Dodge City times., 1882-10-26


gland. Il couldn't. Sir Castor. an I
wouldn't if Icould.' And wild that she
slips her hand in O'Neil's an walks
away. He looked after them, his eyes
glarin his face white ez ashes Be me
faith j was proud of Tipperary girl
| then"
They all knew the rest of the story.
OF the ten happy Years spent by the
Colleen Dhu as O'Neil's wife. in their
pretty rose-wreathcd home. the rent OF
which was always too promptly paid
I for complaint; of her husbands death
one year ago. and her desperate strug-
Gle since, TO keep life into herself and
children. This month the rent had not
been forthcoming. and to-day within
the cosy. straw-thltched cottage the
bailiils were at work.
Not to day." she cried. shuddering
and whitening. mot to day, alanna,
in the cruel Storm
But they went deahy on with their
merciless task of despoiling her home.
When the last stick had been flung into
the wagon they pointed to the door.
"Gor. they said.
She staggered out into the white, bit
ter world. her baby in her arms. BY her
side her eldest son. boy of ten. A
quiet, silent lad he; dull and stupid the
neighbors called him. A short distance
from her little kingdom the woman
paused. She looked back, her face all
working with misery.
"Oh, my home! My old, happy
horse"
That ro;l;p,r cry- cp,o,o tho nor ~ .,
man standing a little way from her,
tlorid. prOsperous-looking fellow, fur
clad from head to feet.
He laughed aloud. She turned and
saw him. He would be merciful.
She flung herself down in the cold,
wet snow. She held up two thin hands.
Not y-to-morrow! We shall
freeze, We shall die-not to-dayr'
But the storm was kinder than the
words he spoke, and she rose and
shrunk away. till the snow, like mer-
cifal vail. shut out her little straw
thatched home.
Time was twenty years older when
one day all artistic London was thrilled
and startled into admiration of a pict-
ure which had appeared in one of the
exhibitions.
A wonderful piece of coloring. that,
1t was the terrible story of an eviction
by bailiffs; white, weary woman
shrinking away, but looking longingly
back; children shuddering TO her side.
fear and hunger in their faces. The
central figure was that Of robust.
prosperous. seal-clad man, who stood
looking on with vindictive satisfaction.
And over all the anguish and despair
was the cold winter sky, the white,
whirling snow-drifts.
1t was grand success. All London
fiocked to see it. 1t touched every
heart. Mems faces paled as they gazed
on the pictured misery, and many a
one started as at the sudden sight of
familiar face.
'.Why"' they would cry. pointing to
the cruel. relentless face of the land
lord. "that was surely drawn for our
millionaire and politician now running
for election, Sir CASTOR Bennett
Rumor brought him the strange
news. He went to see this idol of the
critics. Those present noticed how he
staggered back as though from blow.
"The Colleen Dhu"' he whispered.
Already the truth was spreading abroad.
He must see the artist!
He sought him out-a reserved, quiet /
man. He caught his breath as they
met. His lips shook nervously.
Her soni
The Colleen Dhu's pure, sweet face,
her proud. dark eyes. all intensified, |
II must have that picture" the great
man said to him who as boy had |
stood an apparently Indifferent spec
tator to that terrible scene. 81 must