Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-18

societies and hopeless plots against the
English government.
A regiment of infantry had just marched
down the broad thoroughfare to Carlisle's
bridge, on their way to the Phoenix Park,
and crowd of ragged. frequently bare
footed idlers, attracted by the drums and
flies, dispersed as the soldiers turned along
the quays-a runaway horse proving a
counter attraction; 50 they rushed to in
crease its speed and terror by the wild eff
forts of dozen and more men to catch it.
Failing in this attempt, they collected
around the entrance of the Royal Hotel
where a postchaise and horses were seen
to draw up. Within, in private sitting
room looking on the street, two gentlemen
sat ct brcakfast-one, short and thick with
plain and very shrewd face and red hair,
dressed in the height of the prevailing
fashion-the other, tall, thin, broad-shoul-
dered, bohy, with grave. dark eyes, strong
Jaw and well-cut mouth, short, nearly
black hair, and a stately carriage, wore
military uniform. He had risen and was
looking out of the window.
There's the chaiSe at last" he said. 81
don't think you are very punctual in these
parts, Lane"
'Punctuall my dear fellow, We are, in
deed, innocent of that great offense! Why
are You starting soon for your COM
mand? You have nearly ten days to
spare"
Il want to pay visit on my way" re-
turned the colonel, coming back to the Ia
bic. Il am glad to have had this glimpse
of you, Lane. You we're rather in luck to
get the vice regal private secretaryship. I
don't fancy l shall be long in the south, so
III look you up on my way back, fancy,
before the summer is over
Il hope you will. Who are you going to
see en- rOute?"
"A capital fellow met at Bath last win
ter-a Mr.. Digby."
What. John Digby of Athgarvan?"
That's the man.
Il know him. He has a duck of a daugh-
ter
Miss Dfgby is a very charming young
lady" said the colonel, stiffiy.
Exactly; you'll like the place He is a
very well-affected country squire Don't
lCok at your watch. Capel, you needn't
start just this moment. 1 have little hint
to give you. It's of great importance to
catch this young fool Valentine Costello
who has been giving US a lot of trouble.
He has been chiefly educated in France, and
has a head on his shoulders. The idiotic
Iessantry are devoted to him, and he has
teen in hiding in the hollows and shanties
of the knOck-me-down mountains-charac-
teristic name eh?"
1T is. indeedr'
odd Brigadier Kenistan has never been
able to put his hand on him-you must 10
better Ill give you line to a very clever
Chap-an Irish-Americal, whom l sent
down to track Costello. and one or two
others. His OStenslbie occupatio is fer
reting out evidence in support of a claim
he thinks ha has to a couple of farms that
belonged to his grandfather. Try and see
him. Here" taking out a pocket book lis
note Give it to him yourself He is to
be found or heard of at the Black Bull,
Clonmen- Jefferies is the name-a deuced
clever chap, but rOg lie. l suspect"
Thank you said Col. Capel taking the
note and placing it in his own pocket book
Il hate having anything to do with such
cattle, but | suppose it cannot be helped"
Not unless the sky falls and we catch
larks,' returned Lane, elevating his eye
brows
well. I must be off row. Many thanks
for yOur kind hASDit1Iity Lane
How far do you so today?"
Il am advised to sleep at Kilkenny;
there's about thirty miles then to do to-
mOrrow-on to Athgarvan. BY the way,
what an Internally careless set of beggars
they are in this queer country 1 gave
letter to the waiter yesterday morning to
post: it was for Digby. telling him of my
proposed visit. When / came down stairs
just now the impUdent scoundrel handed
HE my own epistle, saying: Sure, the post
went off a trifie too soon yesterday so I
missed it by half a second and 1 thought as
your honor was going to Athgarvan, maybe
you'd like to take it yourself -
Both men laughed.
1T is really no great NATTER said Lane
mo one in Ireland minds much how I'M
expected a guest is
They descended together to the street
and shook hands heartily. The colonel
havir 6 locked to the security of his lug
gage, stepped into the chaise the postil-
lions spurred their gaunt cattle, and with
a great clatter of hoofs and a cheer from
horses starting together was sure to make
they dashed down the street, carrying Col
Capel to take up the command of the Cork
district, TO which he had just been appoint
ed.
Travelling at that period was not the most
delightful occupation for an ease-Ioying
man. In point of fact, 1t was very little, If
anything, better than it was in the middle
of the last century.
Besides the irksomeness of lonely travel
ing. the pain of seeing the squalid wretch
road b.
liant officer was eager for other reasons
to get to his journeys end, and found his
heart beating faster than usual at the idea
of seeing Grace Dfgby in few minutes He
had seen a good deal of that young Iady
and. in spite of his grave, stern exterior
ne had been hard hit by her deep blue eyes
sI'aaea as they were by long lashes and sur
mounted by delicate but we!l-dehned eve
brows-many degrees darker than her bright
red-brown HARDY her richly fair com
pIeXlon' which suggested diet of cream
ard almonds, her softly curved mouth and
pearly teeth, that could smile so rnischiey-
ouSly and sometimes so kindly-also by her
WllloWy ngure, which was divinely tall and
exqufsttely proportional
But Capel, a shy, sensitive man was kent
at bay by the bright friendliness of her
manner, and the amount of saucy fun which
hps. "eteiieu
While he hesitated a callous father. who
was far too Irish to imagine the possibiiitv
y, any man man nesltating to ask any woman to
home, and Capel was now determined NOT
to lose chance If he had one.
1t had been dull, drizzling day, but as the
Postillions, by dint of squirting and shout
ing rose" gallop for the avenue, the sun
shone out and the clouds broke up.
Athgaryan was situated in a picturesque
strip OF country, near the river Blackwater
Where the scenery is more wooded than is
GsUaI IN Ireland 1t had a background of
mus TO the westward, behind which the
sun was sinking, and as the avenue led up
mn, the view from the castle, large house
Whicn Delfed its warlike appellation, was
wide and pleasant was
arrived at the entrance Capel was re-
selYed by small, wizened discontentei
looking man in rusty black suit, and a tall.
loose-limbed. potato-faced youth in a livery
tons. ~ opoi-
rs Mr.. Digby at homer" asked the colonel
emit" 'N'' a. pres
But he'll be In IN jiffy," added the foot
man. with welcoming grin.
How'd yer tongue, Watty, and hand down
the luggage" added the butler, with an air
OF reproof.
stop, my man." cried Capel. 81 am not