Connecticut western news., 1882-08-30
REMINIsCENCE OF A MARCH

Several years ago it fell to my lot to be on the march with subaltern of my regiment in Ireland. was taking detachment to 6 remote part of the country, where, I believe, some dis turbances were to be apprehended, and we had been started of at pretty short notice. I have even now lively recoI- lection of e long railway journey, the dingy stations we passed, the tedious stoppages, occasional plashes of rain against the carriage windows, and our final exit from the train in dark, draughty shed with sloppy platform. From here we had good long march to our halting- place. We had divested ourselves of our vet uniform, entered our little sitiiDg-room with it's welcome peat-piled fire, when note was brought in and handed to me, with message that some one was waiting for an an- swer. It turned out 10 be very cour- teous invitation from 8 Mir. and Mrs. M, of Innishderry Hall (we will call it), who, having heard that some troops were passing through Moynetown to- day, hoped for the pleasure of the off, cers' company at dinner that evening. This was really timely as we'll as hospitable offer, so A, my sub. altern, and at once agreed to accept it.
 As far as can remember, we entered the grounds of Inniellderry Hall about mile and half from the town. The house, as we neared it. seemed large and handsome one. It had great many windows, steep pitched roof, and was partly iyy.clad. Two long ranges of outbuildings were attached to it, one at either end, and from that nearest us as we approached ran out an old wall matted with y-stems, and forming an inclosure screened by row of thorn trees, behind which one could make out the ruined gable end of small building. Our driver, who had been most uncommuni- cative all the way out as to our host and hostess, condescended to tell us this was very ancient chapel, which some an- cestor of the family had pulled down and dismantled, '' bad luck to him r
 The fine entrance hall-I can recall it now-warmed by an ample stove and we'll lighted up, with a few dressed skins lying about, and huge ebon cabi- net oyer against the door, made cheery contrast to the outside car and sur. roundings we had just left. Round the walls were grouped splendid pair oi stag's horns, fox's head and brush, g stuffed seal and other trophies of a sporting life; and black buhalo's mas- sive frontlet surmounting sheaf oi assegais, suggested at once what we afterward learned to be the case, that our host had been in South Africa. wonder what sort of people they are, MajorP' were As words to me, sotto Uoce. as he gave his sleeves a final jerk and glanced down critically at his boots, while we followed the butler to the drawing room. A moment more and we were face to face with our new acquaintances.
 I do not recollect anything very note
 worthy about our host. He was 8 tall and rather handsome man, but of somewhat faded aspect-quiet ant genial in his fAanner. ''1 am an olt soldier myself" was his greeting to us Sand never like any one in the servic
 to pass our place on duty without ou finding him out" But our hostess
 As shook hands with her she at ono
 engrossed my attention. am at los
 now, as was then, to define the natur
 or cause of the peculiar interest sh
 seemed at once to excite in me. Oel
 tainly she was remarkably handsom
 woman, but my observation of her at tn
 moment of introduction was quickly d
 verted by the strange demeanor of A
 I had turned round and was in the ae
 Of presenting him when he suddenl