The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22

II
aw not a wake Well. SIR. Ned lay there
for q while without movin'; an 5ist as we
were wonderin' II he was killed. over he
turns, scrambles to his knees, rises. ruos
his eyes. looks round him. pulls out his
pipe. lights 1T. an without word or sign
makes for the dure az home. An the
heart rose In me at that-it did. For sure
Ned's terror in the drink-an' somehow
I niver cared for him."
Somehow I never cared for him. The
master turned and looked Henry hard In
the eyes. Was the man knave or fool?
Was he crazed, as some said. by sickness
and trouble? Did he know or was he sham
ming ignorance,
go on" said the master.
"well, after that" continued Henry, I'VE
barred the dure an raked the fire, an
Jimmy went to bed. An 1 goes over an
lifts herselfs head of the chair an shakes
her awake. an tells her TO rise an come
to her bed. An she rises and looks at me,
an looks about her. an goes UP to the
room. an comes back, an says she:
Where's Ned? He's gone home says j.
.'Home? says she, gone home? An what
took him homer He went himself an
swers 1; he fell off the table an got up
an went home of his own free will It's
a liev shouts she; it's lie!' an wi that
flies into the ojusest tantrum We liver seen.
All, twas terrible bad. Niver before did
see her in the like. Ye could hear her
mile An there was the childer all awake
an roarin' - and jimmy shiverin' be the
dresser, an herself ravin' at me, an
cursin'. an accusin me o. sendin' Black
Ned home. All, sir, but drinks the curse
but 1t is. She went fair mad an at last
she fell on me; she came at me like a
tiger an hit me. an tore me. an'-an-."
Henry paused shook his head. Twas a
sore case" he said, twas sore case"
What could the master think? Seldom
had he been in such perplexity. He could
not fathom this puzzle of a man, could not
decide whether he were deep or shallow,
knave or fool Did he know? Was he
shielding her, hiding her sins beneath her
faults. shielding her enormities with his
own weakness? Did he know? Or was
he telling the truth-the whole truth as he
saw II, chose to see 1t?
WELL" said the master. "well, and
what then, Henry?"
Jaw, she got tired at last" came back;
got tired at last, an then she UP, an puts
on her bonnet. an goes out, an slams the
dure. an leaves us there"
YES" said the master. watching Henry
between half-closed eyelids. "Yes?" he |
said again.
''That's-thats ALL"
"All? ALP" The master shouted the |
word. 'But where did she go to-"
Il dunno" answered Henry, deliberate
ly. and kept his eyes steadily on the dis
tant hills. II Dunno
'You don't know! And haven't you
heard from her? Haven't tried to find
herr"
Nav. Sure she'll come back herself:
she'll be sorry and come back"
What could the master think or say. or
do? He laid a hand on the mans arm.
Henry" he said, answer me truthfully. |
Do you know where she's gone tor"
Henry considered.
Nav he answered; st wouldn't be sure.
Mebbe it's to the brothers she's gone;
mebbe it's to the cousins beyond in Cor
teen. But what matter anyhow. Sure
she'll come back-shell come back"
What could the master think? Was he
telling the truth-the truth as he saw it,
or chose to see It? Or was he lying to save
her. to the children too? Oh, what |
matter, what matter! Nothing mattered in |
sight of the look of truth and innocence |
that lived on that haggard face.
"You think she will, Henry said the |
master, his voice softening strangely. |
You think SOP"
Think? Think Henry's face flushed |
round: his voice came sharp and irritable. |
ITO be sure I do. Arrah, why not? |
Whatd keep her away?" His voice swelled |
harshly; his manner at last was quick and |
lively. Sure twas only the drink an |
a fit of temper. To be sure she'll come back, |
an the childer here waitin' for her an |
the house-an' Jinny-an'-"
His voice softened; hesitated; drawled |
out
yourself. Henry?"
"Ay, aw, ay. What's left o. meself." |
Henry turned. walked out among the |
rushes and stood looking across the lake. |
Over there in Gorteen dwelt his wife's |
cousin; there, too, her brother; across there /
in Lackan. above on the hillside, dwelt the |
man-poacher, gaol bird. blackguard-l
whose nickname was Black Ned But IL |
was always towards Gorteen that Henry /
looked-always and unfinchingly. 'Ay,"
he said. and shaded his eyes and looked
steadily across the lake towards Gorteen;
whats left o. meself Aw, to be sure
she'll come-to be sure"
The master dared not speak. He turned |
away and set out for home. And as he
went somehow life seemed bright with
hope and the spring near and certain, and
always as he walked had he clear vision
Of that battered figure standing there
among the rushes shading his eyes and
watching anxiousy for her who was sure
to come.