The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-07-18
Mr.. FRoUDE'S ROMANCE.
The Historian Produces a Work of Fiction
with Irish ExiIeI for Heroes.

The Historian Produces a Work of Fiction
with Irish EXiIeI for Heroes.
James Anthony Froude, the histo-
rian, has produced his first work of ro-
nance, and it is a story of the middle
of the last century, in which the never
ending struggle between the Celt and
the Saxon is presented in a new light
as the central theme. The story is
entitled, The Two Chiefs OF Dunboy," y"
and the chief figures are Irish eXiles
who are in command of privateers tt
ted out in France; the re1ellious + "a
tives of the south of Ireland, on tae
coast of which the principal scenes are
laid; and The representatives of tie
English revenue service and of the
English colonization schcmers. Iuci-
dentaIly there is description of the
Dublin society of tile day. which goes
far 10 explain the decentralization that
prevailed elsewhere on the island.
1t is as romance, however, rather
than as a social study, that the book
makes its strongest appeal; and the
authors account of the fight between
the smugglers and the coast-guard, his
description of the long chase of the
privateer by the English frigate, and
his narrative of the duel between the
two rival chiefs of Dunboy, are of alb
sorbing interest.
The duel scene. as the following ex
tract shows, is quite exciting:
''Morty to fire first and at his owr
time after the handkerchief was drop
ped. The signal was given. He paused
a second or two, raised his pistol, tool
deliberate aim, and then let fall hi:
arm again, and scanned his enemy!
body as if considering where he coulC
hit him with most certainty of fata
effect. Then he raised it again with
vicious smile on his lips. His eyt
fixed; his arm stiffened and became
rigid as the stock of a crossbow. ID
drew the trigger, the hammer fell, AM
the pistol missed fire:
"Augrily he cooked it again. agaiI
pulled, this time without waiting, ant
again there was no result.
There is something the matte
with your flint, sir said Goring, COO
lly. You had better let it be locke
to-
with an angry flush on his cheek
Morty flung his weapon to his neareS
second, who readiusted the flint an
returned it to him.
He fired instantly, but Goring
calmness had disturbed his nerve Ill
arm shook. The ball, which was il
tended for his antagonists braiI
passed through his hat, cutting ava
a hair OF two ON the wav and left hil
untouched.
.'lt was now Goring's turn. Wit
the same composure us before he a2ai
examined his pistol, as if to assul
himself that he could depend upon
He then, for the first time since tho
had taken their places, looked steadi
into Morty's face.
".Capt. O'Sullivan,' he said, 'yc
REQUIRED the satisfaction of shooting
me, and you have had it. 1t is II
your fault that you missed me, for "
were deliberate enough. might no
save the hangman trouble. But go,
life is forfeited; it belongs to yo'
country, and to your country l sh;
leave you. Fire at you i'll return
shall not, but that you may know al
that all here may know that your Ii
is mine at this moment if | please
take it, do you see yonder bow at t
top of the farthest elm, with a sing
yellow leaf at it's extremity Ma
that leaf.
r He, in turn, raised his arm a
glanced swiftly along the barrel;
flash, a shot, and the leaf, cut off at
stem by the ball, slowly t1uttered
the ground.
! ".Give us other pistols Load agai
j: cried Mortly, furiously; but even t
n Irish crowd, who would have be
y = we'll pleased to see Goring fall, cot
y not refuse their admiration for
\ courage, his forbearance. and his SKI
!. there was cry that enough had be
o done; the seconds on both sides int
1 posed; they declared that the att
'' was over and could 90 no further.