
their hunger by shedding blood Yer MOI yerseP at
ALL or ye'd never be thinking of snch n thing and
ye Christian man. The Lord Will succOr us yet,
father dcarT
The strong stern old man allowed himself to be
drawn back from the cabin door, and sitting down
upon a STOOL he covered his gray-bcardcd face with
his brawny hands and wept like child.
Tears trick!ed down the face of the fair girl who
had cxertcd such an influence over the strong man.
She was tender-looking creature. not moro than
eighteen, anu llI llOWcf 10 Dc t"
home of gaunt want and eqnalor.
On one side of the hearth, on which smoldered
peat fire. waspn old woman, fully eighty years of
age and crouching around upon the floor wcro five
children, ranging from thirteen to thee wears
Christopher G. Mara had been q well-to-dO lease
holder Gil a small farm in the west OF Ireland.
He had been on intimate terms with one Rich ard
McMann, agent for the estate of which the farm
was n part.
O'NIara was n man who had received fair
amount of schooling, aud it had been his ambition
to have all his children well educated
One day tho two friends, O'Mara and McMann,
had bitter quarrel. and from that hour the two
former friends had became most deadly enemies.
Neither over mentioned the cause of the quarrel,
though neither sought to conceal their mutual
hatred.
The agent was n cruel. crafty man, born in Eng
land of Irish parents
From the moment that O'Mara quarrclled with
McMann. things began to GO bad with tho former.
II took years TO reduce him to n helpless con.
dition. but at length The hour of the agents triumph
arrived.
The proccss-scrver laid the eviction papers under
O'Mara's door, and the latter was compelled to
leaye the comfortable house where he had iIycd
ever since his marrlagc-lay, and in which all his
children had been born
1t was a terrible day when Girls OAlara gathered
his few remaining chattcls on dOnkoy-cart, and
led his children from their home.
Richard NcMaun was present to witness the cyic-
ton. seatcd uuon q fence b,side the lane leading
from the house.
As O'Mara arrived opposite TO where McNIann sat,
lie went to him and said:
" Is there nvcr bit of honor or justice under yer
slln McNIann"
McAlann placed his hand upon the butt Of tho
pistol lie vas licensed To carry. and SAID
"Don't ye come near me- O'Mara'
4 great spasm wrcnchch O'Maras throat as he
exclaimed:
It's no; the sight o that pistol, McMann that
keeps me from cho6in' ye 20 doath! And mind yc
man some day itl come that there will bc blood
atwccn You and J.
"Go on now and don't he bothcrin' yer sowl wd
threats. mani Sure l'yc been mcrcful TO sc ;his
year back. and had been just to me employers
we'd have gone out year agn last Spring"
OMara moved 10 a hamlet near tho town Of
Caherslbccn.
The latter place. next to DinRc, is the most
westerly town III Ireland.
The conn:ry round. as a whole. is noted for ts
bcaliesS. ai!Onp there are patches of fairly pro-
ductivo land here anl there.
1hc pr0nd Cfis O'Mara, after moving his family
to the hain.ct lthe latter merely poor collection of
mean huSl, sought to provide Iof theh by days
wCrn.
length hr, like many Of his poor nc!ghbnrs. had
been reduced to a condition Of absolute starvation.
On the day when we introduce the OMTa family
10 G,lr readers hot meal had been consumed be-
meath their roof for siX-and-lhiriv hours.
IL had SET in 4 bleak day of wind and storm. and
that poor but honest family had sat through the
hours miserable and dcsparing.
The mother OF the poor children had been dead
year. and their care had dcvOycd upon their elder
sister the truly handsome Maggie UAiara.
At the nlOmcnt when Cris OMara made the rush
against HE cabin door, il with the intention OF
seeking Richard McAann.
Maggic had heard her father mn!tcrng to himself
strangely for some time, and with the muticrings
size had heard mingled the namc Of her fathers bit
tcTrst foe.
II was the inquiry on the part Of one Of the
Younger children when they were gong IN haYc
supper that had driven the father to sudden frenzy.
Father" al length said Maggie, 4" Ill 20 to Ca
hcrsibeen."
:" What for me child ~
III get bit o meal from somo ono who has il to
spaIcw
What, child, would ye beg itl'
Maggie could not conceal the blush that mautlcd
her lar check as she lruthfuIly answered:
Yes. DADDY dear"
"My child, yc hey a good and true heart but Id
rather lav We III yer tbln that ye should ever
COME to beg for a sup to ate"