The Irish standard., 1886-04-17

went practicing the same old habits, de
spite every remonstrance.
This obscurity in which the history of
the Lees was involved. coupled with the
mysterious conduct of the stranger, led
Lanty to suspect some deep plotting be-
tween him and Else Curley. AS for the
latter, he had little fear she would take
part il anything directly tending to
bring misfortune on the light-keeper or
his family; but still she might meddle so
far with the danger as to bring them
into trouble without actually intending
it,--and all for the sake Of gold, to OBJ
tain which he supposed the 1niserly old
creature was prepared to run any risk,
even that of her salvation. "Hooh!'' he
muttered, ''for that mattheI, she'd go to
the de'il's door and singeh her oula beard
at the key-hole to earn 6 sixpense; and,
as for you, n1y augeuaugb, y he contin-
1sed, gazing after the setreating figure
of the stranger, ''ye've Tho cut of 4
schamer about ye, any way. Be all
that's bad, I niver saw ye with fshin
rod in yer hand yet, but ye put me in
mind iv one i them big long-nosed
cranes down there standing ZIP to their
knees in She wat:4er, watchin round for
the little innoceu5 sinners to make a
pounce on them, F'eth, may be it's
some sworn ineuy i the family ye are,
keeping their thrail all the time since
they left the south; or n1ay it's sheriff 8
officer ye'd be i'll PURSUIT. Of an ould
debt; or, by Jimmy king, who knows but
yer some discarded sweetheart sneakin
afther Mary Lee. flyer that, I'd advise
ye lave the country or buy yer coffin.
But whatsomever ye are, yer q chate any
way, that's sartin; and SO, may sweet
bad luck attindIye, acush]a, and that's
my prayer for ye, night and mornin,
sleepin and wakin;' and Lanty shook
his fist at the stranger as he disappeared
over tine brow Of the hill; ''and since
ould Else has tuck ye in tow he con-
cluded, splitting on his stick and again
heading for the mountains, ''I'n just
stand by md look on; but one thing Til
be bould to tell ye both, cute ansl all as
ye are, that by the powers O. pewther
yell have to rise early and thravel fast
If ye hope to..get Itlae blind Of one Lanty
Hanlon."
leaving Lanty to pursue his journey
across Benrayen, we return TO the strang
er. After examining for some time
the structure Of the narrow iron bridge
over the chas1n called the 'sDevil's
Gu,ch, he raised the latch Of the gate,
and finding it unlocked, pushed it open.
The ight-keeper's lodge, faoing him di-
rectly as he entered, WAS long low cot
tage fronting fnll OIL the sea- The light
tower rose up close by its side, with it's
great round lantern on top, to the
height of hundred and fifty feet from
tho rock, assmooth and white as marble.
The doors, walls, and window sashes of
the lodge were also white and clean as
human hands could make them; even
the black steps by which he assembled to
she hall door shone bright and spotless
as polished ebony. The place, however.
the care and trouble it
cost, Looked still and deserted. For full
ten minutes the stranger stood in front
Of the house gazing around him. and yet
no one came to bid him welcome. A
little white bantam ON the grass plot be-
fore The door, scraping up the green
sward and calling his family around him
was the only signs OF life to be seen. In
such q remote spot he naturally hoped
the presence of q stranger in his garb
would draw some one from the house;
but he was mistaken. At length, tired
Of waiting, he advanced to the door, and
knocked; still there was NO answer; he
knocked again, and yet no one came.
Then turning the handle and opening |
the door, he stepped over the threshold,
md found himself all at once in a long
passage or entrance hall. On either
,ide of this hall hung several spears and
owling pieces, here and there, fishing
:ods resting on brass sockets against the
vall and suspended from the ceiling,
lalf dozen or more reels of jack lines,
With hooks and leads attacked, ready for
lse. 1t was evident from their superior
quality, and the excellent condition in
which they were kept, these articles
gere used more for amusement than pro-
il. Beyond, however, and near the op-
,osite extremity Of the passage, hung
wo light oars Of beautiful finish, and
lose beside them small sail of Russia
luck, with it's little sheet coiled careful
= round it, and if one might Judge FROM
is appearance, but recently used. The
tranger seemed to notice this last-men-
ioned article with special interest; and
he cold smile that overspread his long
ooo ou ho iooEo1 at - ploi,,1v olox-o1