The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-01

her daughter, Miss Annaly. and he had designed that Marcus and Miss Annaly should open the dance together-for a dance he was determined to have-and a marriage later, if it might be, between his son and Lady Annaly's daughter. The connection was everything he could wish there was money and station, and all this would rebound to the standing of Sir Ulick
 Marcus had gone off with Harry Or mond to visit Sir Ulick's cousin, Corne- lius O'Shane-King Corney of the Black Islands. they called him. Harry Ormond was the son of an old friend of Sir Ulick, an officer who had died in India, leaving his son but poorly provided for, and Sir Ulick had brought him to Castle Her mitage. He really loved the boy and had been most kind to him. though he had neglected his education, bestowing all ad- vantages of that sort upon Marcus, his own son. Originally of a frank, generous and honorable disposition, ambition and politics had hardened Sir Ulick and self ishness had grown upon him until his character had been warped and twisted into what it now was. The young men not argiIing after a reasonable while, Sir Ulick opened the dance and pollity reigned at Castle Hermitage.
 Ormond watched all night and all the next night beside the bed of Moriarty, and when the man was out of danger on the second night and Lady Annaly, hav- Ing heard something of the matter, came quietly into the cottage to see if she could be of use she found Ormond on his knees returning thanks to God that he forted the young man, bade him come to visit her at Annaly and talked to him like a mother. His tears expressed his gratitude
 As for Moriarty Carroll, he bore no malice. He had sent for his relatives and made them swear that if he died they would not prosecute Ormond. And, touched by the remorse and the attention Of the young gentleman, he had declared himself to be his faithful attendant for ever should he recover from his wounds. Recover Morarity did and thereafter Or mond was his friend and protector
 But the incident of the drunken brawl was the cause of Ormond leaving Castle Hermitage Lady OShane declared that she could endure his presence no longer he was an interloper. anyway-and he vas liable to bring trouble upon the fam fly through his wild and reckless ways. Sir Ulick, while ostensibly deeply regret ting the departure of Harry, saying in fact that if Ormond wanted him to he would send Lady O'Shane away herself was not sorry to see the young man de- part. "Only for a little while, Harry" said he, "and remember that I am your banker. Here is your first quarters al- lowance in advance. My cousin, .A.ng Corney. will be only too glad to welcome you to the Black islands, and as for Lady O'Shane her time at the castle Is limited and then you shall return" He was truly sorry to part with the lad but he had seen the fainting of Miss An naly when Ormond had appeared cov- cred with blood on the night of the "frscas,' and this set him thinking. Flor ence Annaly was for Marcus, and it was just as well to have Harry out of the way HledHWnlle. where Slr UlickS t1- terests were concerned he had no senti- ment of action, whatever he might have of mind.
 So behold Harry Ormond established with Cornelius o Shane at the palace" on the Black Islands. It was a patrarchal life that King Corney lived upon his an- cestral estate. The islands were situated in a lough, or arm of the sea, and in spite of the primitive methods employed in till.
 inf the estate 1t was profitable and bore abundantly. His house, which he jokinglv called the "palace,' was a strange mix ture of luxury and discomfort, of ele- gance and squalor Always King Cornev was making alternations in it and it was never finished. His pea asants, whom he numbered by the hundreds, looked m to him as the greatest authority and the greatest man on earth-exceptiong always the clergy-for King Corney stood by the old religion and had his domestic chap lain like other monarchs-Father lbs. educated at St Omars and a kind. good natured, jolly person, who liked good liy- ing, though as obstinate as an oak or a stone wall when it came to allowing any virtue to exist in the clergy of the "es- tablishment." Father McCormuck, who was stationed at the Catholic chapel on