The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-25


now they sat-staring into the glowing
turf fire, and never raising their eyes ex-
cept to throw a glance, full of pity, at
the slender figure bowed in an agony Of
grief where the head of the dead man
lay. AS the night grew the little cottage
filled with a sympat hizing crowd Of men
and women. and whisperers grew holder
until the room was a buzz of conversa-
ton; but still the two men sat notion
less. each striving To look into the future
and binding himself by all the oaths he
knew TO accomplish his end by means
fair or foul
All through that night and the next
they sat, torn by passions and racked by
conflicting hopes: while between them
the dead body. i'm which like passions
and like hopes had once dwelt. now lay
restng--cold and still-a grim contrast
10 the living. On the third day was the
funeral. and after that things went on
as usual only it was known in the vii
lage that. within a week, pretty Moran
DAILY was leaving the place. TO live In
Macroom with an aunt who had come 10
bury "Owld owen" and still stayed with
her niece Then the two men knew that
they must know their fate Immediately
or lose all nope forever.
1t was the fourth night after the
funeral when Mike buttoned his coat to
Withstand the driving rain. and, with
bis teeth set. stepped out of his cottage
watched him go without showing the
slightest interest in his movements until
the door closed behind him. and then,
in q moment. she was on her knees be-
fore the little crucfiX that hung over the
settle. wildly entreating the Blessed
Mother for her sons safety and welfare.
Meanwhile, Mike strobe down the hill,
through the village, and up the hill of
Corrigmore taking a longer path along
the edge Of the cliff that went sheer down
TO the beach below. for he wished that
no one might know OF his visit. The rain
had stopped now. and the moonlight
came fitfully through the clouds that the
believing southwest trundled down the
sky. Halfway round the hill Mike
turned to climb the slope. that. descend
ing on the ether side. he might approach
the cottage from the back. As he faced
the hill. figure appeared on the sum-
nit. hurrying down the very path he was
TO take. and by the light Of the moon,
which at last had found an opportunity
OF giving the earth all her rays. Mike
recognized the broad shoulders and
swinging gait Of Big Alurty Mulligan.
lie paused where he was. on the edge
OF the cliff where. thirty feet below. the
dripping rocks and Shiny gravel shone
like silver in the silver light: and. fur
Their out. the great Atlantic lesped
madly up the beach TO drag the scream
ing single down. Not until he was
within "A few PAGES of the stationary
figure did Big NIurty seem 10 see il.
Then he stopped short. and fingiDg his
hat To the back of his head wiped the
Precipitation from his brow with the
back of his hand and Mike saw that he
was pale as death. while his eyes seemed
starting from their sockets
IT'S late we're walking out said
NTurty, staring full into the others
face.
NO lather than yersilf." answered
Mike. returning the stare deiiantly
An mebbe. now" said Murty sar-
castically. II might make SO bould as to
giss where we're goin'?".
That's no business at all az yers.
AIurty Muligan." said Mike shortly
moving as # 20 contir ne his way. But
Big Murty stepped in his path. his eyes
flashing from beneath his scowlng
brows. and his clenched teeth showing
white between his lips. For minute
they faced each other in the moonlight,
while their deep breathing Camc faster
and louder, and the storm OF passion that
was rising i'm their breasts grew stronger
and fiercer till it held complete mastery
over both. Why should l let yc com"
or go?" Kissed Murty at length, as il
talking 10 himself
Il tell We let me pass" said Mike
fiercely, stepping forward and roughly
showing his opponent But Big Mulllgan
hardly stirred; he only leaned forward
TO peer more closely into the others face
with eyes that yet seemed to glare at
nothing-and gra>ping Mikes uplifted
arm like "a wise. again he Kissed softly
to himself: why should / let ye come
or go?'
For moment they stood thus. fierce
hatred burning in their eyes. till the sea
seemed calling to them to strike. the
wind screaming To them 10 Kill. and all
the night cried murder
Then they closed and sought each 9th
ers throat To and fro in the moon
light they swayed and stumbled. breath
ing in long ldborinE sobs, striving and
straininE each To get the other down m
the grass. where he might kneel on mis-
chest and strange his life away with
both hands Now the bigger man pre-
vailed. now the smaller, and the end was
far from near when MurtN managed "a
snatch his sailors knife from its leather
sheath. and struck his opponent prone on
the grass. with the blood that looked
black i'm the moonlight gushing from his
temple. The sight of the dark stream
on the white face half buried in the
grass. and the warm sticky dampness
on his fingers, made Big Murty almost
mad He kicked the PROSTATE form say
, agely twice. ard then with a wild ex-
ulting cry. flung away the weapon. and
STOPPING down seized the foot Of the IN
conscious man 10 drag him 20 the edge
of the cliff. which was but few yards
off. He dragged him to the very edge
and STOPPING lower. exerted all his
strength to cast the body down on the
rocks beneath. But Mikes coat had
caught in something's stump Of furze
perhaps-and with an oath. Mulligan LEM
all his strength to another attempt The
next moment there was a hoarse cry
and Big Murty Mulllgan fell backward:
over the cliff, Mike DooIan's boot firmly
grasped i'm both his hands. A sickening
thud on the rocks below. and grOar
that was lost in the roar of wind and
sea, and the fray was over.
In the early morning some fishers TAX
ing a short cut to the shore. found Mike
DOolan lying with his head in a Ereat
crimson stain on the grass. They raised
him pittifully, and were bearing hin
away when some one, catching sight OF
the signs of the struggle that showed
in the trampled turf, peeped curiOusly
over the cliff and drew back imme.
diately with an oath half smOthereo
with horror. After a shrinking glance
at the awful object below, four of the
party FASTENED down TO the beach by q
steep zigzag path further on. With
bated breath and dry lips they raised
Big Murty. telling each other i'm whisper.
that there had been dad work betune
thin two, an twas the way Mike DoOlan
Heaven forgive him. threw Big Murty
oVer-rist his sowl this night,' For they
thought Murty was dead, while Mike
still breathed.
Mulligan's cottage was nearest, and
thither they bore the two men. a crowd
seemed to spring up Immediately round
the low doorway and half-a-dOzen eager
messengers sought the priest and doctor
the latter Of whom, my father. reached
he frzr m 70 hpl to If.1f