The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-02-17

o'Beirne standing sheepishfy beside the
, table.
ITS not knowing what to do, we
are, "Morty said.
He did not look at her, nor die his
brother. Her heart sank. What is
it?" she asked.
THE fiend's in the man." Morty re-
piled, tapping with his fingers on the
table. BUTTS you will be telling
her. Phelim."
its he that's not content" Phelim
muttered. 1.-The thief Of the world"
Curse him!" cried his brother.
mot content?" she echoed. After
what he's done?" Then the downcast
demeanor of the two told the story. and
she gasped. Hes for-fghting my
~brother?' she whispered.
He'll be content with no less" Nor
ty answered, with q roam. bad cess
to him! And The McMurrough-sure
he's no stomach for IL. And whirra,
whirra. on that the man says He'll be
telling II in Tralee that he'd not meet
him. and as far as Galway City he'll
cut his comb for him! Ay. bedad, he
says that"
She listened, ~despairing. The house
was quiet. as houses In the country are
OF an afternoon. Her thoughts were
no longer with the injured man. how
ever, but In that other room, where her
brother lurked in shameful fear thai
in a nameless man might have been
pardoned, but in him, head of his race.
last of his race. revert! She came of
heroes. To her the strain had descend
ed pure and untainted, and she would
rather have seen him dead. The two
men before her, she was very sure,
would have taken up the glove, unwill-
n erl A~I L A 1911
have fought! While her brother, The
McMurrough-. But even while she
thought of 1t h saw through the
open door the figure Of a nan saunter
slowly past the courtyard gates, his
sword under his arm. 1t was the Eng
lishman. She felt the added sting. Her
cheek. that had been pale, burned dark
ly.
"St. Patrick fly away with the toad
I'm thinking it's between the two OF
us, Phelim. my jewel! And he that's
killed will help the other.'
Heaven Forbid" Flavia cried, pale
with horror at the thought. mot an
other!"
But sure, and I'm not seeing how
else We'll get rid of him handsomely"
Phelim replied.
mol" she replied firmly. mo! 1
forbid It'll"
Again the man sauntered by the en-
trance, and again he cast the same in
solent, smiling look at the house. They
watched him pass, an Ominous shadow
In the sunshine, and Flavia shuddered.
But what will you be doing, then ?"
Morty asked. rubbing his chin In per-
plexity. He's saying that IL The Nc
Murorughil not meet him by I o'clock.
and it isn't short Of II, he'll be riding
this day! And him once gone he's a
bitter tongue, and 1t will be foul shame
on the house"
Flavia drew in her breath sharply
she had made up her mind. II know
what I will do" h said. II will tell
him ALL" And she turned to 60.
IT'S not worth the shoe leather!"
Morty cried after her. letting his scorn
Of James be seen.
But when she returned a minute later
she was followed, not by James Nc
Murrough. but by Colonel Sullivan. The
%colonels face had lost the brown Of
health, but he trod firmly, and his eyes
were clear and kind.
II am willing to help II I can," he
said. What Is your trouble?"
Tell him." F1avia said, averting her
face.
They told him in almost the same
words in which they had broker the
news to her. And the curse of Crom-
we'll On me, but he's parading up and
down now" Morty continued. "and
cooking his eye at the sun dial when
ever he passes. as much as to say, Is
1t coming down you are? till the
hearts fairly melted in me with the
rage!"
And it's shame on us we let him
he!" cried Phelim.
Colonel John did not answer. He
was silent even when, under the eyes
Of all, the ominous shadow passed
again before the entrance gates-came
and went. He was so long silent that
F1avia turned to him, and held out her
hands. What shall we do?" she cried
and in that cry she betrayed her new
dependence on him.
1T is hard to say" Colonel John an
nounced gravely. His face was very
gloomy, and to hide it or his thoughts
he turned from them n went to one
Of the windows.
They waited, Flavia with a growing
sense Of disappointment. She did not
know what she had thought hat he
would do; but h had been confident
that he could help; and it seemed that
he could do no more than others.
He came back to them presently, his
face sad. Il will deal with it." he said
and he sighed. You can leave 1t to
me. Do you," he continued, address,
ing Morty, "come with me. Mr..
O'Bierne."
He was for leaving them with that,
but Flavia put herself between him
and the door She fixed her eyes on
his face. What are you going to do?"
she asked in, a 10y voice.
IT will tell you all-larer," he replied
gently.
mo! now" she retorted, controlling
herself with difficulty. "Nowi You are
not going-to fight him."
q" am not going to fight" he an
swered slowly.
Continued Next Weekly