Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-15
A WRESTLING.

well in request at the country gatherings,
but of late, said the folk, the man had
turned queer. In that melancholy, stately
country by the sea madness-especially of
the quiet, melancholic kinds thing
very common. A year ago a wrestling
match between him and Jack Tierney
had gathered two counties to see it. No
man could say which was the champion
Now one was the victor, again the other
They kept steady pace in their victories
Jack, too was the captain of the Kilsal-
lagh team Of hurlers, Mike of the Clone
gala That would be IA great day for the
men and women Of his following when
either champion should decisively lead.
The country people scarcely guessed at
the time their Two champions became en-
emies Indeed lit was secret locked in
til own breasts, scarcely acknowledged
even when in his most hidden moments
each man looked at the desires of his
heart. 1t only showed itself in a new fierce
ness and determination in their enCoun-
tiers. Each had sworn to himself to con-
quer the other. The soreness between
them came about when, by some sad mis-
chance they fell in love with the same
girl. Worse luck, she wanted neither of
them, for she was vowed to the convent.
have tempted her to an earthly bridal, but
she made no choice between them, and
each mans chance seemed equal when she
slipped from them both into Kilbride
churchyurd. When she lay there, neither
man could say she had distinguished him
by Special kindness from the other, and
their rivalry waXCd mere furious with the
woman in her grave.
But six months later, and their battles
still undecided Jack Terncy fell sick and
followed Ellen to Kilbride. Then Mike
ShCehan was without an equal for many
miles But little comfort it was to him,
with the girl of his heart dead and the
one man he had desired to overthrow dead
and unConqucrcd. He secluded himself
from the sports and pastimcs and lived
lonely in his cabin anon" the gulls, cat
ing out his unsatislld Il None other
would satisfy him to W. y with but his
dead rival, ana indeed &C, in common
with the country people, thought that no
other might be found fit for him to meet.
Kilbridc te.urchyard is high on the main
land and lies dark within its four stone
walls. The road to it is by tunnel Of
trees that mUkoa shade velvety black even
when the moon is turning all the sea sill
no monuments of importance only green
headstonCs bent sideways and sunk to
their neck and shoulders in the earth. A
postern gate with a flight of stone steps,
opens from Kilbride lane. Here every
night you may see the ghost of Tobin, the
murderer, climbing those steps with rig
id burden hanging from his shoulder.
But rs Mike Shcehan assembled the steps
of al, 1,,r
He changed the gate of the sacred quiet
place in II way that set the silence echoing.
Some mad passion was on Mike Sheehan
surely, or he would not so have desccratcd
the quiet resting place of the dead. There,
by the ruined gable of the old abbey, was
a fresh mound unusually great in size.
Mike ShCchan paused by it.
Jack" he cried in thunderous voice
hoarse with its passion, come, let us once
for all see which is the better man. Come
and fight me, Jack, and if you throw me
let Ellen be yours now and forever"
The blood was in his eyes and the sea
mist curling in from sea. His challenge
spoken, he swayed dizzily a moment.
Then his eyes saw The place seemed full
of the sea mist slvered through with the
moon. AS he looked to right and left sub
on either hand long rows of shadowy faces
watching him.
Many of them he knew They were the
boys and Urls, the men and women of his
own villi$o who had died in many years.
Others We're strange, but he guessed them
ghosts from Kilsallagh, beyond Roscar-
berry, the village where Jack used to live.
He looked eagerly among the folk he re-
i & TU
who might be She the ghost of a woman
yelled in her shadowy hair, whose eyes he
could not see. And then Jack was upon
him.
That was a great wrestling in Kilbride
churchyard. The dead man wound about
the living with his clay cold limbs, caught
him in icy grips that froze the terrified
blood from his heart and brcathcd upon
him soundlossly a chill breath of the grave
that seemed to wither him, yet Mike
fought furiously, as one who fights not
only to satisfy hate, but as one who
fights to win bride. He had dim knowl-
edge of the fight he was making dim
premOnition that the dead man was more
than his match. The ghostIy spectators
pressed forward more eagerly; their shad-
Owy faces pecred; their shadowy forms
swayed in the mist. The ghost had Mike !
Shcehan in death grip. His arms were
imprisoned, his breath failed, his flesh |
Crept, and his hair stood up. He felt him
self dying of the horror of this unnatural
combat, when there was a whisper at his |
ear. Dimly he seemed to hear Ellen's |
voice; dimly turning his failing eyes, he |
seemed to recognize her eyes under the |
veil of ashcn fair hair. Draw him to the !
left on the grass" said the voice, land
trip him" His old love and his old jeal-
ousy seemed to surge up in Mike Sheehan.
With tremendous effort he threw of
those paralyzing arms. Forgetting his
horror, he furiously embraced the dead,
drew him to the left on the grass, slippery
as glass after the summer heats, for a Sec
ond or two swayed with him to and fro;
then the two went down together with
great violence, but Mike Sheehan was up.
permost, his knee ON the dead mans
breast.
When he came to himself in the moon
light, all was calm and peaceful. 1t was
close upon dawn, and the moon was very
low. He looked about him at the quiet
ness Another man might have thought
he had but dreamed it; not so Mike Shee-
han. He remembered with a fierce Joy
how he had flung the ghost and how Ellen
had been on his side. You're mine now,