The Penn's Grove record., 1885-12-05

cOlOr buTgeu over n6T race again., anQ
she answered gently
"IIugh, you frightened me sore for the
minute. but you're a true brave man
that would never do evil in the dark.
Sure I know better than thatln
Hugh laughed again-a wild fierce
laugh that ratified in his throat.
The girl began to trembie a little.
"Hugh, If there's harm done by him
1t will be the death of mel" she said
family.
The smith made no answer, butturn-
ed to leave her. He had barely reached
the gate when she was once more be-
side him, her warm breath on his ashen
cheek.
"Hugh-oh, Hughln she sobbed,
Then q strong shudder seized the
man; he turned and faced the girl where
she stood.
Heaven knows how well / love ye,
Madden O'Shea," he cried h~oarsely-
show well, how welli See now; give me
one kiss-just one-and put your two
mis- on my head and say, Heaven
speed ye, Hugh Slievanl' and I'll moi
be after troublin' ye again."
And Madden, though she tremDled
still, did as she was bid,
Heaven speed ye, Hugh SlievanI'
she murmured through her tears, and
laid her two hands on his bowed head
and kissed him.
Then the smith leapt the gate. and
was gone from her sight.
A few hours later, as the chill mists
of evening gathered over the boys, four
men wended their way by separate paths
towards the bend Of a road that lay be-
tween the BalIina demesne and the
farm owned by Widow O'Shea. They
all made for the same spot-a broken
bit of wall enclosing a thicket of frs
bordering the road. The first three
who reached this place carried rifles;
these they laid carefully on the fern at
their feet, and then, covering behind
the wall, they began to search the road
with impatient eyes.
Half an hour passed.
"Seems to me he's desperate long in
comin'p' muttere5 one. They we're the
first words that were spoken.
HELL wish he'd been longer pres
entlylo laughed another IN reply.
The crackle of a dry twig in the wood
behind at that instant made the hearts
of the watching men leap within them.
They turned round it was Black Hugh.
'Sure, Mister Slievan, We might have
trusted usIn laughed one uneasily.
"Troth, there's none l trust like
yourself, Tim," was the reply. 81 just
came to see as We wanted for nothin.
Ye might make that middle loop hole
deeper, I'm thinkln'. And, Mike, ladl''
His brother raised his handsome
young face to him.
whats that, Hughfn
"When all's over, never look into the
road, but run straight back to the forge.
And see here Il don't like that old
blunderbuss ye've gotten. Yell put
in a big charge, and it'll be like to burst.
Here's my own fowlin'-piece-it's load
ed ready for ye.n
"All rightln said the other; and the
brothers exchanged guns
''Shoot straight, boys, and steady -
urged the smith. Then he LAID his hard
on young Mikes shoulder, looked him
in the face,and gave a deep sigh.
GOOD night, ladI' he said gently.
Bnt, as he turned to leave them--for
it was none of his duty to watch for
what followed-he muttered-
"PcOr Mike! There's none Will take
truer aim, nor any that,n be so glad
twas with an empty cartridge
Seems to me Hugh's tired tonight"
remarked n Of the men, as they
watched him pass slowly through the
wood. "He walks heavy like"
The dusk had somewhat deepened
when those waiting for 1t at length de-
scribed solitary figure advancing along
the road that led past their ambush.
Phe figure was tall, its gait was swift
and steady, like that of one bound on a
pleasant errand.
BE sure it's him, Timin muttered
young Mike through his set teeth.
He wears a light coat, and twirE
his stick about.n
"That's himl" jeered another. "He'll
not go courtin' after this night I'm
thinkin'."
"Now, lads, steady your rinesI'
The muZzle of three guns were i'm
mediately raised to the loop holes.
The solitary figure still advanced.
They could not see the mans face, for
his head was turned to the right, where
in a hollow a mile distant shone a light
from Maudeen O'Shea's window. With
swift steady steps the man walked
straight to his doom.
As he came in line with the rifles
there flashed out at him three tongues
Of fire.
No answering cry was heard; but, as
the loud rattle of the volley stopped
short, choked in the bog-mists, there
followed the thud of a heavy body fall
ing on the hard road.
Silently. and but for a brief second,
the men hung behind their shelter.
Then they rose from their knees, and
without n pitiful look across the wall
each turned his back on his companion
and stole into the gloom.
Perhaps ten minutes had elapsed when
another solitary wayfarer approached
the spot. He whistled as he walked.
along swiftly and without
pause until within a few yards Of the
ir- wood. Then something ON the road
that he at first took for
nothing more than a gray bundle
caught his eyes.
When, in the dim light, he ascertain
ed it to be a man, his steps insensibly
quickened. The blood-sprinkled dust
made him shudder as he stopped over
the recumbent form. A swift glance.
then he fell upon his knees and raised
the wounded mar in his arms.
"Hugh," he cried-"Hugh Slievani
Good heavens, what's thisr''
He Thought he spoke to dead ears:
but at the sound of his rivals Ole
the smith opened his heavy eyes.
"It's all right, y he gasped feebly-
it's all right, John Elliott; better me
THAI you. All, this ball in my throatI
Raise me, raise mel So-now / can
breathe. What was I sayin'? Madden
tell her it was for her l zone It.
she'll behave | loved her nowl
Let me fale your hand-the Ill willis
dyin' with me, for sure. I-don't-
mind-so- that - she'll - be - happy.
Where's Mixer Mother o. Mercyl.
Tie fierce eyes closed; the weary
head fell back on the rangers arm; the
restless spirit of Black Hugh had fled
10 its maker.
Nothing Is SO good as it seems before