The Jamesburg record., 1899-09-23


The hour that followed was one of the
happiest he had ever known. And the
wafF back to Mrs. Dolan's in the cool
evening, with the sun seUding long
shafts of yellow light betwixt the slen-
der stems of the frs in the plantation,
and across the purple heather, was like
a glimpse of Paradise.
And the spells of sweetly dangerous
silence were sweet to both alike.
IL.
During the weeks which followed
Brian Hennessy was torn by conflicting
emotions Consumed by passionate
love for the girl who was staying with
Mrs. Dolan, and recognizing, as he did,
the utter hopelessness of fostering such
an attachment, he was by turns reck-
lessly gay and deeply Respondent.
A few of the rougher spirits on the
estate did not fail to notice these fits
of dependency, and the hot blood ran
riot in their veins at the tyranny OF
the man who was turning the master
out of house and home. Dark whisper
ings and muttered threats which boded
no good to Mr.. Darlington were freely
INDUCED in, and Rory Devine polished
up his old rifle with grim look.
But the loss of his home, which few
short weeks ago had seemed to Brian
the worst calamity that could befall
him, had faded into utter insignificance
beside the one great absorbing passion
of his life.
He feared with a dread the keenness
of which struck him like a. dagger
thrust, the inevitable parting which he
knew must now be close at hand.
Though poverty sealed his lips with
a seal that love strove in vain to break,
the continued struggle was telling upon
him, and the hopeless look in his eyes
often caused the heart of Mrs. Dolan's
pretty lodger to beat with a wildness
that startled her.
One dull, heavy morning, about a
month after their first meeting, Brian
came tramping down the moor and
across the meadow, couple of doge
at his heels, and a look on his face
that caused Mrs. Dolan to remark:
"Sure, there's Mister Brain, lookin'
for all the world as if he was going to
be hung!"
A moment later he was in the cool,
stone-fagged kitchen, and gazing hun
grily at the occupant of the big arm
chair.
at has come.'' he said, bitterly. "Mr.
Darlington arrives to-day by the 1918
p. m. l shall fetch him in the dog
cart from Coolardy.'
Che cro1aJ nm of him with soft little
sigh.
And I am leaving at noon," she ex-
claimed. 81 have had letters from home
this morning"
His lips twitched little, and his face
paled beneath the bronze.
"Then it is indeed the deLge!" was
all he could manage to say.
How he passed the few hours that re-
manned before her departure he could
never recall. The whole world seemed
to be slipping away from him; and
when he drove her to the station and
watched the forlorn little face fade
away as the train bore her from his
sight his heart sank very low indeed,
and he turned away with a groan he
could not repress.
Meanwhile Mrs. Dolan had not been
idle. The news of Mr.. Darlington's ex-
pected arrival had spread far and near,
and Rory Devine, with two or three
others, spoke in hushed whispers of the
loneliness of the road from Coolardy.
The little station platform looked
drear and inhospitable as Brian stood
just outside the white gate the same
evening awaiting the arrival of the
1915. The mare kept pushing her vel
vety nose against his arm, as if con-
scious of his trouble.
His patience was not too sorely tried,
however, for few minutes later it ran
slowly alongside the platform and de-
posted solitary lady passenger, whose
figure seemed strangely familiar in the
faint glimmer shed by the lamps.
As she came toward the exit has heart
gave great leap.
"Olive!" he cried, a note Of bewilder
ment in his voice.
She laughed tremulously.
Eyes, it is l." she answered.
"But how-where is Darlington"
She laughed again, little quaver-
ingly.
Here" she replied; 81 am Mr..
Darlington
81 must be very Dense" he said at
length; "but there is some mystery here
that 1 cannot understand. VIII you
please explain?'
She shivered at the change in his
voice, and laid one hand on his arm.
81 will tell you as we go along" she
said.
He helped her to his seat and gath
cred up the reins.
at is quite simple" she said, as they
spun along. Il have taken up the