Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


The way Of it was this: My 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 to
Dublin.
This he proceeded to do with due eau
ton. Two trusty servants formed an ad-
vanced guard and patrolled the country
for at least five miles in advance; after
them came 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 fortress, brought up the rear,
and, as said before, he was u bold man
who would have attempted to have laid
siege to 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
sec him safe in the chaise, the passage to
and from which every day being the critic
al moment of my fathers life.
tits all right, your honor" said his
own man, as, armed with blunderbuss,
he opened the bedroom door.
"Time enough, Tim" said my father;
"close the door, for haven't finished my
breakfast"
Now the real truth was that my fathers
attention was at that moment Withdrawn
from his own concerns by scene which
was taking place in q field beneath his
window.
But few minutes before hack chaise
had stopped upon the roadside, out of
which sprang three gentleman, who, pro-
ceeding into the field, seemed bent upon
something which my father could not
make out.
One with an easy, lounging gait strobe
toward distant corner, another took IN
opposite direction, while third, short,
plrsy gentleman in a red handkerchief and
rabbit skin waistcoat, proceeded to open II
mahogany box, which, to the critical eyes
Of my respected father, was agreeably sug-
gestiye Of bloodshed and murder.
"a duel, by Jupiter!" said my father,
rubbing his hands.
Meanwhile the little man who ofIiciated
as 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 fints
and ramming down the charges he had
got himself into sufficient perspiration 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 a circum-
stance which promised an immense adj
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 in straight line to the very
foot Of the antagonist.
"Unfair, unfairr' cried my father,
opening the window as he spoke and ad-
dressing himself to him of the rabbit skin.
~ crave your pardon for the Interrupt
tion," said he, "but feel bound to observe
that that gentleman's shadow is likely to
make shade of him."
"And so it is" observed theshor man.
IA 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,"
10 In ho
id If III be made u cockshot Of"
II 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
ness" said he of the rabbit skin, "may
beg to know your name and position in So
cietyS"
"Nothing more reasonable" said my
father. "I'm Miles O'Shaughnessy, colo
mel of the Royal Raspers."
"Colonel O'Shaughnessy," said one.
"Miles O'Shaughnessy, said the other.
"OfKillinahoula castle, said the third.
"At your service" said my father, bow
ing, as he presented his snuffbox. "And
now to business, i you please. For my
time also is limited"
livery true" observed he of the rabbit
skin. "And, as you observe, now to bust
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,
which,
Before he could conclude the sentence
my father discharged one obligation by
implanting his closed knuckles in his face.
But, alasl it was no use. The others,
strong and ablebodied, 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, as my father drove by the inn, the
last object which caught his view was a
bloody encounter between his own people
and the myrmidons of tho law, who, in
great numbers, had laid siege to the house
during hiscapture,
Thus was my father taken. And thus,
in reward for yielding to a virtuous weak
ness in his character. was he consigned to