The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-09-09
1.-THE WILD GEESE
BY Stanley J. Weyman. Y
scopyright. isos. by Stanley ]. weyman.y
CHAPTER III.-continued.

VCopyrlght, lsu9, py STANLEY j. WeymanD
CHAPTER m.-Continued.
Colonel John had risen. He watched
her go with deep feeling; he turned to
his seat again with a sigh. He was a
shade paler than before. and the eyes
which he tent on the board were dark
with thought. He was unconscious of
all that passed round him, and, IL
aware. he was needless of the strength
OF n passions which she had un-
bridled--until a hand fell on his arm.
he glanced up then and saw that all
the me- had risen and were looking at
him-even Ulick Sullivan-with dark
races. A passion of anger clouded
their gaze Without a word spoken
they were OF one mind. The hand that
touched him trembled, the voice that
broke the silence shook under III
weight OF the speakers feelings.
irsYpu'u be leaving here this day" the
man muttered.
III" the colonel said. taken by sur
prise. MOI at ALL
we wish Q no harm, but to see
your back"
The colonel. his irst wonder sub
dued. looked from one to another. II
am sure you with me no HARM he
said.
None, but to see your back, the
man repeated, while his companions
looked down at the colonel with q
strange ~ixedness.
But ! cannot 60" the colonel an
swered as gently as before.
And why?" the mar returned. The
McMurrough was one OF the speakers.
blu stood behind them, glowing at him
wfthfa dark face.
"Because,' the colonel answered, IT
am In my duty here, my friends; and
the man who is In his duty can suffer
nothing
He can die" the man replied,
breathing hard. The men who were
on the %colonels side Of the table leant
more closely about him.
But he seemed unmoved. That" he
replied c~heerfully, "is nothing. To die
Is but an accident. Who dies in his
duty suffers no harm. And were that
not enough--and IT Is ALL" he continued
slowly, what harm should happen to
me, a Sullivan among Sullivans? Be-
cause i have Jared far and seen much,
am 1 so changed that, coming back,
! shall find no welcome on the hearth
OF my race and no shelter where my
fathers lie?
And are not our hearths cold over
many a league? And the graves"
"Whisht!" a voice broke in sternly,
as Uncle Ulick thrust his way through
the group. The man says Welt" he
continued. Hes q Sullivan"
He's a Protestant"
He Is q Sullivan, I sayi" Uncle
Ulick retorted, were he the blacklist
hereto on the sod! And you, would
you do the o M deed for q woman's wet
eye? Are the hearts OF Kerry turned
as hard as its rocks7 Make an end Of
h prating n f~oolishnessl And
you. James, McMurrough, these are
young men and this is your house.
Will you be telling them at once that
you VIII be standing between him and
harm, be he q hereto 10 times over?
For shame, man! Is II for raising the
corp Of old Sir Michael from his grave
ye are?'
but wild talk" he said. 'You cannot
remember, nor can T. the bad days.
But the little that Is left, It were mad
ness and worse than madness TO riskI
IL you've thought OF q rising, In Gods
name put Il from you. Think OF your
maids and your childreni I have seen
the fres rise from too many roofs, I
have ear the wall OF the homeless
too often, ] have seen too many frozen
corpses stand for milestones by the
road, / have Weakened to the creak OF
too many gibbets-to face these things
in my own land!"
Uncle Ulick was looking from the
little easement. He turned and showed
a face working with agitation. And
you. IL o wore no sword, nor dared
wear one? IL you walked in Tralee a
clown among gentlefolk, IL you lived a
pafiah ! n q corner OF pariahs, IL your
land were the handmade OF nations,
and the vampire crouched upon her
breast, what--what would you do
them"
Wait" Colonel John answered
Gravely, until the time comes"
Uncle Ulick gripped his arm. .And
TX II came not In your timer
still wait" Colonel John answered
with solemnity. For, believe me, Ul-
ick Sullivan, there is no deed that
has not Its reward. Nor does one
thatch go up In smoke that is not
paid for a hundred fold"
"Ay, but when? When?"
When the time Is ripe?"