Morris tribune., 1883-04-07

Neither on the other hand had he per
secuted Norah with his attentions, as be
fore. She thought to herself that after
all that had been said and done, Mr..
TAYLOR was more of O christian than she
had supposed. AS to his being discom-
flied and angry because she preferred
another, why, after all that was only
natural. Probably Mike himself would
have acted in the same way under the
same proyocation. Besides, Norah was
SO wrapt up in her own happiness that
she could not find it in her heart to keep
up feelings of enmity, even against the
agent.
AS 10 Mike, he could scarcely be said
to feel quite so kindly towards the agent,
though when the later, smiling, con-
graduated him on his wedding day he
could not we'll help taking the profile red
hand. If he had only known what was
even then in the agents heart, he would
have cut off his hand before he would
have allowed it to remain for al instant
within hisgrasp.
One evening just as Mike and Norah
were sitting at their evening meal, there
was heard noise of many feet, and mo-
ment afterwards an authoritative voice
demanded admittance in the name of the
Queen.
Mike threw open the door, and asked
i'm surprise, "What is wanted?
His visitors were constable and his
assistants. The former replied:
81 have q search warrant, which Civ
me authority to search your cabin, on
the suspicion of it's containing stolen
property"
"Stolen property" exclaimed Mike
and Norah in concert.
eyes"
"And what is it that we are suspected
of having stolen?" demanded Mike,
proudly.
1.-THE gold watch and chain of Mr.
Taylor, the AGENT" was the reply.
"He's been up to some plot, Mike"
exclaimed Norah, agitated and alarmed.
"Be sure he has"
"Don't be frightened, Norah," said
her husband, proudly. They are wei
come to search. It's the cabin of an
honest man, as they willifnd."
"We'll see about that" said the con,
stable. "Boys, look all about you, and
don't be longer than is necessary"
They looked in every available place,
that 1t might have been concealed in the
Search was accordingly instituted, and
greatly to the horror of the luckless
pair, resulting in the discovery of the
watch and chain.
Norah turned pale.
"He's ruined us, Nike" she said. 81
knew he would"
Mixes lips quivered, but he held up
his head as proudly as ever.
Its mystery, he said, "put we are
innocent, and the guilty one will be
found out sooner or later. Isuppose I'll
have to 60 to Jail"
eyes, it is my duty to take you there"
said the constable, land your wife also"
"Don't take her." pleaded Mike.
'She's as innocent as a babe unborn,
and so am |, for that matter, but partic-
ularly She"
In answer to this very logical plea, the
constable said that it was quite impossi-
BILE for him to decide which was guilty,
and he must therefore take both.
"Never mind, Mike" said Norah, "pd
rather 60 with you than be left alone
Pm ready, Mr. Constable.
When it was noised about the village
that Mike and Norah had been arrested
for the larceny of the watch and chain,
a great deal of sympathy was felt for
them, aid the odium in which the agent
had been held hitherto was very con-
siderably increased.
Bat for this he apparently cared very
little. On the contrary, he seemed IN
unusually good spirits, and was seen to
rub his hands in great glee. Everybody
believed that he could prove the lnnO-
cence of the prisoners if he only felt dis
posed, but this was not to be expected.
At length the case came to trial. The
public interest was such that the court
room was densely crowded. 1t was even
whispered that if the prisoners were
found guilty rescue would be attempt
ed
The case seemed likely to occupy but
short time. The defence were indeed at
a loss how to rebut the positive testimony
of prosecution, when at critical juno
ture man named Pat DonoVan-a lazy,
loungiDg fellow, who was generally
known to be more fond of whisky than
was good for him-rushed into court and
requested to be sworn.
Instantly the agent turned pale, and
he whispered to his lawyer, who strenu-
ously objected to receiving any more
testimony. But this attempt proved
abortiye. Pat Donovan was sworn, and
the question asked what he knew of the
matter in hand.
In answer he electrified the court by
stating that Mr.. Taylor, the agent, had
hired him to take his watch and chain
and hid e it in Mike Driscoll's pile of
peat-that he had done so, and received
the promised recompense, but that his
conscience had since troubled him, and
urged him to confess. He showed
some of the gold which the agent had
given him, in confirmation of his story.
OF course this was conclusive. Mike
and Norah were triumphantly acquitted,
and the agent arrested on charge of
conspiracy. He was sentenced to i'm
prisonment for term of years, much to
the satisfaction of those whom he had
oppressed. The earl found a better
agent, and the people were relieved of
the exactions under which they had
groaned. And now am glad to be able
to say, you won't find in all Ireland a
happier pair than Mike Driscoll and his
wife Norah.
Fatty Heart.