Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-16

SSS0g@sISSYN3SC Vi story WHICH
XSSgSsAYIEdESx / had from his
YSI>NZZ|#NN%%2S lips some few
04SUN0 w weeks ago. But
then I have to plead as an excuse that
he ought not to be so indiscreet as to
confide in struggling journalist who
is ever on the lookout for interesting
copy"
An introduction is necessary. Suf-
fee it to say that Conyers, who is an
artist, had entered my diggings ON
the day in question after having been
absent on a sketching tour in the
south of Ireland for little more than
fifteen months. He came with the
announcement that he was going to
be married to an Irish girl-Kathleen
O'Neil by name. became interested.
My eager questioning elected the fol-
lowing facts:
He had first come across Miss
O'Neil in the vicinity of Lismore, it
appears. Curiously enough, the
cause of his original interest in her
was an expression of haunting sadness
which was ever on her face; nor had
he known her long before he expert
enced an enthusiastic desire to have a
hand in clearing the sadness away.
But how could he learn the cause?
By good fortune he was permitted to
hear the story from her own lips, al
though she had spoken to no man be-
fore about it.
"My father" she said, sis insane"
HGOOd leayensl"
He had never entertained that pos
sibility.
No wonder the poor girl was sorrow-
ful. But how had it happened?
I'VE lived until year ago in Dub
lin, she answered. my father was
a merchant there. He had had a
hard struggle, but at last success
came. Not that his balance at the
bank was sufficient of itself; but if he
could sell his premises and come ction
he could retire, which was what he de-
sired, for he was growing old. For
tunately, a purchaser was soon pro-
cured in an Irish baronet, Sir Patrick
O'Connell by name, who wanted it for
the purpose of establishing his
younger sons in business. An agree
ment was signed. Sir Patrick could
not pay cash down, his money was
tied up; but he would have sufficient
free in six months time. He, how.
ever, promised to lodge with my father
as security in the meantime the family
diamonds, yaluedsat EGO, Godfather
you must understand, had an honor.
able name.
+ The pity of what followed. It was
at the place of business, on a certain
, afternoon, that the jewels were handed
over, and father, for one night only
locked them in his eschitoire, intend
ing next day to take them to the
bank. Alas! the self-same nigh
the premises were burnt to the
| ground-nothing was rescued. Tho
sudden shock turned my father.
brain. As for mother and I, after WI
had paid to the baronet money equiv
alent to the value of the diamonds
s (which the insurance, banking ac
$ count, etc, enabled us to do, w,
had just sufficient left to live in sim
plicity. SO we came down to thi
quiet place. We are allowed to keel
father, because the form of his diseas
] comes under the heading of melan
E cholia. He is not dangerous, but h.
does not know even mother and me.
Such is brief outline of the sat
g story.
l Well, this life, they say, is made u
? of curious chances. As Conyers wa
nearing his "diggings" afterward, VIII
: should he run up against but his ol,
chum, Charley Manton, who is conf
Dental agent in the employment O
Gray & Helmsley, of Lincoln's In
Fields.
E "Hallo! What are you doing dow,
!. this way, Charley?" shouted Conyers
= Searching for needle in a hay
: stack, my boy. want Daniel O'Neil
: supposed to be residing in this qual
d ter, formerly a merchant trading i
u Dublin. I say, though, what make
!. you look so excited?"
d Conyers took his arm andled him t
d his "diggings," which were conven
d iently near.
y "Now, know where to find MI
Daniel O'Neil," he said "But, first
what do you want him for?"
y "Well, that's cool. Supposing yo
d d make start by telling me why you r
d 30 nightly interested in him?"
There are times when you can gal