Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-30
thu COST on HIS HEAD.
by MRS. ALEXANDER
Author of "Tho wooing OF"
ICopyright, 1896, by Bachelor, johnson ant
T1nghnllar

|lICopyright, 1896, by Bachelor, johnson and
Bacheller.l
Saclkvlle street, Dublin, was look
ing very much alive on fine spring
morning in the first decade of this CEN
tury--bcfore "the distressful country"
had recovered the fury and despair of
Emmett's insane attempt at rebellion
while the southern and northern dis
tricts were still honeycombed with Sc
cret societies and hopeless plots against
the English government.
A regiment of infantry had just
marched down the broad thoroughfare
10 Carlisle's bridge, on their way to
the Phoenix Park, and a crowd of
ragged, frequently barcfootcd idlers,
attracted by the drums and flies, dis
lpcrsed as the soldiers turned along the
Quavs--n runaway horse proving a
counter attraction; so they rushed to
increase its speed and terror by the
wild efforts of dozen and more men TO
catch it.
Failing in this attempt, they collect.
ed around the entrance of the Royal ho-
tel where Il postchnisc and horses were
seen to draw up. Within,i in private sit
tng-room looking Oh the street, two
gentlemen sat at brcakfast--onc, short
and thick, with plain and very shrewd
face and red hair, dressed in the height
OF the prevailing fashion--the other,
tall, thin, roudshouldercd, bony, with
grave, dark eyes, a strong jaw and we'll
cut mouth, short, nearly black hair,
and stately carriage, wore military
uniform. He had risen and was look
ing out of the window.
"Thcre's the chaise at last" he said.
81 don't think you arc very punctual in
these parts, Lane
'Punctual! my dear fellow! We arc
indeed innocent of that great offcnse!
Why are you starting so soon for your
command? You lave nearly ten days
to spare"
81 want to pay n visit on my way"
returned the colonel, coming back to
the table. 81 am glad to have had
this glimpse of you, Lane. You were
rather in luck to get the vice regal pri-
waite secretaryship. l don't fancy I
shall be long in the south, so I'll look
you up on my way back, | fancy, before
tllc summer is over"
81 hope you will. Who are you 60
ing to see en- route?"
"a capital fellow ! met at Bath last
winter-a Mr.. Digby."
'What, John Digby, of Athgarvan? ~
"That's the mani"
81 know him. He has duck of a
daughter"
Miss Digby is very charming
young lady" said the colonel, stifIiy.
EXACTLY; you'll like the place. He is
a very well-affected country squire-n
strong Protestant-though some of his
kith and kin are Papis,s-pcstilent pa
triotic papists. am told. Don't look
at your watch, Capel, you needn't start
Just this moment. | have little hint
to give you. It's of great importance to
catch this young fool Valentine Costel-
10, who has been giving us n lot OF
trouble. He is none of your ordinary
besotted Papists. He has been chiefly
educated in France, and has head on
his shoulders. The idiotic peasantry
are devoted to him, and he has been
in hiding in the hollows and shanties Of
the Knock-me-down mountains-char
acteristic name, eh?"
ut is indeed!"
"Old Brigadier Kenistan has never
been able to put his hand on him-yor
must do better. I'll give you line to 6
very clever chap-an Irish-American
whom / sent down to track Costello
and one or two others. His ostensiblt