Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-12-09

and sadden the girl. She stood still
and pulled at the briars beside her for
the man barred her way. In the silence
sne felt rather than saw Shat his eyes
were fixed on her searchngly. He Was
a tall black-bearded fellow well clad in
homespun, for he had closed his forge
ana donned his best to walk across the
country and sup at the Widow O'Shea,s
lie was plain of face. but the plainness
was redeemed by look of daring and
courage, and by 4 pair of eyes at once
clear and dark as a hawks.
BLACK Hugh''-for thus thev called
the smith-''makes a staunch friend:
but Heaven help his enemyl" said the
people about.
Alter moments pause. the man
his voice low and hoarse-spoke.
"Maudeen, said he, "why do We
trate ma sop''
The girl gave an impatient toss to
her pretty head.
"Ye're spakin' riddles the night.
1ugh Slievan," she answered lightly.
"Forbye it's but harsh words we've got
ten for me, ye can let me pass"
Sllvan thrust out an arm strong as
an iron bar, and LAID hold of the stone
wall opposite.
pass ye shall,'' he said. with a little
laugh, "but not till ye've heard me
say"
The girl started back. and glanced
with mingled fear and anxiety into his
darkening face.
Madden ashore. Maudeen ashore,
'TA muksin' "A dit-tl ~ rf,ntff iaI hn
man passionately. "Who is there in all
the wide world loves you like myself
ay, and has so done since the day we
were so high"-putting his hand two
feet from the ground-''just a doucy
babe? Wasn't it the two of US that
went hand-in-hand to the school to-
gither as children, and had ye liver "a
JOY or sorrow but ye bid Hugh Sliven
share 1t? Until of late we niyer met
but ye had kind word for me-for ye
made believe 10 love me, Maudeen-
always and always till''-here the mans
voice shook with anger-"John Elliott
curse himl-came and stood betwane
uSi''
LET me passl" cried the girl, whose
pride could not hide her distress.
Not yet'-and the strong arm
trembled with its fierce hold of the
walI-'.no. yet Till Elliott, l say,
came over TO take the bread out of the
mouth of men good as himself livery
bit, ye were kind enough to me-there
was not a truer pair in RoSSanure.
Maudeen O'Shea, 90 We think III stand
tamely by and see my colleen carried
off before my own two lookin' eyes, and
by an Englishman, curses on hinl
Maudeen," went on the smith, sudden
ly lowering bis angry voice to accents
of touching entreaty, and holding out
both his hands to the girl, ''say that
yen love me-say that yell be wife to
me?"
Maudeen shook her head sadly; she
did not speak, nor did she touch the
proffered hands.
''Maudeen, your mother has promis-
ed We to mel'
''She may have promised my hand
my heart is my own to give," was the
low response; and, before he could give
vent to another word of anger or en-
treaty, the girl slipped past him, and
was lost in the dusk.
Slowly, his breast full of tumultuous
passion, Hugh Slievan followed; but
he paused on coming near the gate that
fenced the green lane from the road,
for there, leaning against it, the star
light playing on her happy face, stood
Maudeen O'Shea, and near, very near
to her was man. There was no need
TO ask who he was. The sturdy we'll
built figure was known to the smith
but two well.
''I'll be even with ye yet, John El-
liot-so help me Heayen!" muttered
Black Hugh fiercely, as he leapt the
ditch and wandered aimlessly across
the bog.
Twelve o'clock-by the kiln"
These were the words that, coming
softly through the darkness, struck up
on Hugh Slievan s ear some few nights
later, as he lounged moodily against
the door of his forge. 4 low whistle
was his reply to the mysterious sum-
mons, on hearing which a slOucIng
form started up and stole away rapidly,
keeping well within the surrounding
shadows.
When twelve O'Clock came that night
a group of men were gathered under
the ivied wall of an old disused lime
kiln, which stood in the woods of Lord
Ballina's demesne, 1t was sheltered
from the road-at all times a lonely
one-by a thick belt of trees.
Not far from it ran river which,
within its rocky bed, broke the
silence with its sullen roar. In the
this lime kiln, shrouded by
foliage and mantled by moses, was a
spot meet for lovers trysts. In the
darkness, far removed from the haunts
of men and veiled from the keen eyes
of police or watcher, it had come to
serve another purpose.
The group of men were dumb as so
many statues, Presently a voice broke !
the stiffness.
Are We all there-the seven o. yer"
1.-THE seven are here" answered one |
for the rest.
''Good!"
The sound of match striking was
heard-the glare of lantern fell On
the motionless figures-and then one by |
one each went into the interior of the |
kiln, a portion of which had fallen |
away and so made ingreSs possible. |
The interior was broad and roemy, for
nothing but bare walls remained; the /
men ranged themselves in careless at
Litudes round a couple of lanterns, the
light of which flickered strangely on
heir dark determined faces. These,
.he members of the dread "Black
Watch, ," had met by will of their chosen
chief to debate either on political mat
,ers or on matters of more sinister ma
.ure.
Their leader was farmer, tenant
IF Lord Ballina's. He was an elderly |
man. of a taclturn mind; yet, though
speaking but seldom, he spoke at such
lines to the point. He did not waste
lime now, but, the moment the men
we're settled, brosched the matter that
lad led him to order the secret meet
ng.
Boys" he began, I've have as usual
tla cumm0nS like thrue men.