The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-01

Mary 0Rourke was typical Irish
girl light hair with tinge Of red III
# and complexion like a ripe peach.
Mary lived in.stirring times, when the
people were struggling to be free
from what they deemed the tyranny
Of the British sovereign.
or one of these adherents she had
heard a great deal. but had never seen
him. Dennis Shea was a young rebel
taking an active part III the efforts to
throw of British supremacy and was
rapidly becoming leader. The gov
eminent was watching for some overt
act on his part that would afford an
excuse for his arrest and condemna-
tion FOR treason. But o. this the young
patriot knew nothing. 4 gifted orator.
be continued to speak to his country
men Of Irelands wrongs.
Mary lived III q house with an Eng
lish family who were very bitter
against the Irish patriots Donald
Trevor the head Of the family. was a
pussy. red faced. rotund man indeed
O veritable John Bull. who didn't CON
ceal his opinions One evening when
the mail coach stopped al the town
passenger alighted and asked for the
home Of Donald Trevor. Il was point
ca out TO him. and. with his travelling
lag. be went to It and knocked Mary
opened the door, and the stranger said
that he had been recommended to the
house 10 stop. since Mr. Trevor was a
stanch supporter Of the king Trevor
took him IN. gave him the best cham
Der ii the house.
This especial treatment Of the stran-
ger made Mary curious % know who
be was. The best way 20 learn was to
listen when Trevor and be were talk
ing together This was not very prac.
ucabie. but Mary kept her ears open
whom near 70 the two men and knew
they we're excitedly talking about
measures to bold the Irish IN check.
Then she caught the name Shea. This
induced her 70 take the chance Of be-
ing discovered eayesdropping by re-
naming behind q screen when she was
supposed 70 have left the room The
two men were excitedly discussing the
irish cause. and she heard the stfan-
ger say:
II have 10 my bag the kings war.
rant for his arrest He wiIl be tried
at the. next assizes, and within .
month after that be win swing
This was quite enough for Mary.
She went to The strangers room, OPEN
"a his bag. took out q parchment
unfolded Il and saw the name Dennis
Shea engrossed IN large letters. Tuck
Ing It under her apron string she
closed the bug end. taking the warrant
to her own room. touched match 70
Ii aud burned IL
There Is III the Irish people a love
for Joke which shows itself in the
most serious moments. Seeing q pack
81 playing cards on q table, Mary took
them up and. placing the knave Of
spades SIS the top card. she wrote on
It, Elm dlgrin' your grave" Then she
went bacs 70 the strangers room and
placed the cards 10 the bag where she
had found The warrant
This happened on the morning OF the
strangers departure. and he did not
open his bag again tn he arrived az
the place where be had been told he
would ind shea. The rebel was TO
speak that evening 10 the town square
and shortly before the meeting the
kings messenger opened his bag to
take out his warrant IN It's place was
the knava Of spades leerlng at him
with the words Mary bad written be-
low
Here was a pretty pass. The Brit
sher was obliged to leave the Irish
.ebel to talk bis treason without in-
reference, There was no use to hunt
'or his missing warrant, for he bad no
dea where be had lost It, and be did
lot doubt that some sympathixer with
he Irish cause had destroyed il. He
must get another warrant But a Jour
ley to England in those days and re-
urn was not the simple matter it Is
oday One must 20 to the coast over
muddy roads b the slow coaches. OF