Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-15
CHAPTER XIV.

Did We hear miss? Oh, fax, there's ter
rIble news, ma'am p says old Timothy, trOt-
ting into the breakfast-room at MOyne the
following morning, his face pale with excite
ment.
you alarm me, Ryan, what is it?'' says
Miss Priscilla, laying down her fork.
"Oh, it's beyant everything, ma'am! Oh,
the blackguards O. the world! 1t was last
night, miss, it happened. The ould Squire,
there, below, was si,tin' i'll his library, as
paceable as We plaZe, ma'am, when they
hred bullet at him, an shot HIM, an
wounded Misther Brian-No, be the pow
CTS, b'lave I'm wrong; they kilt Nlisther
Brian an wound the Squire; an there's
the greatest cOmmotion ye liver see down
below, miss"
For one awful moment Monica thinks she
is gong to faint. A IN st rises between her
and TimOthy's face; his voice sounds far
away, i'll the next county as it were, and
then ceases altogether. Then q sharp sting
Oh pam rushing through her veins rOuSeS
her, and sends the blood back with a tu-
muttuOuS haste to cheek and neck and brow.
The pain is short but effective and is indeed,
nothing more til IN pinch of a pronounced
type, adminiSt red by the watchful Kit
with prOmptitude very creditable to her.
''IIe is eXaggerating," says the astute Kit,
in Subducd whisper apparently addressed
to her plate. Don't believe him; take cOur-
age; and, at al events, remember their eyes
are upon your Her tone is great with
my terry and kindly encouragement. More
revived by it than even by the pinch, Moni-
ca takes heart of grace, and listens with
ma3dgning im9atience for what is yet to
come. CHANGING at Miss Priscilla, she can
see that her aunt is as pale as death, and
that her hands are trembling excessively.
Miss Penelope is looking with anxiety at
Ter, whilst trying to elicit the truth from
Ryan.
Collect yourself, Ryan" she says, severe
ly. ''WhO was llilled?'
"No one outright, Pm tou,d, miss-but-"
Then who is Wounded?'
1.-The bullet went right through them.
miss"
Through BOTH Bat that is impossible. l
must beg you again to collect yourself,
Timothy; all this is most important, and
naturally Miss Biake-that is, aCC-are much
upset about it. Through whom did the bull
let go?''
THE ould Squire an his nephew, miss"
Through their bOdieS?' cries Miss pene-
lope, throwing up hope and both her hands
at the same time.
- '4A'' 'tAhS JtoO bSb"NSIl tIlNiilS do III
might be between you an Mss Priscilla
now" lie illustrates the real truth as he
says this.
Bless me, man. sure they weren't touch
ed at all so,' says Miss Penelope
NO more they We're, miss. Sorra bit,
praise be"
Then why Gid you say theywere killed."
says Terence, indignantly, who has been
stricken dumb by the appalling fate of his
dear Desmond.
An sure how much nearer could they be
to il? What saved thin, but maybe the
hitch of a chair? Oh! wirrasthlue this dayv'
says old Ryan, BEGINNING to cry.
'Timo.hy, sit down directly. Terence,
get him glass of whisky" saws Miss Pene-
lope. Now, don't excite yourself, Timothy:
you know it is very bad for YOU at yourage.
Take time, now. Collect yourselfr
Have the aSSassinS been discovered?''
asks Miss Priscilla in a trembling tone
No, miss. But III tould the pous Is very
eager aftLer en-
WAS nobody hurt, Timothy?"
''No one ma'am."
Here Monica feeling the relief greater
than she can support, gives way to dry Tut
perfectly audible SOB.
Don't be afeared, miss, dear" says old
Ryan, with heart-fe but most ill-iud-ed
sympathy; the y0lng gentleman is all
right. Not a sin4l3 scratch on him, they
say: so you needn't be cryin about him,
honey"
Miss Monica is in no wise anxious about
Mr.. Brian Desmond" says Miss Priscilla,
recovering from her nervousness with as
much haste as though she had been subject
ed to all electric shock She is only dis
treSSed-as | am-by these lawIess proceed
ings.'
An we hear they're boycatted TOO,
ma am," SAYS Old Ryan, Kill oppressed Wi,h
news that must be worked off. John Bile
man, the baker i'll tie V az they always
dualG wild, has been FORBIDDEN to give en-
another leaf, and the butch I is threatened
if he gives en- JOINT, an the C.onorlc BUTCH
CT has been telegraph I'D to also, miss, an
there's the world an all to pay.'
do you mean that they ar going ot1eat
him as they did Mr.. s nee Jon,sr' says
Miss Penelope, indignant y.
'Ir0th, l hnlieve so, ma am"
"Ni'l Nj. Brian have TO milk the cOwS?'
says Terence, ut which astounding thought
both he and Kit break into merry Ian ..t5r
rntil checked by Monicl's renroach III gaze.
How can they laugh when Brian may be