St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-01
AN IRISH VIOLET.
A Love Story That Tells of
Ireland's Condition.
COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR.

COPYRIGHT APPLIED FOR.
CONTINUED From Last Saturdays GLoBE.]
l took up my abode at Shaugara cas-
tie, spending the first few days i'm in
speeding the wonderful treasures of
priceless plate, jeweled Venetian and
Bohemian glass, rare objects of art. and
fine old pictures, with which the castle
was stored. These valuables / had
never seen before, nor had Sir Harry,
my uncle, ever seen them. He was only
aware of their existence and monetary
value from the inventory in his posses
sion; never having set foot in Ireland.
l found Percy a delightful host and
companion. He filled the castle with
set of thorough-going young fellows
nor was he averSe to an occasional star
OF the demi-monde dropping in. His
cellar proved ineXhaustible and unex-
ceptiOnable. With the excellent shoot
ing, the time flew by on much lighter
and swifter wings than had antici-
pated.
Thus sped the first few months of my
apprenticeship, and was beginning to
find that learning to manage large eS-
tate was not such an irksOme task as 1
had supposed it.
During this time 1 had caught an oc-
casiOnal glimpse Of ''Sweet Violets,"
with the SLOUGH hat of Miles Daily sus-
piciously near her dark locks. l had
often came upon Percy lowering near
her, but the girl seemed shy, and al
ways appeared to retire from his adj
vanceS.
On such occasions l would say: "Give
it up, Percy; can't you see the rustic
has the game"
The remark seemed to sting him.
sWait and see," he would answer in
suppressed, angry tones.
When out shooting l was generally
accompanied by the head gamekeeper's
bailiff, all exceedingly Unlocking but
useful gillie, who was dead shot at a
bird Oh the wing, and to whose skill
was generally indebted for the plethoric
appearance of my game bag, and con-
sequent honOrS at the close of each days
sport.
This man appeared to be in bad odOr
in the neighbOrhOOd, if l might judge
by the dark looks and muttered curses
bestowed on him by every peasant
whom he CHANGED to pass. But he al
ways strobe on quickly and made no re-
mark.
On questioning him closely, however,
learned the secret of the dislike in
which he was held. He was land
grabber-the man most hated in Ireland
next to the informer, usually called
''stag"-the holdings of several tenants
had passed to him, and his life had been
threatened if he did not give up the
farms he had grabbed.
"Of course you will do nothing so
cowardly," said.
CPL swally lead first" he answered
fercely.
cam We WILL" retorted still fiercer
voice. ''Be the heavins above ye will,
We black william. We robber of the widow
am orphans! Ye will! Ye will" We
were crossing the shoulder of Shaugara
hills at this moment. A breastwOrk of
rugged rocks, tufted broom and furZe
arose before us; from the tangled
screen the voice had come.
discharged my piece into the scrub
at random, and clambered up the rocks,
the bailiff hanging back for the first
time since had known him when game
of any kind was to be secured.
l Preached the top; a large. deep gorge
broken country, covered with low furZe
brush, in which thousand men could
be concealed.
No living being was in sight.
II think we need go no further in
that direction, yer honor" said the
bailiff. coming up behind me and look
ing very white. 'I'm out O. breath"
| turned back. nothing 10th.
s'WhO could that be?'' demanded.
captain Moonlight" he answered,
with CHASTITY smile. ''There will be
somebody shot afore long; l tell We
things can't 60 on this away long"
''What the devil" asked him. sis
the matter with these rascally tenants?'
''Rent, rent, rent" answered che
bailiff, in shaky voice. "'They can't
pay; name they won't; thin they go
out; somebody else takes the land; thin
they lay their case before Capt. Moon
light, an after that"
''Murder?"
"Murder." he answered hoarsely.
ssBut the rent on this estate is ex-
tremely moderate; it has not been
raised for the last ten years."
cit was, maybe, high enough thin
yer honor, an new"
'Well, now?'
s'Oh, nothing in life, sir. The tin
nants is too we'll off and too kindly
thrated. Mister Percy is a gentleman,
but he's too aiSy, an too good to thim."
There was something insincere in the
fellows tone. He repeated his last
words more like lesson he had learned
than an opinion he had formed. l was
about to question him more closely, but
at that instant Percy Joined us.
Springing lightly across the hillside,
gun in hand and bag already well filled,
he was looking as frank and joyous as
il there were nOta mOOnlighter or a dis
cOntented tenant in the world.
hn
when the story of the threatening voice
was told him. lit will all end in smoke.
Fact is, Horace, Pve been too lenient
with these rascalS; and an 1rishman,
like vicious horse, cannot be trusted |
with loose REIN"
l had some reason to doubt Percy's |
insight when, a few days later, news |
was brought to Shaugara castle that the |
bailiff land grabber was shot. He had |
been found, lying stark and dead near |
his own house, and no clue was forth |
coming by which the crime could be |
br, u hit home to its perpetratOr.
The government offered a reward for |
such information as would lead to the |
conviction of the murderer: and my |
unc.e supplemented it with unusual
lIberality.
These rewards are seldom or ever
claimed i'm Ireland, and so / can afford
to come down handsomely" he wrote |
to his model agent. in reply to the letter
him of the murder.
1t was claimed, in this instance, how
ever A week after the reward had been
wretched creature
skulked up to the castle. one dark night,
and demanded an audience with Percy.
/ CHANGED to see him in the hall, |
cringing and crOuching, and guessed
his errand. insisted on being present |
at the interview. but Percy, for some
reason could not comprehend, showed
a decided inclination to exclude me.
The wretch first bargained that his act |