St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-22
a Day in Ireland in 1881.


is breakfast time at Ballyhague, and
the master in his red coat is standing
on the hearthrug. Breakfast, comes
soon enough and with it the post bag,
and a minute later his wife.
''Any letters, Jack ?"
"Here, Dolly :" Captain Trevor
tosses a letter to his wife, and then
reads his own correspondence. Every
thing about the house bespeaks comfort
and ease. There is a wide stretch OF
park and woodland beyond the win
dows. Captain Trevor and his wife are
young, cOmely, and strong yet over
their faces hangs a cloud, something
that looks like dread in Dolly's soft
brown eyes, and more like anger and
disappointment on her husbands strong
er features. With her own letter un-
opened beside her plate, she watches
him tearing his envelopes and glancine
at the contents, and the fear never
leaves her face for a second. Suddenly
across his face sweeps crimson flush
and, muttering something that is not a
blessing, he thrusts a letter into hi,
pocket and attacks his breakfast 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, but it is a failure
and he answers hastily: ''Only anoth-
er threatening letter, Dolly. You
mustn't be frightened | don't mind
them a bit"
nolly lnas opl har line h1o
~ wish you wouldn't go out hunting,
Jack it isn't safe. Supposing-"
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 a different
road there is really no danger, dear,
or wouldn't 60"
"Take the police with you, them" she
urges pitifully; but Jack laughs.
"Nonsense. They couldn't fellow me
across country, and assure you Pm
all right"
But there is moody, dissatisfied
look on his handsome face, and present
ly lie bursts out: "Hang it all what
beastly country this is ! A fellow
can't even go out with the hounds with
out the chance of being fired at from
behind a hedge"
"Jack !" she whispers, "what are we
to do, dear p
"'Pon my honor, | don't know. We
can't live without the rents, and there
doesn't seem much chance of getting
them"
"W0n't they pay anything Y
| "Only 'Gritfith's valuation | won't
| fol 10 that IN, 70 lNa Clnt haaonco
want my rent-the rent they paid my
father and grandfather before me. 1t:
deuced hard, but | won't give in."
Dolly looks up at the stalwart six
feet of manhood, with his flushed face
and kindling eyes, and her heart goes
ont to him, with great cry. He is hel
lord, her king, the father of her chill
dren, and he is in danger of his life
not from foreign enemy, not from
wal, but in danger from his own coun-
trymen, the people he has lived Will
since he was born yes, in danger o.
being murdered, and in her love she
feels that if they do this thing, woman
though she be, her hand shall avengt
the deed.
"NVhat have I done ?" poor Jack goe.
on, with passionate vehemence. 81
have never done anything unjust
have never pressed Il tenant unduly
yet Pm hunted down, marked out, no
by my tenants don't believe they
would do it-but by some internal Sc
cret society. Don't look so wretched
Dolly; it will blow over. The Govern.
ment must do something soOn."
The girl looks up with flaming cheeks
"And if you were shot, what would i
matter to me what 'the government
were to do? What would anything
matter These dreadful things ough
to be prevented, Jack. What goOC
would it be to do anything after, MOI
calm ?"
These weary weeks of watching anC
anxiety have told on Dolly Trevor, an,
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 g
out, Jack. Let me go. Who is it
Martin ?"
81 don't know, ma'am, but the police
J are with him.
'It's all right, then y and Jack goe
out on some ordinary business, whil
two police on the gravel sweep, armed
to the teeth, watch closely.
) Captain Trevor comes back to tn
f dining-roOm. "Well, Dolly, I'm off
Get the children down for minute"
He knows well, and so does she
though neither says it, that it may b.
the last time he will ever look upOl
| their pretty faces Down they come
wee Cecil and smaller Dorothy, shout
ing for "papa," and he takes them a.
in his strong arms and kisses them.
Why does Dolly cry Only goin
f out for a days hunting, yet he must sa.
: good by like this Martin brings
sandwich case and flask, and with them
as a matter of course, loaded revolv
er. Captain Trevor puts the ugly thin
S quickly into his pocket, hoping that hi
p wife doesn't see it. But she does an
4 though her heart jumps she is glad b
is taking it.
"Take care of yourself, and don't G
beyond the place"
J you'll come home early, Jack 2; sh
, whispers, putting her face to his.
81 can't say" he answers with pre-
tended cheerfulness. at all depend
e on what sort of a run we have, so yo
= mustn't be anxious if | don't turn II
p till dinner-time."
NO" Dolly answers, dismally think
ing of the long, weary hours of watch
:, ing before she will see him again.
= "Well, take care of yourself" he say
e again. ''GOod-by, my girl He hold
. her tight, tight for second, and bend
his comely brown head TO kiss her Lip
8 that quiver for all the trusting words.
# She follows him to the hall, hOldin
:, his hand as if her close, clinging elias
# could keep him from all harm. He