Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-10

,site the main castle entrance, when he q ught sight of . pair of roguish blue eyes D meath perfect little forest Of futtering 3 ack curls, in turn surmounted by . very lcient and battered straw hat; the whole ow and then tilting cautiously around C ,e side of tho arched entrance from the \ ,urtyard to the grounds of the demesne. Though the figure had continued show lg and going tauntingly, he had kept on ls way e If not observing the hat and | nrls and eyes, until we'll past the demesne ntrance, the eyes beneath the battered hat filling with . cloud of disap- ointment and now and then appearing and at longer intervals; when Iis companions, glided lightly beneath the olonnsde of that side of the quadrangle, nd, the next time the scarecrow figure ilted around the arch side, with an s'lve rot you now, eushlain in an instant had he poachers' Lucy in his arms and dragged we'll within the courtyard, where scene sor lords and commons, . scene that tenn. porarily stilled the tongues and banished Inc wits of the noble ladies at the window, Was begun.
 It was simply English lord and Irish peasant appearing and disappearing in each others arms for dozen or more times, as prelude; and then brave stepping out" upon the courtyard pavement that would | have done credit to the exhilarations of l Donegal fair. Around and around they went, back and forth, keeping the finest time to . weird Gaelic chant, droned from lips; retreating and advanc- ing; now kiss and now cheat; each In l tune at times breaking into slaughterinR fig which rang from the stones beneath them furiously; again piroutting and sm- braoing, all their vigorous and graceful increasing in rapidtty and funeral mute; and his mite and sprite of companion, forgetting the bog mud upon her clothing, for she had been helping to "beat" the struggling pheasants from the outlying holding back for the demesne for the morrow's "battue," her curls bobbing and whipping her fair face and neck, her battered hat swsying and Tapping upon her pretty shoulders, her lovely lips parted in @ bewitching smile, her cheeks afame with the crimson of innocence and not of shame, and her eyes fairly dancing in e1- citement and joy-when the girls quick eyes caught glimpse of the white faces, filled with amazsment and naughty pity, in the great window above her.
 Al if in pure defiance, another whirl, an- other embrace; then the smotheIed excla nation, ''Oh, I'll bs murdered entirelyw and then with the swift, skulkfng move ment of 8 pheasant running to cover she disappeared through the archway and on to the gsmekeeper's cottage, sending back such trills of laughter as set the birds trembling on the twigs of all the leafy oopses of song haunted Ballnsgee.
 Half an hundred faces. wedged in the quadrangle doors and windows, were grin ming and venturing subdued applause, when the strange scene was ended aa sud denly as it was begun. The grand ladies behind the drawing room window looked at each other speeohlesslessly for a mo- moment; rallied Lady odds fosthums from an almost complete collapse; gath cred about the indignant duchess with that effusive sympathy which told their secret enjoyment of her deep chsgrin, finally de- ciding in 8 solemn conclave that "Some. thing must be done" while young Lords Bunravsn, Scarborough, Darlington, War court and Tevsrdon swore great lordlke oaths that the London music halls "would go hundred sovereigns night for such 'a turn es that" and that 1t was a burn ing shame to invite them there for but 8 week, when there was such glorious game for the flushing at Ballnsgee.
 This sort of rallyipg savsgeIy continued at lunch; in the rides and drives with the ladies of Chifford Caatl,, to Portadown and along the sopgful river Bann; in un- dertones at dinner; in smothered jests during the stately hour with the ladies at whist; and grew into such boisterous pro- portions in "The Dsn," where the lords and gentlemen at Bsllnagee, attended by the discreet John Jolly, always retire fol ! tales and cards and wine, that Rector Brisbin, who had been invited in, the entire party bsing Oxonians. grew grave and white; and young Rsndevills at lasi cried sternly, "Gentlemen, that's enough!' Bat young Darlington, who had led the l badinsge and who was trif1s hesdy from l the thrill of coarse wit and fine wine l thumpsd the table soundly with his ifs ! and sneered:
 "rve been doing you far too great honor
 Vaudeville. Now, I'll trade you 'Lucky
 Lord ('Lucky Lord" had taken the las
 Dsrby) .'for her.. even, and, by George
 bar mud and pedigree"
 "It probably never occurred to the hous
 of Burlington" came hotly back from Vaudeville, 'that an innocent woman eve
 existed outside his fsmily-or in it." l The words were scarcely uttered befor
 the wine from Carlington's glass glitteret
 in Che gaslight and broke in darts an,
 spray upon Lord Rsndeville's face.
 The two, upsetting the table and thei ' IOuE AODA0 OOuHouAO4og WC1C 1u6S0AeA
 upon their feet, lunging at each other'
 heads furiously.
 But 1t was storm which ended as quick
 ly as 1t began. Rector Brisbin, clutehin
 each by the throat and forcing then
 against the wall like children, with quiet
 Milford, remember you are host at Ball
 nsgeel" to Vaudeville, and to Darlington
 "Lord Darlington, you will of cours
 apologizea' had them in each others arm
 in a momant, offering all manner of thank
 to the rector and regrets to each other
 while the overturned lordlings, havin
 arisen, were shaking each others hand
 sillily at the ha 7py outcome, and dubious
 ly inquiripg at what precise point thei
 sport came in.
 "Ws'll truce this forever, my dear Raude
 yille, with hundred guineas to fifty ol
 our shoot to-morrow-just between yo
 and I, Randeville"; gaily exclaimed Carl
 ington, who was reckoned one of the bes
 shots in England.
 'If you make the purse to the winner
 loader. I'm with you, "snswered Randevill
 heartily.
 "Donel-the fighting parson to hold tn
 stAkee!" laughed Darlington goodnatured
 ly.
 l And with this and parting glass al |
 ments for the night.
 The next morning a light fog lay aloni
 the valleys and lower copses of the de
 mense, but by the time the hunt break
 fast was done the masses of mist had lifted
 into the sky, shutting out the glare of thu
 sun, but leaving clear, great light bslow
 Q cheering outlook to the British sports mans eyes.
 'sThat settles it!-I'm the winne1!" ex claimed Darlington gaily, ss tie young l noblemen set out, each roughly dressed al | for snipe shooting, and each provided witl two double -barreled, breach loading, center fire fowliug pieces of number twelve bore, and all, excepting Vaudeville, with hii skilful man for relosding end another fol carrying cartridges; for the young host'i s'loader" was none other than the poach er's Lucy, dressed as they had seen her tn. day before, and her battered straw hat set
 ting rakishly upon her black, bobbing curls; while hungry looking village lad
 trai1ed after, his body hung with cartridges like pleasure boats' cabins with rows o.
 hfe-preservers.
 "Wait until the bags are counted, pleasantly retorted Vaudeville, as th, 1 eportsmen took their respective stations,
 Old Noggins, the gamekeeper, brought his assistants and "bssters' into line be
 hind; with motley crew from the lodges
 and the village with carts and donkeys
 etill bshind for gathering up the birds, and separate bsgmen for Darlington and Rande vile, under the conditions of their wager of the previous night.
 Then they ali moved forward, perhaps