The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-18

Ter OF this square stood a towering ser.
geant major, erect and motionless as a
pillar, holding in his hands the festoon-
ed colors of the regiment on guard at
the castle. A drummer and bugler-
mere lads both--stood in front Of the
standard bearer
A second quadrangle, away beyond
this, revealed itself through an archway
in the midst of long line Of imposing
buildings, and this space Lady Montagu
saw, was also filled with troops. Casting
her glance backward, she noticed that
heavy armor plates were bolted to the
upright bars of the iron gates, and that
two field guns stood on the side paths,
their muzzles pointing to the street out.
side.
Mercy on me-" exclaimed the draw.
ing room goddess as she took in these
warlike portents in comprehensive
glance, "the place looks as if it were in
q state of siegel Major Lascelles, do you
think there is any likelihood of real
fghting2"
"I am sorry to say l do not, he an
swered, smiling at her alarm. "They
are only making show of military
preparation to overawe the people
Now, my lass, those shamrooksp' he
called to the girl after he had handed
the lady from the carriage.
He took the little wreath, and with
graceful bow handed il to Lady Mon.
tagu. A goldpiece dropped into the
girls hand, with a naughty wave at her
| suggestion Of change, elected litany
of fervent aspirations for the temporal
and spiritual welfare Of the beautiful
lady and himself which made them both
laugh heartily.
They stood in wide porch, above
which is a long balcony, on which the
! first floor windows Of the vice regal
mansion open out The girl of the
| shamrocks rs she moved away turned
her eyes upward and exclaimed: "Well,
! God bless the ould times, whin we could
| all dance till we were tired in this big
| place. and the fine ladies and gentlemen
'u'd look on from up there-aye, and
often get up a jig, too, themselves!
Them We're the days when there was
fashions of money, but they were too
good to last. I've seen many fine lord
and lady up there, but never as lovely
as your ladyship and his honor there.
God forever bless you both and send you
! luck and''-
Here she paused, for she evidently did
not wish to commit herself to any de-
cided opinion as to the relations in
which, in her mind, her benefactors stood
hesitation
her ingenious look Of doubt and fear Of
offending against the proprieties again
caused them to laugh in unfeigned en-
! joyment of the situation.
Leaving them to enjoy their mirth,
the girl turned away and crossed the
| square behind the lines of armed men.
! As she did so she glanced up in the di.
reCtion Of the row Of old fashioned
houses which front the castle on Cork
hill, and the topmost windows of which
command view Of the courtyard. Those
! houses were kept under close surveil-
! lance lest they might be utilized for an
/ attack on the lord lieutenant, the Mar
! quis of Abercorn. A detective stood at
the door of each, and corps of special
officers, posted in different disguises on
Cork hill, watched every window, every
man carrying a loaded revolver in his
pocket ready to open fusillade at The
smallest symptom Of danger,
In all those windows but one there
was no sign of life The heads Of two
little girls could be seen looking down
on the scene below, laughing and talk
ing evidently in the careless, happy
way of childhood at each movement of
the people and the mounted police out
side the castle gates.
A very redheaded little maiden one of
these children was. There was nothing
peculiar about the other.
Behind the backs Of the troops the
girl with the shamrocks picked her way
until she had gained the edge of the
archway opening on the upper castle
yard. Here she paused and looked up
toward the window where the children
were playing. Then she slowly raised