The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-22

| he were up an of wild niver so much as
sbe yer lave to the folks at the casscl
Blood an ayers, but IL were thunderin'
phillaloo that were raised whin the polls
came ridin up from Omagh an divil a
Shane Magroo could be found In all Spor.
rim, at all, at allin
"And he got safely away, Morccnp
at wud samo SO, your Leddyship; an
the Jeddy Bridgit-"
A noise of footsteps just outside the
shanty brought Moreen's romantic story
to an abrupt close. 1t was Archie coming
back, of course, and at the knock which
followed upon the sound of approaching
feet, turned face wreathed in welcom-
ing smiles towards the door. Moreen
started at the knocking, went swiftly to
the box chair, murmured few low
words, and then opened the door
Judge of my dismay when, instead of
Archie 1 saw number of uniformed po-
licemen file quickly into the little ROOM The
smiles died away on my face, and with
eyes curious as to the future action of the
intruders, hay and watched them.
"Shane Magroo was rayported to have
left Mora two days ago." vouchsafed the
spokesman OF the party, IAN 1t wall be
only good for you, Mistress Maginnis, to
be tellin' US IL you have seen him pass this
wayw
"Thrue for you, your ixillincy; it would
not only be good for me but welcome
sight to me longin' eyes besoidel How
liver, havo not seen Shane Magroo pass
this wayr'
"That'll be nate spaich to make" said
another of the men; "but we've ordhers to
sairch aitch an livery house along the road
to Sperrin. It's knewn in all the country
soide as how livery lasht wan av yez wud
be afther riskin' yer lives for the bould
bhoy as hid his own life chape TO pertict
ye. So sthand aside, Mistress Maginnis,
and let the law be tho best joodge av the
muttherl"
At these words arose to my feet and
advanced, dressed as / was for the jour
neg, to the fireside. AT my unexpected
appearance the little flock Of men stared at
me with eyes full of lively suspicion.
Moreen, quick to see their questioning
glances, drew me close against the box
chair. and, with a startling evasion of the
truth. said:
This, glntlemin, is Leddy Mary o. Neill,
naice av the ould Airl o. Tyronne, and rel
ative. be marriage, av the Leddy Bridget
O'Mallory. Her gossoon av dhriver al
lowed a bit o. the harness to break as her
Lcddyship was on her way to Moncymore
an she was obliged to sthay wild me till
mornin, Ye can ak her Leddyship, your
Anners, rcspectin' her Leddyships own
knowledge av Shane Magroo, If ye loike."
"Your Leddyship's sarvnnt," said the
first spokesman, with numerous low, re-
spectful bows, "but has your Leddyship
chanced to see the young villain, Shane
Magroo?"
Idrew my slight American figure to the
iybt 7 for ha pni,
the ould Airl o. Tyronne' and said-fecl-
ing perfectly secure in my ignorance:
'If hare seen Shane Magroo it is a bit
of knowledge, gentlemen, that shall GER
tainly keep to myself"
''Thin all there's for it, your Leddyship,
wull be to begin the sairch.n
can don't be delayln' wan insthant aith-
er, your ixillincies," quoth Moreen. "Faix,
Mother Maginnis, your dhudecn's mkt to
Imply again-bliss me. but how exthrava-
giant ye're gittin' wild your use o. tobbaccy,
surel Leddy Mary, would your Leddyship
be plaised to sit here beside ould Granny
while the illigant gintlemen that they are
tear the walls Nv tho house down about
our hids"
accept the stool offered me and
watch the irate officers of the law as
Moreen, with sarcastic tongue, hurls bolt
after bolt Of turgid irony at them; send
ing shafts of keen mother wit at their dc
fenseless heads-now over my shoulder,
now over her mothers, or through the
caustic medium of her scathing soliloquies
alone. Since she takes care to never ad-
dress herself TO them personally or indi-
vidually, they do not take 1t upon them
selves TO answer her; and think they nre
glad, indeed to leave the house after a
thorough search has been made; and we
are glad, we know, to hear the last clatter
of their horses hoofs die away in the dis
tance.
Morcen makes up my humble couch again
(for even this has been turned topsy-turvy
in the fruitlcss search) and go to sleep in
spite of myself. Moreen assures me that
Mr.. O'Neill must surely have gone on to
Moneymore with the driver, O'Flaherty,
to see for himself that a fresh horse and
vehicle would be in readiness in the morn.
ing. so that we might 20 comfortably on
our way to Bann Castle.
Christmas morning in 1reland-shall l
ever forget it! ] open my eyes to the
sparkling light of cheery sunbeam that
reflects itself over and over again in some
tin platters on shelf just above my bed.
see the fire burning on the hearth, smell |
the appctizing aroma of the usual roasting |
potato, hear the bustling about of the busy, |
tireless Moreen, and looking towards the |
box chair, discover-yes, as surely as ] |
live-the figure that looks as much like |
bundle of rags as ever-poor old Gran ny |
Maginnis! Is she a fixture, then, night |
and day, 1 close my eyes dreamily and
pair Of lips touch mine. "Archier' MUIR
mur.
christmas gift, ye lazy little cralther"
cries musical voice above me. "Hcre