The Irish standard., 1886-09-11
tended for one another, and for that.
raison ye niver cud part him. So take
heart now, and all'll be we'll yit.'

: T
raison ye niver cud part him. So take
heart now, and all IL be we'll yit.''
go Randall Barry, Randall Barry! 80
brave SO faithful-so true to his coun-
try and to me,'' cried the distressed
girl. 'Else, Else, could I see him free
once more, were it only for an instant, l
would bid him farewell forever, should
my heartstrings break in the parting -
There was sense Of desolation in,the
words or the tones of Mary's voice that
touched the old woman deeply. But
when the former spoke of her heart
breaking, the very idea seemed to call
back again into life the better and holie1
feelings Of her nature, and unable to
control any longer the emotion that agi-
tated her soul, the old woman flung her
arms around the neck Of her rfoster-child,
and wept over her like a mother.
"God forbid! God forbid! ashore ma
chree,'' she cried, "God forbid yer
heart'd break. Darlin! darlin! why
shud it ever break? for it's little this
world can spare heart like yours. O.,
angel! ye don't know what yer heart is,
or what yer pure innecint soul is worth
to sinful earth like this. It's little ye
know, dear, what yer are. Modest, wee
crather, yer as simple and bashful as
the dairy that grows undher the green
fern by the mountain strame; no one
sees ye, no one knows ye, no one thinks
of ye down in the black bins Of Ara
heera--but [ know ye, ashore, l know
what yer heart is; och, och, it's I that
does, livery pulse Of it. And why shudn' t
I, Mary, darlin? wasn't it these witheretl
hands tore ye from yer dead mothers
arms, here among the rocks; wasn't it
me .nursed ye on ould Nannie's milk,
and rocked ye in her cradle up there on
my poor cabin in the cairn. I know
what the valie of your heart is, alanna.
An to spake Of it brakin for Randall
Barry, or suferin one minutes pain
niver, niyer," she exclaimed, suddenly
rising, s'niver, Mary, while I'm living
and able to prevent it,
The change in Else's look and tone
was quick as thought, For moment
her heart had softened under the mes
meric touch Of the angelic being she
embraced. But it was only for mo-
ment. Again the dark shadow came
rushing back upon her soul, and again
the relaxed muscles Of her face resumed
their usual hard and stern expression.
''Let me pass, girl,'' she cried; II
have work to do
"What work?' .s- e@
'sNo matter-let me pass"
''Else, your countenance terrifes me-.
O, know that dark, awful temptation is
upon you again
Away, child, take your hands off my
cloak--I must be gone.''
"What's your purpose, Else?'
Purpose! 1 niyer had but one pur
pose for thirty years, and the time is
come now to execute it.
"You shan't leave me-" said Mary,
kneeling; ''you shan't leave me, Else,
till you promise to do no harm to Robert
Harawrinkle or his family"
The old woman folded her arms OH her
brown, half-naked breast, and looked
down on the face of her foster-child.
s'Mary Lee,'' she said-her voice
husky with the passion she stroye to
conceal, ,-"M Mary Lee, yer tears baked
me Of my vengeance twiste before-take
care they don't a third time, for I swear
by"
'Hush! hush! Else" interrupted her
fair protege, holding up the crucitix that
hung suspended from her neck, and
laying her forefnger on the lips OF the
figure. stHush! these lips never spoke
but to bless"
."rake it away, girl take it away,
cried Else, averting her eyes from the
image, as if she feared to look upon it
lest her courage should fall; stake it
away, and listen to me. I'm bound by
vow made at the siege of Madeira, by
the side of my dead husban, niver to
forget what Lieutenant Richard Barry
did for me that day. Randall Barry is
that mans grandson, and he now lies
prisiner in fanny barracks through the
threachery of Robert Hardwrinkle. The
time is come to fulfil my promise, and
I'll do it; Til save Randall Barry,
should I lose body and soul in the at
tempt
"Else, Else, this is impious,' said
Mary; remember there's God above
YOU
'.Paugh!'' CALCULATED the old woman;
ssI knew no God these thirty years;;'
and as she spoke she wrested Mary's
hands from her cloak, and caught the
handle Of the door. '.Let the villain
luck to himself now," she cried-''let