The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-17
THE COST OF HIS HEAD.
BY MRS. ALEXANDER.
Author OF "The WOoing OFT"
teryIsht. lss6 by Bachsler, johnson and Bachsll,n

Massarene would not have parted with
you, especially as We looked for you
yesterday in vain"
"Ah. mon ami,-my var goot friend!
l am obliged to hasten my steps! Mon
son. my Victor. is ill., He needs the
presence of his mother, and ] must
hasten to him. But you. dear Mr..
Digby, you look well. and these dear
children" a wave of her fan toward
Grace and her cousin, they bloom like
the fair flowers a very fatrdluahrdluu
the fair flowers :hey are!"
Il fear you have had very fatigu-
ing journey. madame"
Mo fol, it was'a trying one! the last
I shall make in this green isle OF
yours"
Pray do not say 50, Let me pre-
sent my friend. Colonel Capel. to you.
u gentleman of Somersetshire whose
acquaintance we had the pleasure of
making in Bath last winter"
IL am very pleased to know you.
SIR" and she made him an enormous
courtesy.
IF YOU please. miss. the dinner is
served" said the cranky, looking but
Ter. with a discontinued sniff.
''Come. madame. II is II long time
since I have had this pleasure" said
the host, offering his arm.
"WIl you take Nelly" said Miss
Dig/, with a laughing look at Capel
"Why not BOTH" remarked Nelly.
Certainly" he returned. offering an
arm to each.
Madame" of course, sat on Mr.. D'g-
by's right, and Grace placed Capel on
the same side opposite Miss O'Grady.
4 ap,I l,tp la, nj
and conversation flowed freely. Mr.
Digby taking the chief part, being well
supported by the eX-governess. She
spoke English with decided Irish ac-
cent, but frequently lapsed into
French, with which her host was ia
miliar
Capel found his young hostess most
gracious and charming. She asked
him if he would ride with her the fol-
lowing day, as she was afraid her ia
ther had some magisterial business to
transact i'm the town. I'VE call Bal
firager town Colonel Capel. ! do
not fancy it looks like one to you"
"Oh, bedad, it thinks itself q fine
town." cried Digby. IL haven't been
down there this week past, so | must
go tomorrow
Pray do not trouble yourself about
me-" Capel was beginning. when De-
lany, the butler who had just lifted
the cover from pair of roast duck
lings. put i'm his contribution to the
talk with the odd familiarity which
formely existed in Ireland with nearly
abject respect for THE Masther" and
the family"
"a then I'm glad nayther yourself
nor the young ladies We're down in the
town today, anyways"
"HOw so. Delany?'
Sure, thought the sight would lave
me eyes this evenin', when | went down
Just to say word to Finigan's mother
she dying. an making beautiful end.
rest her sowl!-what should l see but
the polls sticking up play card, Offer
ing five hundred pounds for that I'LL
giant boys head, young Valentine Cos
tello's-the cruel numbering devils!
Five hundred pounds no less! and"
with a glance at his masters military
guest what is be but a. boy that's not
come to his right sense yet? Sure, in
a year or so. he'll know better!"
I'm the meantime he may do lot of
mischief" said Capel. gravely.
That's true!" cried Digby, "if only
young fellows and enthusiasts would
bility they incur and the misery they
cause. they would see 'tis better to bear
the ills we have"
"And l seed that informin' American
Jeff'res along with the polls. an his
pocket stuck out with the bills. an a
paste pot in his hands He'll be hav-
ing bullet in the side of his head,
some night" put in the foOtman.
How'd your tongue, Watty." said
Delaney in loud bitter aside. "A long
legged laundering gosson of your sort
has no call to prate with :he gentry"
Capel listened in amused astonish-
ment to this unheard of mingling of
menials in the talk of their masters,
while he noticed that Grace's cheeks
grew pale.
This barbarous country is not fit
for so tender SOUL" he thought.
Five hundred pounds for Val Cos
tello's head! l never thought 1t would
be worth so much!" cried Nelly, with
a slightly hysterical laugh.
probably he never knew its value
before" said Mime. de Suresne.
Did you know this rebel?" asked
Capel in much surprise
"As children we played together. but
he went to France, and we have not
seen him for many years." replied