Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-12-29
4 Novdina Nutshell.
THE CAusEs

THE CAUSE.
1t was Fair Day in Anthem, in
County Cork, and the town, for the
nonce, was given over to pigs, geese
and peasantry. The market square
was medley Of grunting. noisy ami.
mails and rickety carts with nonde-
script horses, their owners the while
quietly smoking their pipes, or
gathered in loud argument outside
Che little taverns. Women with bare
feet and heads covered with shawls,
together with dirty little blue.eyed
urchins, completed q picture which
II about as quaint and old-world as
any that the British Isles can show.
Andy OShea was there in the thick
Of the crowd, towering above his
shorter countrymen by head and
shoulders, with the dark hair and
blue eyes that proclaimed him true
1rishman. king Of Anthem" they
called him, and In truth that was
much about the position he occupied I;
for his personality swayed public
opinion to great extent, while his
shrewdness and superior education
caused him to be resorted to for i'd
vice by oil the country side. Al
though q farmer In large way, he
was we'll connected, and claimed to
be descended from one Of the oldest
Irish families.
In the midst OF the clamor and bus.
Gle, q rattle Of wheels Is heard, and
the peasants crane their necks to
have look ut their new landlord. The
gentleman In question drove up In q
smart cart, with grand little Irish
mare In the shafts, aud Us he jumped
on slight murmur ran through the
ranks, which, however, was stillcd at
once.
Val Hastings had come into the
property unexpectedly few months
ago by the death OF an uncle, and,
being energetic by nature, ana hav-
ing heard that the sport on the estate
was good. he came over to relieve his
agent and take up tho reins Of gov
eminent himself.
So far he had not been unsuccess.
ful, for he had obtained the good will
Of Andy O'Shea, and the result was
that his "rint" was paid far more
regularly than that Of his brother
landlords.
There were not people wanting to say
this came more OF Hastings friend.
ship for Andy's sister, Winifred, than
Of Andy himself, but this was only o
surmise.
Val Hastings was rather an un.
common type OF man; independent
and with no profession, he amused
himself with travel and sport, and
wherever he went acquired a reputa.
tion as q dead shot and brave
though reckless man, which he un-
doubtedly was. He had been left
an orphan early, and his training
had been ono OF the best; the result
was that his watchword was Pour
s'amuser," and he carried out this
maxim to the letter. His face was
clean shaven, dark and resolute, with
that indescribable look on 1t OF man
who has looked death In the face and
braved him. He might have been
30, but the absence Of hair on his
face and his 1.-the build made him
look younger, while his well-made
figure was set of to its best advant-
age by the trim tweed riding suit he
wore.
Suddenly o hand was laid on his
shoulder, and, looking round, his
eyes met those OF Andy O'Shea. with
slook In them he had never seen be-
fore.
"Mr. Hastings, a word with you"
he said, with hardly trace Of the
Tptah occont
SAT your disposal. What can !
do for your Anything in the farm
liner"
II am not going to speak about
farms or cattle to-day. Mr.. Hast.
ings," he replied; "but about some
thing I love better-my sister Wini-
fred.'
go on; I am listening" said
Val, with curious Tightening OF his
mouth.
~ don't know whether you are
awnre that my sister and yourself
are the common talk OF Anthem,
and, as her only relative, in her in
terest demand to know what your
intentions are toward her. When q
man in your state OF life takes undue
notice OF a girl in my sisters position
have right to ask"
Something in Andy's tone Jared
on Hastings, for he turned triie
paler, and answered sternly:
Whatever there Is between Miss
O'Shea and myself is between us
two, not between you and me-"
ANSWER me-" replied Andy, livid
with passion, In low voice; answer
me or I'll thrash you here-here be.
fore every man, you creeping Saxon
you who have sneaked into my house
and"
Here his outburst was cut short,
for Val's crop descended on his face,
and O'Shea reeled on the ground.
For a moment dead silence relgned
supreme in the market place, and all
gazed In establishment on Hastings
standing with uplifted whip above
the writhing O'Shea. Then the spell
was broken, and, with shrill cries OF
'Down with the landlord! Down
with the Saxon" score OF men
rushed at Val, and the fight began.
Val stood with his back to wall,
and resolutely defended himself, but
strong az he was, they beat him down
on to one knee. Just as he was Civ
ing up hope there was o shout OF