Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-22
knowledged his salute with grace and


dignity.
"You are the Englishman ?" she asked.
81 am an Englishrnan, certainly. May
| ask whom | have tie honor of address
ing."
"All that it concerns you to know, cir,
is that am at present in command OF this
castle and these Fenian soldiers. My
name your countrymen may know some
day"
Pray excuse me, said Laurence, "if l
ask you one question. DO you really mean
to tell me, madame, that these fellows are
Fenians-that there is Feniau army ,"
Your ignorance, sir-the blind per.
verse ignorance of your countrYmen-may
perhaps be allowed to excuse your ques-
ton but have no time to answer such
folly. Look around you if you would
learn. Now we have something else to do.
Gerald Barrymore %
Her loud clear tone rang like trumpet.
call. Barrymore stood forward silently,
and bent his head.
Gerald Barrymore, you have openly
declared yourself traitor to the cause OF
your country. You have refused to join
us you have done all you could to betray
us to the enemy to-day you actually
dared to fire upon our flag. What have
you to say why You should not die trait
ors death p
Good heavens :" exclaimed Laurence
"a can this be serious :"
al havs nothing to say" replied Gerald,
calmly, " except that | am no traitor to
my country, but a true patriot. l care
little to say even this to you. | know l
can expect no mercy, and | don't ask any.
Do your worst.
Gerald Barrymore, | need not tell you
that would spare you if | could ; that L
have tried to win you to the true cause
you know only too well. But the time has
come when we can no longer hold any
terms with traitors. This Englishman is
only foreign enemy-yeu are renegade,
a deserter, traitor; and your doom Is
death ~
Heavens, what fury /" thought Lau-
renee. Then he thrust his friend aside,
and broke out into a regular Grafton ad
dressed to the Amazon. 1t was piece of
imprisoned defamation blended with high
forensic argument. Never had Laurence
before known how eloquent he was. and
how he had mastered all the principles of
constitutional, international and martial
law. He was Erskine, Choate, Webster
and Jules Favre all in one. Utterly forget
ting his principles and his nationality in
the cause of his friend and client, the de-
voted advocate actually besoueht the
Judge. Amazon not to sully the noble flag
she had raised, not to bring dishonor on
the great cause she represented, by violat-
ing the fundamental principles of honor
able warfare, He thought he saw
softening expression on her featuros-nay,
she actually did for moment cover her
mouth with her handkerchief, to hide her
emotions no doubt-but she controlled her
self and said, with some severity in her tone
" In your zeal for your friend, ssir, you
forget Yourself. You forget that zee have
no cause, no flag, no battle field, no prin-
ciples-nay, that there is no Fenianism,
and that there are no Fenians !"
The court is against me, thought poor
Laurence, sadly; and abandoning the high
ground of argument, he was about to move
simply in arrest of judgment, when the
Feniau Chieftainess cut him short.
"Spare your eloquence, sir. We have
little time here for the making of speeches.
Gerald Barrymore, you have until sunrise
to morrow morning to decide your fate. If
then you join our ranks, and pledge your
word of honor to serve US faithfully, you
shall live. If not, you shall be shot at
once as a traitor"
Goa my word, Gerald" exclaimed Lau-
renee, 81 do think you had better join
these people. After all, you are an Irish.
man, you know, and l suppose it is some
how or other your national cause"
1.-The Englishman," said the lady, with
sweet smile, sis an honorable enemy,
and teaches recreant Irishmsn his duty.
Remove the prisoner Mr.. paliing-that,
| think, is your name you will do me
the honor Of dining with me. In my fathers
absence l am host and commandant."
."Much honored, lam sure, faltered Lau-
renee; ''but my poor friend Barrymore
How can l leave him ?"
my invitation, Mr.. Spalding, is COM
mand. We dine at seven"
She bowed one of his captors touched
him on the arm and led him away. He
was conducted to a small room in the
castle. At 7 o'clock an armed escort came
for him, and led him into large dining
hall well set out and lighted. He was
placed at the right hand of the hostess,
who looked unspeakably lovely in her
complete evening toilette. A large num-
Der OF retainers, few of whom were the
hostess women attendants, dined at the
table. Laurence drank literally of cham
payne and grew into condition of wonder
and ecstasy such as he had not believed
it possible this later age could
bring to mortal. His hostess was
fascinating, bewitching. Nothing could
surpass her brilliancY and beauty-not
even her condescending, encouraging, al
most tender friendliness. Laurence's sus-
ceptible soul was melting under her sunny
influence. A harper played during the
dinner some delicious plaintive Irish airs,
and sang Irish words to them. Laurence
knew nothing of music, and did not under
stand a word, but he demanded an encore
enthusiastically.
The lady talked with him frankly and
fervently of Fenianism, its strength and its
hopes. She expressed utter amazement at
the ignorance that prevailed en- the subject
in England.
81 declare to you" said Laurence, eff
l were to go back tomorrow, and tell peo-
pie in London what l have actually seen
here-seen with my own eyes-they would
not believe me !"
" Extraordinary and infatuated people %
said the lady. You shall return, MIR.
Spalding and endeavor to enlighten Eng
land. You shall 60 to morrow If you will,
if you are anxious to go. l will not detain
you"
And he thought he heard a faint sigh;
and her eyes rested for moment on his.
Alas by this time the thought of return
ing was hateful to Laurence's soul.
" Not tomorrow not tomorrow !"
he pleaded. "In fact, you know, in order
to do any good in England, 1 ought to see
little more of the strength of your move
ment. l had better wait-much better"
Tomorrow, said the lady, with an
other half-sigh. eve hope for a decisive
engagement. Should my father drive the
enemy from the field, we push forward
should he fail, we defend this castle until
each man and woman in it perishes amidst
the ruins !"
Laurence started. This exquisite creature
to die, and by the weapons of his country