Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-29
JACK AND DOLLY.


A Day In Ireland in 1851.
The air is soft and warm like spring, and
'the southerly wind and the cloudy sky pro
claim a hunting morning" 1t is breakfast
time at Ballybague 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 p
'Here, Dollyi" Captain Trevor tosses a
letter TO his wife, and then reads his own cor
respondence. Everything about the house
bespeaks comfort and ease. There is a wide
| stretch of park and woodland beyond the
windows. 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 in her
husbands stronger features. With her own
letter unopened beside her plate, she watches
him tearing open his envelopes and Rlancing
at the contents, and the fear never leaves her
eyes for second. Suddenly across his face
sweeps a crimson flush, and muttering some
thing that is not a blessing, he thrusts a let
ter into his pocket and attacks his breakfast
with savage energy.
Dolly turns white. "What is it, Jack 2"
"Oh, nothing!"
Jack, tell me, what is it ?"
Captain Trevor tries to laugh as he meets
his wife's eyes, but ii is a failure, and he an
swers hastily: "Only another threatening
letter, Dolly. You mustn't be frightened
don't mind them Bit
But Dolly does, and her lips tremble ~
wish you wouldn't go hunting, Jack it isn't
safe. Supposing-"
"You mustn't suppose, Dolly. l must
have day with the hounds, and no one will
possibly know 1 am going; besides, will
hntua hx Nhara ta
ally no danger, dear, or wouldn't CO."
''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 moody, dissatisfied look on
his handsome face, and presently he bursts
out Hang it all /! what beastly country
this is A fellow can't even 60 out with the
hounds without the chance of being fred at
from behind hedge"
Jack" she whispered, what are we to
do, dear5"
'''Pon my honor, don't know. We
can't live without the rents, and there doesn't
seem to be much chance of getting them!"
won't they pay anything?"
"Only 'Griffth's valuation wont take
that, so Tn to be shot because want my
rent-the rent they paid to my father and
grandfather before me. It's deuced hard,
but wont give in"
Dolly looks up at the stalwart six feet of
manhood, with his flushed face and kindling
eyes, and her heart goes out TO him with a
great cry. He is her lord, her king, the
father of her children, and he is in danger Of
his life-not from foreign enemy, not from
war, but in danger from his own country
men, 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
thing woman though she be, her hand shall
avenge the deed.
''What have 1 done ?" poor Jack goes on,
with passionate vehemence. II have never
done anything unjust have never pressed
a tenant unduly yet l am hunted down,
marked out, not by my tenants-I don't be-
lieve they would do it-but by some internal
secret society. Don't look so wretched, Dol
"; it will all blow over. The government
must do something SOON"
The girl looks up with flaming cheeks.
"And if you we're shot, what would it matter
to me what the government we're to do?
What would anything matter? These dread
full things ought to be prevented, Jack. What
good would it be to do anything after that,
mon calin?"
These weary weeks of watching and anxiety
have told on Dolly Trevor, and 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 go out,
Jack. Let me go. Who is it, Martin ?"
81 don't know, ma'am, but the police are
with him."
TITS all right then !" and Jack goes out on
some ordinary business, while two policemen,
on the gravel sweep, watch closely.
Captain Trevor comes back to the dining
room. 'Well, Dolly, I'm of Get the chill
dren down for a minute"
He knows we'll, 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
Dorothy, shouting for papa" and he takes
them up in his strong young arms and kisses
them.
Why does Dolly cry? Only going out for
days hunting, yet he says good-by like
this Martin brings a sandwich case and
flask, and with them, as a matter of course,
a loaded revolver. Captain Trevor puts the
ugly thing quickly into his pocket, hoping
his wife doesn't see it. But she does and
though her heart jumps she is glad he has
taken it.
''Take care of yourself, Dolly, and don't
go beyond the place"
you'll come home early, Jack ?" she whis-
pers, putting her face to his.
81 can't say" he answers with pretended
cheerfulness. sit all depends on what sort
of a run we have, so you mustn't be anxious
if don't turn up till dinner time"
"No, " Dolly answers, dsmally thinking of
the long weary hours of watching before she
will see him again.
"Wen, take care of yourself" he says
again. 'Good.by, my grill" he holds her
tight, tight for second, and bends his come
ly brown head to kiss her lips that quiyer for
all the trusting words.
She follows him to the hall, holding his
hand as if her close, clinging clasp could
keep him from all harm. Her wholelif seems
made up Of this one passionate absorbing
love for her husband and well she knows
that it would kill her if aught happened to
him. But she smiles bravely while he mounts
his horse and rides slowly away under the
bare branches of the elms At the end of
the big avenue he turns and waves his hand
and smiles at the little figure watching till
the last geam of the red coat disappears, and
then with sigh going back into the dining
room, where the children are playing on the
hearth-rug.
II seems terrible long morning. 1t is
only two hours since her husband left, and to
Dolly it is ages since she heard his voice, and
her heart Is full of vague forebOdings, and