The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-20
JACK AND DOLLY.
ADAY IN IRELAND IN 1881.


The air is soft and warm, like
sprinr, and the southerly wind and
CLOUDY sky proclaim hunting
morning. 1t is breakfast time at
Ballyhagrn, and the master in his
red coat IS standing on the hearth
rug. Breakfast comes soon enough
and with it the post-bag, anda min
ute later his wife.
"Any letters Jack ?"
Here. Dolly m Captain Trevor
tosses letter to his wife, and then
reads his own correspondence.
Everything about the house bespeaks
comfort and ease. There is n wide
stretch OF park and woodland be-
yond the windows. Captain Trevor
and his wife are young, comely and
strong yet over their faces hangs a
cloud, something that looks like
dead in Dolly's soft brown eyes, and
more like anger and disappointment
on her husbands stronger features.
With her own letter unopened be-
side her plate, she watches him
tearing open his envelopes and
glancing at the contents, and the
fear never leaves her eyes for sec
ond. Suddenly across his face
sweeps a crimson flush, and, NUT
tering something that is not bless
ing, he thrustsa letter into his pock
ct and attacks his breakf fast with
savage energy.
Dolly turns white. What is it
Jack ?''
"Oh, nothing"
Jack. tell me, was it
Captain Trevor tries to laugh as
he meets his wife's eyes, butt is a
failure, and he answers hastily:
"Only another threatening letter,
Dolly. You mustn't be frightened ;
/ don't mind them a bit"
But Dolly does, and her lips trcm-
bic: 81 wish you wouldn't go out
hunting, Jack; it isn't safe. Sup
posing"
"You mustn't suppose, Dolly. /
must have a day with the hounds,
and no one can possibly know | am
going; besides I'll come home by
different road |; there is really no
danger, dear, or l wouldn't go"
Take the police with you, then,
she urges pitifully but Jack laughs.
Nonsense. They couldn't follow
me across country, and | assure you
I'm all right"
But there is a moody, dissatisfied
look on his handsome face, and
pre- sently he bursts out 'Hang it
all! what hasty country this is J
A fellow can't even go out with the
hounds without the chance of being
fred at from behind a hedge"
Jack !" she whispers, 'what are
we to do"
"Pon my honor, ! don't know.
We can't live without the rents, and
there don't seem much chance of
getting Them
Wont they pay anythlng?
"Only Griffith's valuation" Il
won't take that, so I'm to be sho.
because | want my rent-the rent
they paid to my father and grand
father before me. It's deuced hard
but wont give in."
Dolly looks up at the stalwart
six feet Of manhood, with his flush
ed face and kindling eyes, and her
heart goes out To him with G great
cry. He is her lord, her king, the
father of her children, and he is in
danger of his life-not from for
eign enemy, rot from war, but in
danger from his OWE countrymen.
the people he has lived with since
he was born yes, in danger Of being
murdered, and in her love she feels
that if they do this. woman though
she be, her hand shall ayenge the
deed.
"What have | done ?" poor Jacl;
goes on, with passionate vehemence.
laI have never done anything un-
lust; / have never pressed tenant
undulv; yet I'm hunted down,
marked out, not by my tenants-I
don't believe they would do it,
but by some internal secret society.
Don't look 90 wretched, Dolly it
will blow over. The government
must do something soon"
The girl looks up with flaming
checks. "And if you were shot.
what would it matter to me what
| the government were to do? What
would anything matter? These
dreadful things ought to be pre-
vented, Jack. What good would it
be to do anything after, mon calm ?"
These weary weeks of watching
and anxiety have told on Dolly
Trevor. add her fair. fresh face has
lost its roundness. The door opens,
and the butler appears.
"a man to see you, sir"
Dolly springs up. "You mustn't
90 out, Jack. Let me 60. Who IS 1t
Martin
81 don't know, ma'am, bat the
police are with him."
"It's all right, then; and Jack
goes out on some ordinary bpsi-
ness, while two policemen on the
gravel sweep, armed to the teeth,
watch closely.
Captain Trevor comes back to the
dining-room. well, Dolly, I'm off
Get the children down for 2 min
ute"
He knows well, and SO does she,
though neither says it, that it may
be the last time he will ever look
upon their pretty faces ! Down they
come; wee Cecil and smaller Doro-
thy, shouting for papa, and he takes
them up in his strong young arms
and kisses them.