Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-11-18
SELECTED STORIES.
HISFATHER'S

The way OF II was this: Ny father who,
for reasons registered in the kings bench,
spent great many years of his life In that
part Of Ireland geographically known as
lying west Of the law. was obliged, for
certain reasons Of family, TO come up 70
Dublin.
This he proceeded 10 do with due eau
tion Two trusty servants formed an ad-
vanced guard and patrolled the country
for at least five miles Ia advance; after
them came a skirmishing body of few
tenants, who, for the consideration OF
never paying rent, would have charged
the whole court of chancery, If needful.
My father himself, in an old chaise VIC
tualed like "A fortress, brought up the rear,
and, as said before, he was bold man
who would have attempted To have laid
siege 10 him.
As the column advanced into the enc
my's country. they assumed closer order,
the patrol and the picket falling back
upon the main body, and in this way they
reached that most interesting city called
kilbeggan
The sun was just rising in delicious
morning OF June when my father was pre-
pairing for the road A stout escort OF his
followers were, as usual, under arms TO
see him safe in the y aise, the passage to
and from which every day being the critic
ll moment of my fathers life.
IT'S all right. your honor" said his
own man, IA. armed with "A blunderbuss.
he opened the bedroom door.
"Iime enough, Tim, said my father;
'closp the door, for l haven't finished my
breakfast" "
Now the real truth was that my fathers
attention was ut that moment withdrawn
from his own concerns by scene which
was taking place in a field beneath his
window.
But few minutes before "A hack chaise
had stopped upon the roadside, out Of
which sprang three gentleman, who. pro-
ceedng into the field, seemed bent upon
something which my father could not
make out.
One with an easy, lounging gait strode
toward distant corner, another took an
opposite direction, while a third, short,
pursy gentleman in a red handkerchief and
rabbit skin waistcoat, proceeded to open a
mahogany box, which, to the critical eyes
Of my respected father, was agreeably sug-
gestive of bloodshed and murder.
"A duel, by Jupiter" said my father.
rubbing his hands.
Meanwhile The little man who officiated
az second, it would appear, to both parties,
hustled about with AN activity little con-
genial to his shape. And what between
swapping the pistols, examining the flints
and ramming down the charges, he had
got himself into sufficient perspration be
fore he commenced to measure the ground.
The combatants had taken their places,
and the little man was leisurely retiring
to give the word
My father. however, whose critical eye
was never at fault, detected n circum-
stance which promised an immense ad-
vantage TO one at the expense of the other
In fact. one of the parties was so placed
with his back TO the sun that his shadow
extended i'm straight line to the very
foot of the antagonist.
Unfair, tAifairW cried my father,
opening the window as he spoke and ad-
dressing himself TO him Of the rabbit skin.
al crave your pardon for the Interrupt
ton" said he, "but | feel bound to observe
that that gentleman's shadow is likely to
make shade of him."
"Aud 40 il is, observed the short man.
"A thousand thanks for your kindness.
But the truth is | am totally unaccus-
toned to this kind of thing, and the affair
will not admit Of delay"
Put them up north and SOUTH" said
my father.
"That brings me upon an eminence, 4"
said the gentleman In blue. I'm be
id If I'll he made cockshot of.
~ can't permit this, said my father.
ALLOW me- So saying, he stepped upon
the window sill and leaped into the field.
Before | can accept of your polite
ha Of ha ruh Ii m M
beg to know your name and position in so
cietyf"
Nothing more reasonable, - said my
father. "Tm Miles O'Shaughnessy, colo
mel of the Royal Raspers."
Colonel O'Shaughnessy, said one.
miles O'Shaughnessy," said the other
"Of Killinahoua castle, said the third.
"At your service" said my father, bow
ing, IA he presented his snuffbox. "And
now to business, If you please. For my
time also IL limited"
"Very true" observed he Of the rabbit
skin. "And. as you observe, now TO busi-
ness. In virtue Of which, Colonel Miles
O'Shaughnessy, hereby arrest you in the
kings name Here il the writ. It's the
suit OF Barnaby Kelly Of Loughrea,
Before he could conclude the sentence
my father discharged one obligation by
implanting his closed knuckles in his face
But, alas it was no use. The Others,
strong and abebodied, fell upon him, and
after desperate struggle succeeded in
getting him down
To tie his hands and convey him to the
chaise was the work Of few moments,
and IA my father drove by the inn, the
last object which caught his view was u
bloody encounter between his own people
and the myrmidons of the law, who, In
great numbers. had laid siege to the house
during his capture.
Thus was my father taken. And thus,
In reward for yielding TO n virtuous weak
sess in his character. was he consigned to
the ignominious durancs Of a prison
Charles Lever.