Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-02-08
GLEN ALLEN.
BY BayurI Taylor,


phore; piles of sullen clouds lowered
from the frowning skies and narrowed
the already narrow horizon; veil of
moisture robed the meadows and dullcd
the clatter, up the uneaYen country
road. of the approach of n small band
Of mounted dragons.
HALT
"Twas a stern, sonorous voice.
voice that would make you lift your
eyes quickly and instinctiyely to scan
the owner. 1t proceeded from stern,
firm but handsome lips. 1t was en-
forced by keen glitter of a pair of dark
gray piercing eyes; by the majesty of a
free commanding form and by an air
Of native power entirely unassumed.
The party drew up before one of
those pretty cottages that have so nat
urally sprung up in the beautiful wilds
of Wicklow. \ rustic gate stood half
open and revealed small and taste
fully laid out garden with neatly kept
walks, inviting the pressure of the in
truders foot. A porch, half-buried in
woOdbine, low windows drapcd in soft
folds Of white lace, through which the
eye might trace faint impression of a
pleasant interior-thcSc met the gaze
OF Captain Howard as he pushed wide
the garden gate and strobe within.
The slow, irregular notes Of harp. as
though the player, following a vague
fancy, wandered aimlessly over the
chords, arrested for moment the ad-
vance of the dragon. With sudden
impulse he turned backward to his
men, and merely saying. wait till my
return" he moved with measured steps
to the porch and knocked.
Twas strange that in the few mo
ments between his summons and the ap-
pearanCe Of a whitehcaded domestic the
image of a sweet face ne had seen and
loved in another land should present
itself so forcibly TO his imagination:
and stranger still that, as he lifted his
eyes from that glance into his own
hidden heart, he could almost swear
the face looked at him for an instant
from the diamond windows near.
Slightly moved, he saluted the porter
by requesting to speak with the master
Of the house, at the same time gently
insinuating he would bear him com
pany,as his business was too urgent to
admit Of even the delay Of waiting the
gentleman's permission.
"Deed, then. I'm afcard he'll be mad
enough with me for letting you come
IN uninyited, ! may say" said the old
man; "bnt come along niver wei
come you" he continued under his
teeth. you Saxon hound. See, sir.
here's a gentleman soldier was in sulh
hurry to see you he wouldn't wait
for me TO bring in his name"
Seated in an armchair, reading OF
pretending to read, by cheerful fire,
the person addressed looked up, laid
down his book, deliberately wiped his
glasses, and resuming them, surveyed
his visitor.
Mine is an errand much to my dis
taste, sir" the dragoon began" My in
tFusion would be objectionable, but
that a stern duty brings me here, and
have no choice but to obey"
The occupant Of the armchair made
N effort TO speak, but, though his lips
moved. no sound escaped them. lie
Wasa very elderly man, and very del
ieate looking, with a nervous twitch-
Ing closing and unclosing Of the hand
holding the spectacles lie motionod
The dragoon to a seat, and again looked
In his face interrogatively.
Captain Howard was less and
lcs pleased with his mission. lie
vas a naughty man. but with good
md noble heart, straight-faced in out
yard coldness and formality. lie was
IN Englishman by birth, and did not
consider himself bound in any ungeu-
szous crusade when he offered his ser
vices 20 the Government for the pur-
pose Of quelling the Irish insurrection.
But taking tho field and playing po-
Kceman are two different things. At
least. so Captain Howard considered,
and twas with modification he found
that the role Of dragoon captain in Ire