Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-05-05

A LOVE STORY OF MODERN DAYS

I've come here to spake to We tonight,
Misther Desmond, as man to man." he says,
with a somewhat staggering air.
with all my heart" says The Desmond;
''but be as fair to Inc rs | have ever been to
you and yours, and we shall come to AMIGA
bic terms soon enough"
"AS to fairness says the man, II don't
see how any landlord in Ireland can spake
of ii without a blush. Ie can talk, there's
no doubt, but words go for little; and the
fact Is, I've got no rent to pay ye."
His tone conveys the idea that he has the
rent, but deliberately refuses TO pay it..
You will bring it on Monday, or ! shall
evict you," says the Squire, quietly. You
hearl'
Il hear says the man, with an evil
frown. but ye can't have it all yer own
way now, Misther Desmond. There's others
have a voice in the matther."
Il don't care for innlendoeS Of that sort,
or for any i%nsolence, whatever; / only mean
you TO fully know that i must live a. well as
you, and that therefore | must have my
rents"
II know well enough what We name" saws
the man, with increasing inSolence. "But
I'd have you TO know this, that maybe be-
fore long yen whistle another time. There's
them | could mention, rs has their eye up
on We, am will keep it there till justice is
DONE"
Meaning, until l give up Coole ITSELF"
says the Squire, with a sneer.
LAY, crcn that, it may be" says the man,
with answering defiance.
You dare to threaten me%' says The Dcs-
mond, throwing up his head haughtily, and
drawing some steps nearer to his tenant.
Il only say what is likely to prove truth
| h,f,n, loo - .,t,,.,. A., 900, AlgI
giving in an inch. THAT We'll have no
more tyranny, but will have a blow for our
rights, if we swing for it,
"1Ouc can shoot me when and where You
like" says Desmond, with a shrug. But |
am afraid it will do you no good"
1T will be a lesson to the Others" says
the man, between his teeth.
At this The Desmond rises slowly, and
ringing the bell, calmly parcS his nails until
q servant comes in answer to his summons.
ASK Mr.. Brian TO come here for a mo-
ment," he says, calmly, not lifting his eyes
from the fourth finger of his left hand, upon
the mail OF which he is just now employed.
Brlan Longing in, in a few moments, his
uncle pockets his penknife, and, waving
his hand Lightly in Donovan's direction,
says, gravely,-
This man. Donovan, will be one of your
tenants, some time, n,"-plainly, hehaS
forgotten all about his determination to
marry again, and so dispoSsess his nephew
of CooIe and other things, or else one glance
at Monica'S portrait lin which she had APP
pcared so ullikC her mother has done won-
derS; lit Is therefore as well YOU should
learn his sentiments toward his landlord,
especially as he is apparently the mouth
piece of all the Others. Oblige me, Donovan,
by repeating to Mr.. Brian all you have just
said 10 me-"
But the man is far too clever a lawyer 10
commit himself before a third party.
II have nothing TO say" ne swe sui
lenly, but this, that times are hard an
money scarce, an"
I'VE will pass over all that. 1t Is an old
story now: and, as you decline to speak, |
VIII just tell you again, ] intend to nave my
rent on Monday, and if | don't i shall evict
you"
"Ahl as you evicted Ned Barry last
month, throwing him on the open road,
with his wife beside him, an a baby not a
month old
Nonsense! the child was six months old,
and Barry was better able to pay than any
tenant l have, and more willing, too, until
he was tempered with. He has proved he
had the money since, by paying a sum to
Sullivan yonder for board and lodging that
would have kept him in his own house for
twice the length of time he has been there.
know all about it; | have made it my busi-
ness to find it out"
we're mighty well informed entirely"
says Donovan, with a wicked sneer.
IF you can't keep a civil tongue in your
head, you had better leave this room" says
Brian, flushing darkly and making a step
toward him.
"Who are yOu to ordher me about?" says
the man, with a fierce glance. we're not
my master yet, l can tell We, an maybe ne
nCrCr tUtU be-"
Leave the room," says Brian, white with
rage, pointing impcriouSly to the door.
Curse ye" says the man; yet, warned by
the expression on Brian's face, he moves in
a rebellious manner to the door, and so dis
appears.
Il
"Thcy are the most unpleasant peasantry
in the world" says the Squire, some hours
later, the words coming like a dreary sigh
through the clouds of tObacco-smoke that
curls upward from his favorite m%eerschaum.
He and Brian and Owen Kelly are all sit
ting in TIT. library, the scene of the late en-
counter, and have been meditating silently
upon many matters, in which perhaps Love
has the largest share, considering his vo-
tarieS are two to one, when the Squire most
Unexpectedly gives way TO the speech afore-
said.
81 wonder" says Brian, dreamiIy,-it is
very late, and he is In a gently, kindly,
somnOlent state, born of the armchair and
his pipe,-"I wonder If one was to give in
to them entirely, would they be generous
enough to"
IF you can't talk sense" interrupted his
uncle, angrily, don't talk at all. | am sur
prised at you, Brian. Have you seen or
noticed nothing all these years, have you
been blind to the state Of the country, that
you give sound to zach utter trash? PShaw!
the weakly sentiment of the day sickens
me-"
But suppose one was to humor them,-I
am not abiding to you, my dear George" to
his uncle,-'I know you have humored
them considerably but | mean landlords
generally; would not peace be restored?
That fellow Donovan to-day was beyond
doubt impertinent to the last degree; but of
course he meant nothing; they would, |
should think, hesitate, in their own interest,
before falling foul of YOU"
you don't understand them as l do"
says the Squire, slowly.
II still think peace, and not war, should
be instilled into Them" says Brian. TOO
many landlords arc harsh and unyieldingin
an aggravated degree, when a little persua-
| sion and a few soft words would smooth
matters. They, of course, are visited with
the revenge of the League, whilst such as
you escape"
"These complacent words are still upon
his lips, he has had time to lean back in his
| chair with the languid air of one who has
given to the world views not admitting OF
contradiction, when a sharp whirring noise
is heard, followed by a crash of broken
glass and the dull thud of q bullet that has
found its home in the wall right opposite