The record-union., 1894-03-17
Ill.
SEIZURES.

Early in the gray of the evening before
Saint Patriclz's Day, two vehicles might
have been seen setting briSkly forth
along the coast road to the west
ward from old Galway. One was long
car in which rode three Stalwart men,
well clad in coats of frieZe and wrapped
in stable-blankets and rugs. The other
was comfortable, covered wagcnette,
which might have Accommodated six per-
sons. 1t held but one, the silent driver,
and mighty pyramid of straw and rugs.
Peasants along the way, craning their
necks, from behind the coraags, "the
ould men of the branches" or wind fend-
ing punches of osiers, before their cabin
doors, shook their heads and muttered
mournfully: God help thin! There'll be
wan less potheen sthill in .Connainara th'
nightr as they passed at lively pace.
The long-car kept always mile or
more in advance of the wagonette; and
this for nearly thirty miles. until the
southern edge of somber Lake Alligan
at the precipitous eastern side OF the
Toombeola heights was reached. Here
the long-car turned to the north along
the narrow eastern shore, and came to a
halt under cover of friendly larch
wood copse. The wagonette and its
single occupant passed on around the
southern shore edge and was lost from
sight in the copsewood there, just beyond
where narrow boreen trailed steeply
upward along the rugged face of an al
most perpendicular cliff.
Shortly the figures of the three men
from the long-car came slowly around the
southern lake-edge, CROPPED about for a
little until the mountain path was found,
and then began picking their way in the
hazy moonlight-tor the flmy disk
around the moon, boding the immemo-
rial driZZle OF the morrow, made their
upward progress one of great caution ana
some danger--toward the mountain brow
above.
At last the outlines of stone hut.
perched upon the very cliff edge, could
be dimiy discerned. The three now held
a whispered conversation, at the close OF
which one of the party, called Larry, left
the other two for reconnolter. while MS
companions crouched down beside the
cliff In minutes Larry had returned.
"We'll have me sundowns IN th' wink
o. me eye," he exclaimed gleefully.
.sThey're dead aslape, your-'reddy, 1
/ name. You an Dennis take th' boreen
dure-theres but two-an' I'll guard the
wan furhinst the sky. Aisy, now, and
let Dennis give thin th' word whin /
work me WHISTLE
They crept to the cabin silently. A mo-
ment of silence followed. Then came the
shrek of Larry's whistle on the still
to the separate doors and bore softly but
firmly down upon each latch, it was an
swered by woman's unearthly screech
from within.
"Howly mother but its th' banshee's
cry, aginI Childer. dear!-N ora?-Maur-
cen ?-Elie?-Allw w
Then there was loud knock upon the
boreen-side of the door.
'.It's not th' banshee, at all, this night
Misthress Dreen. Its th' stronger voice
ay th' law Misthress Eileen Dreen, Miss
Nora Dreen, Miss Maureen Dreen an
Miss Ellie Dreen-she that's been ped
dim th' sthuff fur four year gone-we
demand your immejyate surrinder.
There were smothered screenings and
meanings now, and the shuffling of BARE
excited feet upon the stone floor, while
the wheedling, whining voice of mother
Dreen gave temporizing answer with:
'.Ah, thin, what'll ye be havin' wild
four lone craythurs. that niver harmed
soul, wild tuckin' an starvin', since tn
day that iver they wor born ?"
well have first yer four corpuses fla
granty, fur snug an tidy stowin' in Gal
way jail. an thin, wild or widout your