The Irish standard., 1886-06-19

still, Il say, as there's heaven above
me, I'd rather see ye both dead at my
feet this minute; than part with the hope
of pawn back the Hardwrinkles, moth
er an son, for the wrongs they did to me
an mine. Ha, hal? laughed the old
woman bitterly, as she grew more and
more excited; .ha! ha! they burned my
cabin twiste to the groun, and
driY me out to sleep at night with the
black cock an the plover, an to wandher
by day over the dreary mountains, hun
cry and barefoot; but their hourll soon
come, Ay, ay, I'll be even with them
Wit, Ha! ha! let them look to them
selves. the blind tiddler's wife, the
worker of spells and charms, the woman
that'd sell her soul for money. ould Else
Curley j. the sCairn,' has strength an
courage enough left yit to hnndle dirk
or fire a fagot."
Randall gazed at her with aston1sh-
1nent as she spoke. Her person seemed
to dilate and grow younger as her face
swelled with passion. She had broken,
with sudden snap, the string that con-
fined her cap, to relieve her throat from
a sense of suhocation; and now, as her
short gray hair fell in tufts over her
forehead and cheeks, she looked like a
pythoness, breathless under the frenzy
of inspiration.
"My God" said Randall, still gazing
at her as she stood before him, sis it
possible that so much gratitude and love
can exist in the same breast with such
denoniac hatred for fellow-creature?
Here is a woman-ay, a very woman
who has lived since before was born
on the bare hope of being one day able
to revenge her wrongs That hope was
the only ray Of consolation that ever fell
on her desclate heart How great must
have been her injuries to have earned
SO terrible resentment! And yet this
creature loves Mary Lee like mother,
and has already risked her life, more
than once, to save naine.''
"Else," he said, at length laying his
hand kindly on her shoulder, II pity
yo,, from my heart. Sit down and COM
pose yourself. I would speak with you
more reasonably on this subject
She obeyed him instantly, for the
touch of his friendly hand softened her
more than words could have done.
s:Ten me- said Randall, ''is this
Yankee, this cousin of the Hardwrin-
kes to be included in the catastrophe. !"
s'No,'' replied Else.
|. sWhat business have you with him,
then?''
"I make use Of him to sarve my own
ends-nothing more.''
"And these are.--~''
s:First, that he'd supply me with
money for thravellin expenses; an, Sec
ondly, that he'd be an excuse for drawin
me about Crohan, to watch my chances. ,"
"Ha! I understand you. But the
travelling expenses-where-?''
:'Connecticut, or wheriver he came
from. We must send a thrusty messen-
ger to make out where he lives, and ye
may be sure Edward Talbot's not far
from that.''
$50 you'll employ his money to de;
feat him?''
"Of coorse,' replied Else.
*And why, then, did you acquaint
him with your knowledge of the Sc
cret?' ...:.t.
e'That he'd pay me the tie betther for
keepin it,"
tsGood; but are you sure he'll not feel
apprehensiye Of your disclosing it to
Mary or her uncle?''
sNot the least in the world,'' replied
Else.
"St1ll. the whole affair is but mere sus-
ptcion, after ALL"
"What? about Mr.. Talbot being
alive?"
eyes"
"WelI, call it whatson,iver name ye
PLACE, it's saltinty enough for me. /
niver thought anything else but that
he was liv1n somewhere in furrin parts. y
"And how will you account for this
Yankees correspondent speaking Of the
dying man as Lambton in. that letter of
his you picked up after he left the cab
in here? How can you account for that,
if he be really Edward Talbot?''
"Quite easy, I" responded Else. "It
was the name he went by in America
ssNonsense, woman! you make the
most absurd ndridiculous suppositions;
would you have him change his name
with his country?'
'.Feth wud !, al good reason he had
to do that same, let me tell you. Didn' :
he fire pistol bullet at his wife in her
own room, with the child in her arms,
the very same evening he come home
after killing Captain Blenherhasset in q