The record-union., 1892-06-04

~
ing darkly. "Begarras, Mary, Pm glad
We tould me. He's worse even nor /
thought, and can't be left too long IN it to
make mischief"
Mary had never ceased regretting her
unlucky speech ever since. She knew
she had done more harm than good to
Ihady's cause; and as she sat on the hill
now she anxiously watched the road he
would come by, hoping to be able to have
a word with him that night, and once
more entreat OF him to leave Ireland as
soon as possible.
Presently she saw figure approaching.
Was it Thady? No, it was too small. AS
it drew nearer she recognized Consheen
Kelly.
a thought struck her, and she called
him to her.
"Come here, Con, pve somethin' to say
to ye:. Would ye like to earn a sixpence,
; ''To be shure 1 would,n replied the
unsuspecting youth, 'barrin' it's aisy
arntD
''Oh, aisy enough" replied Mary, her
heart beating loudly with anxiety. Now
Con, listen 10 me. | know all about yer
hidin' behind the dhresser and listenin'
at the meetin', an if We don't mind yer
self Pll tell the boys on ye. But if ye do
what ask you III niver let on a word
an PlI give you sixpence for yourself
SO, now, Con, what'll We do?''
Consheens face had undergone a va
riety of expressions during Mary's
speech-surprise, injured innocence, fear,
greed, and finally firm determination.
ell, Mary, I'll earn the siXpence if l
can at all. But, Mary, who told We about
the dhresser? fit was that thief Patsy
Muckanroo Pn not lave whole bone in
his body"
1T was not Patsy--it was yourself; so
there now. But now, Consheen, avick,
listen. l want ye to hide agin' the Mkt
meetin' at your house and listen your
best, and tell me whin they're goin' to
remove Masther Edward, and-and-
Ihady Conuor. Ee see l know all about
it, so ye may as well tell me the rest.'
"W hat do you want to know for?" said
Con, suspiciously,. DO ye want TO go
informing on uZ?"
"Oh, Conn. is it ME do the likes o. that
Terry Reilly's sister. Shure isn't he
the irst man III it? No; but I'II tell ye
what Conn, they're hidin' it on me for
lear ia get fret, maybe; but the Sorra q
fret I'd get. All L want is to know the
night that may be lookln' on at the fun
unbeknownst."
COnsheen's eyes sparkled with admira-
ton.
"Begarras, Mary, ye're a great girl!
You and IlI be behind the ditch together
lookin' on" Mary shuddered.l ], land as
shure as eggs is eggs Pll come and tell ye
as soon as l know meself. And, Mary,
don't forget the siXpence.''
So the compact was made, and though
Mary missed seeing Thady that night, she
went home with a somewhat lighter
heart, feeling that she had taken some
steps to defend her dear boy.
Alas, poor Mary! the vengeance of
cruel and INSCRIPTIONS towards is not so
easily averted.
The following day the discontented ten
ants went up TO the big house, in d
no M tn 1agl- fl,.air Il,
tlon OF rent in person. Edward Fitzger-
aid came out on the steps to meet them,
and listened to what they had to say In
reply he said:
Now, my men, if you had come to me
a week ago, or even the day before yes
terday, TO ask for reduction of your
rents all round | would haye listened to
what you had to say. l would have gone
into your cases with my agent, and wher-
ever | thought it right and Just to do so,
| would have lowered the rent. But since I
received this black guard production YES
terday morning lholdIng upthe threaten
ing letter., Will not abate one fraction
Of my rights. y ou shall learn that | am
neither to be cOerced nor threatened into
making any concessions. II | can find
out who is the sender of this letter [ will
have him punished with the utmost ripor
of the law, and may then take the rest of
your cases into consideration. But until
! that mystery is solved all friendly rela-
tiOnS between US are at an end and those
who do not pay their rent in full shall be
! prosecuted and eVicted in course of time
So now you know exactly how we stand.
If any of you choose TO come privately
| and give me reliable information as to
this letter, it shall never be known he
yond him and me. But unless this hap
! pens, as / SAID before, | shall stand up6n
my rights and make no concessions what
ever"
a low murmur of dissatisfaction went
through the crowd, and one of the men
said
Us that your last word?"
Eyes, il is my last word to you. And
were my poor father living this day he
would say the same"
He turned and went into the house, and
as the men filed away down the avenue
one said to his companion: 'FaiX, maybe
it's nearer bein' his last word than he
thinks. The ould masther, God rest his
soWl id niver have been so hard"
The speaker was Terry Reilly.
The next ten days passed uneventfulIy
away. October gIided into November,
and still Thady Connor had not left for
| America, though Mary had done Ter ut
most TO persuade him to go. mo, Mary"
was all he had to say. 'Fll not lave the
ould woman while she's above ground"
All Mary'S entreaties and tears could win
TO other answer. Uneducated and ignor-
| better. He could not explain that he felt
the promise made that night to his moth
| er as solemn sacramental bond between
! himself and his God. He felt it, never
theless, and never for moment tiinched
in his resolution.
The bright October weather had given
place to the storms and gloom Of No
vember, the leaves had nearly all gone.
and the country now looked bare and
desolate.
SO thought Mary as she made her way
| up the hill one chill rainy afternoon. She
was going with some eggs TO Miss Fitz-
! gerald, and walked slowly along, rapt in
! deep meditation. Presently she entered
/ a narrow strip Of woodland, and here
she was suddenly greeted by Consheen
j Kelly.
1t was past t o'clock, the rain was fall
/ ing fast and it had suddenly become so
dark that she would have passed him
without noticing him, had he not sprung
out from the trees and caught her by the
shawl.
whist, Mary! is that yerself? Ye're
| just the wan | was wantin'. Have We e'er
a sixpence about ye?" significantly
Why, Con, have ye any word for me?
/ Is it fixed yeti"
when Pm ped Pll tell ye all know,
! but nothin' for nothin'," said the boy,
cunningly.
How 5cute ye ere, Comp said Mary.
| family; land deed 1 haven't a sixpence
about me, but Pm goin' up to the big
! house now, this minute, wild eggs for Miss
Alice, and I'll have money comin' back.
So will ye tell me now, Con, or will ye
wait till Pm comm back? Shure, We
might thrust me that long"
Mary was anxious to hear at once in or
der to confer with the Fitzgeralds She
did her utmost to conceal her anxiety
from Con, but the intense look in her