The Washington times., 1902-10-12
CHAPTER XII.
Emmet's Commander-in-Chief.

NuAf xLA Az
Emmet's Chief.
Where was the fugitive, Emmett, while
that noble heroine, his housekeeper. was
undergoing this torture for his sake?
Within sight of his own home, in the
home of her father, Brian Devlin, a
dairyman. With him there were John
Hevey. who had to fec for his life be-
cause insurgent officers had dined at
his house: Quigley, the brothers Parrot
Dowdall, John Neil, who was brother
in-law of the famous Michael Dwyer,
and Brian Devlin, his son, Arthur, and
Mrs. Devlin.
They all sat in the kitchen talking.
except Brian ard his wife, who hustled
about their household affairs. None of
them looked downcast, but Emmett wore
the most cheerful look of them all. He
had changed his uniform in the house in
Butterfield lane for his ordinary street
attire. His greatcoat lay near him on
a chair. with something bulky under
it Its presence was very proper, though
the month was August, for in ireland
the province of that garment is rather
to keep out rain than cold, and the
weather is as wet in August as In any
other month.
Why remained he there, in the shadow
of death, when 1t was SO easy to arrange
for his escape from any part of the coast
by fishing boat to freedom and safety on
the soil OF Frame?
Because Robert Emmet's stern COM
mander-in-cbief was honor, and his in
depreciation of honor's commands was
that. If the field must be deserted. he
must be the last to leave it.
This was the meaning of his answer,
couched in language Enthusiastically
modest. when Dowdan late in the after
noon proposed the project Of flight to
Emmett:
How do / know but that the people 1
are successful in the provinces. The
Dublin newspapers would not yet know.
and II they learned of Irish victories
would not dare publish them. / must
wait hereabouts in as safe seclusion as
i can find until hear from Lacey and
my other messengers. ! wonder why.
oh. why. Dwyer did not come. But
Byrne has started out to see him and
ask him. I'll know tonight or in the
morning"
81 don't believe they ruz at all, Mis-
ther Emmett" said Brian Devlin. who
at that moment was helping his wife
to carry a tub of milk to the churn
that stood in the end of the kitchen.
something is tellin' me the plans went
wrong
They surely did rise." replied En-
met, enthusiastically. Il had arranged |
with the county chiefs to fash news
Of my success by two signal fires from
Howth; in the event of their seeing no
fires up TO midnight they we're to un-
that / was safe, but defeated,
and that they were TO proceed. each |
against point selected, and await fur
ther orders
What"
Brian Devlin let go his hold on the
tub and stared, open-mouthed, at the
undaunted leader.
"Ah. thin, bad luck TO yer butter
.f1l l.,
with a ready asperity worthy of Anne's
mother, as she surveyed the ruin on
the floor.
Indeed. they ushed to say ] was sch
, rogue of child in me humb-suckin'
lays that butther wouldn't melt in me
MOUTH" rctorted Brian, true to the
IRISH peasant habit of making the most
serious thought give place to joke.
IF that's why ye're sellin' it ye'd
:htarve keepin' a public house, Brian.
.gra." retorted his wife
We'll, sure i couldn't shtarye to
ieath."
'No-bekase the sperit 'ud be in We
llways."
Faith, then, the raison ] wint
airyin' was that / was coortin' you,
Nary. 'Butther would melt in that
mes mouth sez / TO meself. An she
ant ate up the big-ness
Yer miser Afeared I'd ate the but
her," But. changing her tone to one
Il apprehension. she went on: This
pillin' O. milk is no joke. 'Tisn't the
oss O. 1t. maybe twas wantin' where it
vint.' But l never seen a joult gave
"A common belief among the Irish peasants
the period was that milk accidentally spilled
ent 10 the fairies, or good people,