The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-15
CHAPTER VII.

CEAt~AEn v1h
Until the day broke Mick went or. keep
| ing the track. which was. here and there.
. more distinct. Then. suddenly. he paused
! and. putting his ear to the ground. listened
a minute.
There are horsemen coming" he said.
We'll lust wait and see who they are
| before we wish them the top o the morn
ing. Come up here. my dariints." and.
turning the pony,s head straight up the
side of the hill we were travelling. We
quilted the track. and. plunging through deep
heather. reached a point some distance
above the track.
Thanks be for the mist" he muttered.
Just as they came below us. We heard
the foremost draw rein and call to another
who followed to pause.
They can't have got much beyond this"
he continued. as his comrade came up. ana
we all knew the Earl's voice. "If 1t wasn't
for this cursed fog. we should see them"
That he certainly would. for We stood
together but a hundred yards or SO above
his head.
1T is just a wild goose chase" growled
his companion. II tell ye. man. I must go
back. or the vessel will go without me"
You can't now. without me- said the
Earl. I'VE must find them. for I have sent
the boys in every direction. How are they
to get so far, afoot? They'll be crouching
under a bush. or stuck in a bog. unless they
nave got ponies. and 50 reach kiilala. Then
III have them safe. The brat Is my cousin
my ward, and the girl I'll say is my wife
as i mean her to be-"
why. what will Kitty Fenigan say 70
that" sneered O'Brien-
Hang Kitty Fenigan!"
"Oh, hang her, by all means. II you Ike.
but you'll have to reckon with her. some
day. She's got her lines safe enough. Well.
now. I'm going back"
You'll be bogged"'
We'll, I'm not going to Killala- I don't
want to be seen there. and. moreover. !
don't want to be pestered with the brat
without the girl: that isn't in the bond"
So. after some more grumblins. O'Brisn
agreed to accompany the Earl. and they
put spurs to their horses. and we heard
the thud of their hoofs along the road.
Margret had not spoken since We heard
those evil mems converse. but her head was
bowed. az If with shame. and her soft lips
set In a curve of hard resolve. and I knew
her heart was full of bitterness.
So we went. till mounting the crest OF .
hill. we suddenly came in view Of the town,
living on the slope. by the entrance Of . bay
or estuary.
What is that large house yonderr' ].
asked Of Mick. noting a building OF some
size backed with woods. now beautiful with
fresh spring tints Of young leaves.
Sure. that is the Bishops house," said
Nick. your English Bishop. I'm naming"
THE Bishops house, 1 repeated: and
then a sudde inspiration seized me. h
Bishops house! why. was he not our father
in God? was he not bound to help and
protest us? Yes: there was the refuge I
had been longing for and praying for. while
we tramped over that weary way, wonder
ing who we should find to protect ~ In our
sore need
Mick" I said. well go there"
So Mick took US to the gate Of the Bish-
ops house. and then leaving u. with many
thanks on our part. went on to the town
his pony. whistling carelessly: was
he not on business? And Ne went Up the
broad walk to the house.
Then came a hush. and presently Q sound
Of footsteps and voices and clapping OF
doors. and almost Immediately. down .
broad, oaken staircase on one side Of the
hall, there descended an elderly lady.
dressed In black, followed by several other
women.
At this I stepped forward and after Q few
words. the lady signed to me to be silent.
This seems a business to be spoken Of
more quietly" she said. for by this time
quite a group of servants and ATTENDANTS
surrounded US. Follow me: my husband u
a better counselor than I can be-"
So We followed her into . library. where
before a table loaded with books n p
pers. the Bishop himself sat. and. after .
word from his wife las the lady wasD. I TOLD
him in as few words as possible our story.
1 saw his face grow sraSer and sravef 40
I spoke. n I guessed that our little story
with greater matters than Ne
of. and so I ended. saying that NOT
knowing who else to have recourse to wo
had come to him. for protection and help
and counsel.
You did weil.' he said. "and you man
ask in vain. But this IS q matter that
farther than perhaps you can guess.
and I ask you to be silent and speak OF
it to no one save such persons as i shau
Indicate. For the present. you need most
rest and food: you must stay here. and
my dear wife will. I am sure. charge her
self willingly with the care Of this young
lady, whose sad and strange story you
nave related. and her brave and faithful
We will communicate ut once
England. so as to learn II her father
has reached home. and what steps he Is
to find her"
Which the good Bishop did. n COM
PEELED us to stay hid in his house TIL an
fear Of pursuit was past. and the real Earl
had won back his own.
So that was how we got out Of the Snare
and escaped from the net Of the Fowler.
and with 1t. ends my part in this narrative.
Margret Is coming this way-1 can hear
he Jingle OF her housewifely keys.
The Stage yillain
-ndef the painted canvas tree
The wicked villain stands.
blue-black whiskers on h:0 face
In coarse and shining strands.
And cleaning lager tensely held
In both his sinewy hands.
His records bad. and black. and long;
He's wanted" everywhere.
Detectives crack are on his track,
Yet never find his lair.
Jntil. just as the curtain falls,
They land on him for fair,
act In. act out. he mains and Stays.
And lies, and robS. and steals:
he sreaks along with dagger drawn
Yzf;~ AZ A>-~s- A.-