Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-01

Ballhdhoo. Side by side they tramped up
and down the harbor quay the long night
through Up and down, up and down,
through darkness and rain and then un-
der moonlight and the stars until the day
dAwned and tho cheerless sun rose over the
sleeping town.
Very pitiful was 1t TO see how tho old
mans soul struggled with a vain effort TO
CLEAN comfort from his faith. Every text
that rose TO his heart seemed to wound il
afresh.
AS arrows are in the hand Of mighty
man so nro children Of the youth. They
shall not be ashamed. o Absalom, my
son, my sonl For thy sake have borne
reproach; shame hath covered my face.
am poor and needy; make haste unto me,
o Godl Hide not thy face from thy sery-
ant, for am in trouble. Set thine house
in order o God, thou knowest my fool
ishnessl The waters have overwhelmed
me- tho streams have gone over my soul;
the proud waters have gone over my soul"
Thus hour after hour tottering feebly at
Mona's side, leaning sometimes on the
girls arm, tine old man poured forth his
grief. At one moment, as they stood by
the ruined end Of tho pier and Danny's
gorse fire glowod red over the Lockjaw
creek and the moon broke through black
raincloud over the town, the sorrowing
man turned calmly to Mona and said,
with a strange resignation: 81 will be
quiet Christian is dead. Surely shall
quiet myself as n child that is weaned of
its mother. Yes, my soul is even as a
weaned child"
Just then two of the police who had been
on the cliff head came up and spoke.
"They have escaped us so far, sir" he
said, "but we arc certain to have them.
The fire yonder was lit to warn them
Your fishing boat, the Benny -chreo, has
been taken out to sea. Every man that is
in her must be captured. Don't trouble
to stay longer, sir. We arc posted every
where about They are doomed men.
Make your mind easy, sir, and go off to
your bed Good night.
Mona felt the old mans arm tremble as
it lay on hers.
The day dawned and they parted. Myl-
rea Balladhoo said he would go home
now, and away he started along the shore
With coming of daylight his sorrow bled
afrcsh, and he cried piteously.
Mona turned in the opposite direction.
of Christian She could not forget that
she had not recognized him among the men
who ran past her into Kisseck's house
Christian was still alive, but who was it
that was deadp
Mona stopped. The seaman's cap which
she had picked up ut the porch of the de-
serted cottage in the quarry she had car
ried oil night in her hand. At that in
slant she looked at it again, and seeing it
for the first time in the daylight she saw
that it was stained with spots Of blood.
1t was Danny Fayle's cap. Then 1t must
be Danny who was dead. The inference
In her case was as swift as in the case Of
Mylrea Balladhoo. And as little would
argument or entreaty have prevailed to
disturb 1t.
had sent him to his death. His great lit
tie heart that had been broken for love of
her had also died for her sake.
And now the anguish of the girl was
not less than that of tho old man himself
Where was Christianp Did he know ' at
Kisseck had done? 1t must have L>en
Kisseck. But God would punish him.
Had Christian gone out to seap Mona set
off for the Lockjaw creek, thinking that
some trace of Christian might perhaps be
found there.
She took the high path. The sun had
risen and the gorse fire burned blue.
When she came by the mouth of the old
mine, she was thinking both Of Danny
and of Christian. "He will be cold now.
He will be in heaven" she muttered to
herself.
Then 1t was that, half buried In the pit,
she saw the pallid, deep plowed face Of
Christian himself. She could not suppress
cry. Then she heard the creak and fall
of the timbers under him. For moment
she lost consciousness, and in another mo-
ment she was in Christians arms. Hardly
had the bewildered senses Of these two
regained an instant's composure when a
man came running toward them from the
town. In disjointed words he told them
that some fearful thing had washed ashore
in the bay and that Mylrea Balladhoo was
there raving over it like one mad. This
Is what had happened.
AS Balladhoo turned along the shore to-
ward his home, bemoaning what he believ-
ed to be the death of Christian, his dazed
eye caught sight of a curious object some
distance out at sea. 1t might be gig
with sail, but it looked too small. 1t
might be diver or a solan goose with out
spread wings, but it looked too large.
What it was mattered little to him. The
world had lost its light. The sun that
shone above him entered not into his soul.
His days henceforth were to be but as a
shadow that passeth away.
Balladhoo walked on, moaning and cry
ing aloud. AS he approached his house
every step awoke new grief; every stone,
every hedge was sacred to some memory.
Here he had seen the lad playing with 9th
er lads. Here, laughing and calling, he had
seen him ride the rough colt his father
gave him. AS he opened the gate he could
almost imagine he saw fair haired boy
running to meet him, whip in one hand
and toy horse tumbling behind. Ballad
hoo lifted his head to brush away the
binding tears. AS he did SO his eyes fell
on window in the gable half hidden by
the leaf1ess boughs Of an old rose tree
That awoko tho bitterest and Oldest men,
ory of all. 1t was of fair young woman's s
form, with joy In the blue eyes and laugh
ter on the rcd lips. In her arms was a
child, and as she cried to 1t Look, the
little one, plunging and leaping, called
Papa, papa, and clapped its tiny hands
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away Blessed
No, Mylrea Balladhoo could not enter
his house. 1t was full Of too many spec
ters.
He turned back. 1t was to be anywhere
He knew not where. Jenny, the garden
er who had been awake all night in
amazement and distress at his master S
absence, saw him now approach the house,
went up to his side, tried to speak to him,
and failing to get word in reply walked
in silence by his side
Ho returned along the shore. And now
the white thing which he had seen before
was within 30 yards of the beach and was
sailing due to land. What could it bep In
-l--tcL IL l. E. 4