The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-09-25

orten set me thinking since that ne
should have carried about these shells
with him in his wandering, guilty,
hunted life.
In the meantime, we had found moth
ing of any value but the silver and tho
trinkets, and neither of these were In
our way. Underneath there was an old
boat-cloak whitened with sea-salt on
many a harbor-bar. My mother pulled
it up with impaticnce, and there lay
before US, the last things in the chest,
a bundle tied up In oil-cloth, and look
ing like papers, and canvas bag, that
gave forth. at q touch, the Jingle OF
gold. -
"Ill show those rogues that I'm an
honest woman" said my mother. "1'u
have my dues. and not farthing over.
Hold Mrs. Crossley's bag" And she be-
gan to count over the amount OF the
captains score from the sailors bag
into the one that was holding.
1t was long, difficult business, for
the coins were of all countries and
hizes-doubloons, and louis-d'ors, and
guineas. and pieces of eight. and know
not what besides, all shaken together at
random. The guineas, too, were about
the scarcest, and it was with these only
that my mother knew how to make her
count.
When we were about halfway
through. suddenly put my hand upon
her arm, for had heard in the silent,
NJ
heart into my mouth-the tap-tapping
of the blind mans stick upon thefrozen
road. 1t drew nearer and nearer,
while we sat holding our breath. Then
it struck sharp on the inn door, and
then we could hear the handle being
turned and the bolt rafting as the
wretched being tried to enter; and then
there was long time of silence both
within and without. At last the tap
ping recommended, and to our indie
acribable joy and gratitude died slow
~ away again until it ceased to be
heard. .<,
Mother" said l. take the whole
and let's be going;" for I was sure the
bolted door must have seemed sus-
picious, and would bring the whole hor-
nets nest about our ears, though how
thankful was that had bolted it none
could tell who had never met this ter
rible blind man.
But my mother, frightened az she
was, would not consent to take frac-
ton more than was due to her, and
was obstinately unwilling to be content
with less. 1t was not yet seven, she
said. by long way; she knew her
rights and she would have them; and
she was still arguing with me, when q
little low whistle sounded good way
off among the hills. That was enough,
and more tlutn enough, for both of US.
"Tl take what I have" she said,
Jumping to her feet.
"And I'll take this to square tho
count" said l, picking up the oilskin
packet.
Next moment we were both crop
ing downstairs, leaving the candle by
the empty chest; and the next we had
opened the door and were in full re-
treat. We had not started q moment
too soon. The fog was rapidly dis
persing; already the moon shone quito
clear on the high ground on either side;
the dell and round the cabin door that
thin veil still hung unbroken to con-
ceal the first steps of our escape. Far
less than halfway to the hamlet, very
little beyond the bottom of the hill, we
must come forth into the moonlight.
Nor was this all; for the sound of sew
eral footsteps running came already
to our ears, and as we looked back In
their direction, light tossing to and
fro, and still rapidly advancing, showed
that one of the newcomers carried q
lantern.
"My DEAR" said my mother sudden
~, "take the money and run on. lam
going to faint"
This was certainly the end Of both
of us, thought. How cursed the
cowardice of the neighbours; how I
blamed my poor mother for her honesty
and her greed, for her past foolhardi-
ness and present weakness! We were
just at the little bridge, by good for
tune; and helped her, to:tering as she
was, to the edge of the bank, where,
sure enough, she gave sigh and fell
on my shoulder. I do not know how
found the strength to do it at all, and
am afraid it was roughly done, but T
managed to drag her down the bank
and little way under the arch. Fur
Their I could not move her, for the
the bridge was too low to let me do
more than crawl below it. So there
we had to stay-my mother almost en-
tirely exposed, and both of us within
earshot of the inn. !,
CHAPTER y.
THE LAST OF THE ELIND MAN. :
My curiosity. in sense, was strong-
er than my fear; for could not remain
where I was. but crcpt back to the
bank again, whence, aheltering my
head behind bush of broom, might
command the road before the door.
was scarcely in position ere my en-
emies began to arrive, seven or eight
Of them, running their feet beating
out Of time along the road, and the
man with the lantern some PAGES in
front. Three men ran together, hand
in hand, and made out, even through