The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-18

AlOII hio COdO dS ~ Al WIG oOosOiCS3 oiiA
was loudly lamenting the fact. The men
standing around looked suspicious. The
man from Colooney slept next to the stable.
The foreman, distrustful of anything Hi
bernian, gave voice to the public senti-
| ment:
Jim thinks the Irishman has taken it,
sir"
The man from Colooney was close by and
heard it. A flush of crimson shot straight
to his bronze cheek, and he took a half
step forward. Miss Maud's clear voice
stopped him.
What shamel How dare you say such
a thing? He would no more take it than |
would"
The man from Colooney held his head
high. Somehow we forgot his rags as we
looked at him
God bless you, miss, said the man from
Colooney. Thank you"
Nevertheless the Englishman looked
askance at him. The man from Colooney
went solitary for few days.
The last day of harvest came. We all
went forth to see the last loads brought
home. Miss Maud drove the ponies afield,
two vicious little brutes, that ought to
have had Hercules to hold them. She
drove on before us with confident air
The master, anxious shook his head. He
did not like the ponies, but he was as wax
in his daughters hands.
The man from Colooney was in his ele-
ment that day. He talked and laughed
with the women, his impudent good humor
bubbling up like fine champagne He
worked, too, with the best of them, max
ing light of toll at which he would usually
have looked aside
III be going on my way tonight" said
he, as stopped by him once that after
noon. 'It's pinin for new adventures
am, so yell see me no more. May be I'll
go a long ways off"
Toward dusk the last load was filled and
dispatched homeward amid cheers. Miss
Maud and her ponies headed the wagons
around by the road, the rest of us sought
short cut through the wood, so as to reach
home in time to welcome the little process
sion ON it's arrival. Going through the
wood the man from Colooney burst into
song-tender and Irish. The women hushed
their clatter and listened, the bundles of
cleaning on their heads swaying harmoni-
ously with the tune.
a startling sound came upon us as we
struck the lane-the sound of horses feet
dashing along the hard ground in uncon-
trollable flight. The lane ran down hill
there, terminating at the foot by an old
lime quarry hundred feet deep. We gazed
up the hill to the turn, the noise coming
nearer and nearer The man from Coloo-
ney had ceased his song and stood watch
ing.
''Maud's poniesp said the master, and
clinched his teeth hard.
They came around the corner like whirl-
wind, galloping together like the demons
they were, their mistress holding to the
phaeton, but helpless. l thought of the
lime quarry thirty yards away, and turned
sick The women screamed and tainted;
the men stared at the coming whirlwind
and groaned. What could stop them in so
short distance?
Stand clearl'' The man from Colooney's
voice rang out sharp and strong. He had
gone step or two to meet the ponies as he
spoke, and stood there, fair and square,
turning up his ragged shirt sleeves.
Crash! The man from Colooney went
down before that awful rush; but his
hands grasped the brides. Up, and down
again, the blood flowing from his face, and
again up, and again down, but still ham
ing on TO the mad beasts until they paused
trembling and wild, ON the very edge of
the quarry.
my poor fellowr' The master bent over
the man from Colooney as he lay on the
bank, painting and CHASTITY, crushed to
death. He turned his face half around
and smiled feebly.
'"Tis young miss he wants." said
woman.
Miss Maud was at his side instantly.
She laid her hand on the damp forehead
and then, with womanly impulse bent
forward and kissed him. think that kiss
was his passport for the long journey he
had spoken of, for when the girl raised her
face the man from Colooney was dead
Chicago Post.