Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-12-26
CHATTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
Old Brian ScuIly is in his parlor, and
comes to meet them as they enter the
hall-his pipe behind his back.
"COmc IN, come in, e begins cheer
ily; and then, catching sight of Mona's
pale face. stops short. why, what has
come to yer" cries he, aghast, glanCing
from his niece to ROdneys discOlOred
shirt and torn coat; what has hap
pened2'
1T was Tim Ryan" returns Mona,
YEARLY, feeling unequal to long story
just at present.
"Eh, but this is bad newsl" says old
Scully; evidently terrified and disheart-
ened by his nicce's words. where Will
it AL cndI Come in, Misther Rodney;
let me look at ye, boy. No, not a word
out Of We now till We taste something.
lis in bits We are; an a good coat 1t
was this momin' There's the whisky,
Mona, agra, an there's the Wather OH
the black yillainl Let me examine ye,
me son. Why, there's blood on ye. Oil
the numbering thiefi'
"Whcre's the dochter, at all, at all, "
continues he, tuning to Biddy, who IS
standing open mouthed IN the doorway.
''Troth, sir, he is on the top of Car
rigGoddla mountain tonight, an won't
be home till mOrnin' q"
"What's to be done" says old Brian,
sadly. Cant We do something for
hmfp
"Sure Miss Mona can" says Biddy,
turning to her mistress, and standing
in the doorway in her favOrite position
that is, with her bare arms akimbO,
and her head to one side like a maggie
AtGln'g tanl ,i.,raY. nj 4 I'M ItF don
thcrin', an that
"Oh, no, I'm not clever says Mona;
''but, neryously and with downcast
eyes, addressing Gcoifrey-'I might
perhaps be able to make you little
more comfortable"
A strange feeling Of shvness is weigh
ing upon her. Her stalwmt English
lover Is standing close beside her, hay
ing risen from his chair with his eyes
on hers, and in his shirt sleeves looking
more than usually handsome because Of
his pallor. How shall she bare the ann
of this young Adonis?-how help to
heal his wound?
She hrsitates though bctraying no
vulgar awkwardncs, or silly ndJauiyc
houtC. Indeed, the oniN sign of emotion
she does show is a soft slow blush, that,
mounting quickly, tips even her little
ears with pink.
Let her thry," saws old Brian, in his
soft, Irish brogue, that comes kindly
from his tongue. She's mighty clever
about most things"
Il hardly like to ask her to do it."
says the young man. perhaps it win
make you unhappy-may shock you"
he says TO her, with some anxiety.
mo, it will not shock me- returns
Mona, quietly; whcreupon he sits down,
and l(tIIy pntG a l1Gin t4Iln
and Mona, with trembling fingers, takes
scissors, and cuts away the shirt
sleeve from his wounded arm. Then
she hathcs it,
After q moment she turns deadly
pale, and says, in faint tone, II know
| am hurting you; / tect it." And in
truth | believe the tender heart does
feel IL, much more than he does. There
is an expression that amounts to agony
In her beautiful eyes.
You hurt meln he says, in a peculiar
tone, that is not so peculiar but it fully
satisfies her.
And now Mona knows no more ner-
vousness, but with steady and practiced
hand binds up his arm, and when all is
finished pushes him gently (rerH gently
from her, and with heart on her lips,
and soul within her eyes" SURVEYS with
pride her haudiwork
Nov hope you will feel less pain"
she says, with modest triumph.
II feel no pain, returns he, CALAMITY.
well saidl' cries the old man from
the Chimney-comer, slapping his knee
with delight: well said. indeed 1t re-
m'nds me ut tuu Qua Gays when Wed
swear TO any lie 10 please the lass we
loved. Az, very good, very good"
At this Mona and Geotlre. break into
silent laughter, being overcome by the
insinuaton about living.
Come here, an sit down, lad" saws
old Scully, unknowing of their secret
mirth, an tell me all about it, from
start 70 tinish-that Ryan n laundering
roEue-while Mona sees about bed
for We"
"0h, no." says Rodney. hastily. Il
have given quite too much trouble al
ready. | assure you l am quite we'll
enough now to ride back again to Ban
try"
ITO Bantry," SAYS Mona. growing
white again, -"to-nightl Oh, do YOU
want to kill me and yourself?"
"She has reason, says the old man
earnestly and approvingly, rounding his
sentence after the French fashion. as
the Irish SO often will; ''she has said il. :"
he goes on, 'she always does say it; she
has brains, has my colleen. Ye don't !
stir out of this house tonight, Mr.. Rod |
ney; SO make up yer mind to it. With
Tim Ryan abroad, an probably picked !
up an carried home by this time, the
country will be all abroad, an no safe
thravelin' for man or haste. Here's q
cosy safe for We by the fire; sit down,
lad, an take life aiSy."
If | was quite sure | shouldn't be
dreadfully in the way" says Godfrey,
turning to Mona, she being mistress of
the ceremonies.
BE quite sure, returns she, smiling. |
An tomorrow We can go into Ban
thry an prosecute that Scoundrel Ry- |
an, says Scully, IAN have yer arm !
properly looked afthern
so | can, says Godfrey. Then, not |
for any special reason, but because,
through very love of her, he is always |
looking at her, he turns his eyes on Mo |
IA. She is standing by the table, with !
her head bent down.
"Yes, tomorrow YOU can have YOUR
arm re-dreSSed, " she SAYS, in a low tone,
that savorS of sadness; and then he |
knows that she does not want him to !
prosecute RYAN.
.ir.nA i ii Jet Ryan alone" ne saws, |
instantly, turning to her uncle and ad- !
dressing him solely, as though to prove |
himself ignorant of Mona's secret wish. /
nav SANtI nlll CllONSA ~ lsASI MN /
some time" Yet the girl reads him |
through and through, and is deeply |
grateful to him for this quick concession |
to her unspoken desire.
well, well. you're q good lad at |
heart says Scully. Mona, look after |
him for while, until | see that law |
spalpeen of mine an get him TO put a, /
good bed undher Mr.. Rodney's horse.m !
When the old man has gone, Mons. !
goes quickly up TO her lover, and. laying |
her hand upon his arm.-a hand that |
seems by some miraculous means TO |
have grown whittier of late, says, CRATE
fully: