Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

THE next day Murtagh left the house after break
fast and the two women saw him striding down
the great road to the village by the 1t was
indeed for him to leave home and Moreen not
without the fear that he would not come back that
somehow he would win across the to the country
of his dreams, But he came home after nightfall,-
home in such guise that his mother put up her
shaking hands to her face and turned away from
him He wore the garb of the constabulary hate
full cloak and cap and all. The old woman broke
into tears.
Would you have me owe money to a woman?
How you must hate mel cried Moreen How
you must hate me, if you would shame yourself in
the sight of the village wild that dress on you'll
FOR many week Murtagh paid a bitter interest
on his debt to Moreen. He had known that in
joining the constabulary he had in measure cut
himself off, not only from his own kin, but from his
own kind His old neighbors must pass him
with a cold word His assistants must be those
with the Orange in them, else others like himself
who had a loyalty to the English Govern
ment rather than to their brethren. The other
three policemen distrusted him. They set lynx
eyes upon him to that he ready to arrest
such of his former friends as evaded the law. The
sergeant cynically that the ostracism into
which Murtagh had fallen would make him mar
tinet; but Murtagh was loyal, whatever his uniform
might Indicate Any act of an 1rishrnan a law
in itself, far he was concerned, and he would
have lost his badge had it not been for fortunate
accident.
Old Sir Patrick Morgan, famous geologist and
a friend of the Commander of the Forces,
aiming the country roundabout particularly the
mountain. The commander ordered that police
be given him official guide, and Sir Patrick
chose Murtagh
Day by day in shower the two CHM bed
the mountain Sir Patrick peered about with short
sighted eyes at rocks and landmarks, or hammered
at his specimens. At such moments Murtagh sat
on a stone and glowered down toward the hated
spot where the constabulary building stood, or he
looked up at the top of the mountain where his
mothers cottage-no Moreens cottage-perched
the treasure hollow OF the Kings, and where he
went every Sunday to see his mother. Melancholy
visits they were, when neither knew what to say
and the bond of their blood brought them no COM
fort. Moreen was never present and Murtagh
wondered If he driving her from her own
home
Sometimes, when Sir Patrick had wandered out
of sight, Murtagh would hide his face in his hands
and shut his eyes against the vision OF the road
from the mountain that wound down to that sea he
should Now and then when storm
arose, the two would huddle under soplng
rock a thick tree, and then perhaps, under skill
full questioning Murtagh would tell bits OF local
history and legend, of which the heart OF every
Irish peasant is full.
Gradually they worked up to the top OF the noun
tain and one morning Sir Patrick fell with eagerness
on the ancient treasure hollow of the Kings Muir
tagh sat near him with his back turned to his home
He could hear the voices of the women; once he
heard Moreen calling to the hens; but he never
stirred Some strong feeling fighting IN his heart
"a resentment at the mild specialized man who
tapped at the old stones and peered down the old
crevices and made himself famiarly at home on
the soil of his ancestors. Everything had been
taken from him his chance in the new world, his
home and thus his sense of manhood. And old
Sir Patrick chipping away careessly was the symbol
of the indifference that had been shown to him and
ali his rights
SOMEWHERE, far off, he heard the sound of
~ voices that gradually swelled. 1t reminded him
vaguely of that day when he had been going to
America and all the neighbors had come to wish
him God speed. He glanced down at Sir Patrick
who as a rule liked to work in absolute quiet; but
the old man did not hear the noise, STOPPING abb
sorbed the little stream Murtagh turned
away and as the talk and laughter grew louder he