New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-24
MARQUIS O'SHAUGHSESSY.
TIE STORY OF A CALIFORNIAN.

THE STORY OF CALIFORNIAN.
R,;an O,Sbauahnessy was a man who had amassed
fortune in mining on the racine Soas, am Sir,b
gone abroad to spend it. Californian ny 80 the
ke nossessed most of the virtues and few Oh tne
vices which distinguish that favored peoPie i oS
was o bighearted free-handed leiiow; n4no and
sravei and adventure, caring little Tor BOOKS ana
less for study but with bright mind ana reIeh-
five memory which served HIM well IN plsce oi
schoastic education. Being something Oh mat
ssay Engnist in the course of his journeylngs he
confriyed to pick up speaking ac9ualhtahce Nh1n
most modern European tongues aihougl. i. ID psop
able he could not have written oecen' 'i'''' ~
In personal appearance, he was talL prS 'aon
rbouldered man, with pair oil Dlue eyes wnon
Rad not exchanged their Irish sparkle Tor Amerl-
Fan gravity through the transplanung OF one gen
Grafton His features were as near regu.airS a.
they could safely approach without os ndicatVe of
strength: his efirm-set lips betokened decision
while the arched nostris and merry eyes De.rayeu
= scnsitiveness and amiabllity that tempered me
stronger qualities Indeed he might have peeh
positively handsome had it not been for great scar
In the shape Of a semicircle, ana with ugly ei af,
miations along the line which marked MS Iei ,
cheek When the rest Of his face was tlnged VIII VIII
healthful color, the scar stood out pale anu uui,
against the warm background; ana Oh 'ne t au
occasions when some passing excitement or trl,'nS
silment robbed his face of color the scar TOOK Oh
an angry purple as If outraged nature enlcreo PeA
petnaf protest against the ugly biemish- ,sou
xtood. Everybody naturally looked to Barry Ooh,
oyer for an explanation. Conover VINO occupice
the ostensible position OF U Shaughnessy seole
tarv was a shrewd and capable young man, VINO
sustained the most intimate and conldentiai rex,
lions with his employer and who quite eNceeo .S
his duties and his instructions IN supporuhs 0ne
iatfer's dignity, and in making proseD~s 10
helief in his importance IL was Conover VINO
beralded his masters powers as q hunter; VINO
boasted of his valor as soldier, who reiate9 mar
yeIlous tales of his adventures with Bcuoulhs,
,ybo mt him through more duels than were ever
fought by a Partisan Journalist, who chroncicu
thousand amazing exploits by land anu oy sen anu
hQrn of
romances Conover, in short developed the n ma
of establishment into a high art, and built q
towering pc socf WHISPERS of these stories
ever came to o Shaughncssys ears, he listened WIN
an indulgent smile, which neither Endorsed hof
denied them. :. -
When Barry Conovcr was questioned In regard
TO the scar he described at length the manner III
which OShaughnessy had received IT, durlI ,s d
little fracas with Turkish facla from ROM W.T. Or
cassian slaves. 1t happened, however tlat no
weapon known either TO civilized or savage war
fare was capable of INJECTING wound OF thS pecu-
liar character and several who had known
O'Shaughnessy when he first came up 10 virginia
City, a bcardless boy, to try his fortune IN tae
mines asserted that the scar ante-dateu tner
earliest acquaintance. Public opinion, striking
mean between the two tales and always lnchnlng
10 the side of grace where . Shaughnessy was
concerned. decided that the mark must nave oeen
received when the young miner descended burning
shaft hand over hand on rope, TO rescue t nt
men who had been injured by an explosion ms
appeared 10 be unvarnshed truth, ana was cor
roboratet by men who had been eye-witnesses.
Notwithstanding his reckless eseaaIdeS, Wl oJi
were talked of from end OF the Continent 10 an
other OShaughnessy was gooo ana eo rdsogo
Catholic, who never failed to ask ana rece We
dissolution for his sins, and would undoup'etuy
have made liberal investments III 1nduIgellceS nag
the modern Church countenanced such trtHhc' Anu
he was, on the whole such ornWS' g 80 many
gentle and unselhsh acts, that there was h hS q
man in Italy to scout the measure wnen Ihe IOpe'
ot-,r.fr from thn
uifcent sum to found hospital IN one OF the Elfgt
southern cities, conferred upon him the tltle OF
III MARQUIS accompanied by the grand traditions OF
an extinct Roman family, and an ancient estate
cntaiing encumbrances equal to nearly douoIe It's
value. w.. ....
Among the English colonies in Italian cities
O'Shaughnessy was an especial favorlte lis ul
usual popularity with this conservative ciI'ss VI
travellers MAJ be PARTY ddwagers and partly
10 the unique spectacle he presented as an lrlsil
American free from suspicion OF any AMBITION te
affected Ireland TO fresh revolt indeed wheI
the Honorable Miss Chester, an English glrl OF
the shy conservative type, made Iasuhg lnGi
preston on the heart of the gay young marquis
and captulatcd to his fiery and lmpassIoneu Wooing
there were more who congratulated inc piIue .i'al
the Young American as opposed to the long ant
noble lineage of the lady, was In no WISE recKonee
againsf him During the first year of their s01ourI
~ ETrope. Barry Conover, apprcciating the i'm
mense advantages accruing from crcditapie pen
gree had satisfactorily dcmonsiranted t1ao Vn "
the celebrated Irish king, Brian Boru so plausSpIi
was the story he told so caif Gntns
with Interviewer IlenSn's with hstorca
fact that there were many who saw III ~
action of the Church the first step TOWARD ri Cn
restitution of O'Shaughnessys hereditary rlg .f
About his immediate antecedents there was no.p
known. Fellow townsmen of 0Shaugh1heS Sscs
whom he frequently encon1'ered aGrUm,i oI'
well aware that his father had been drunken or
reprobate who had hung upon his son IKE III, Wv
oroyerbial milestone until one evening wnci
IN chronic state Of inebriation ne haa Iien uoc
an embankment and broken his worthless nec -,
Viewed in the light of the new revelations ~
Carding the family lineage; however 1t W"S c,'ss
10 ascribe the old mans lazlncss: incompetence
md fondness for his cuus. TO the Unborn lnstlhcE
OF an aristocratic gentleman ana TO ivsaiu r1ii
tragic end as an unavo1aaoie tbn~ recoled th
unvarying patience and kindness ne had eAnpteS
toward his unfortunate father ABOUT ms nio1ie
yague rumors were rife. OShaugmessyS eraV'
silence whenever any reference was made 10 ne
rebuked idle curiosity, and confirmed any nu1noe
Of romantic reports 1t was the general III
That She had died at his birth and some asseTte,
that she had been noble Spanish lady, WIZ nav ~
made runaway marriage. ana dled Oh g aIui !.
cnnseonence of being disowned by her parents
e;;ng cadence 70 this report society looked witt
,enewed charity upon the frailties ana snort
comings of the elder O'Shaughnessy.
II the MARQUIS had been popular as DacheIoi
he was paragon as benedict and II became qut!
the fashion for neglected wives 10 ilageiiate tne
recreant spouses with reminders Of o. Shaughhessf
constancy. the Difference ne nHara to"lr 70 as
sure her comfort And the marquis was dcVo.Io
italf He had ALWAYS been a great ladies' man
noted for all manner of little galantrles OF WING
other men were apt to be forgetfql but now TN
absorbing motive Of his life seemed 10 DE 10 llsi
the happiness of his young wife. The par wfr
always together. Every infection of their yolo
In addressing each other, every glance they lnte'
changed. told of their mutual affection ana COLI
munity Of interests.
Yet the couple by no means happy. e., 4
the esrly days of their married life an intanelDl
barrier had risen between them whose presenc
each acknowledged. but whose character they I'm
perfectly understood. Day by day it gained 4
substance and in form, until at length eve
strangers, meeting the couple for the first time
bee.n TO speculate upon the causes which had ere
afed the estrangement between them, and friend
aa.Id No LONGER deny its eXistence. but anXiOusl