The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-01


who about year before had returned
to Ireland from America. The servant
gave me blank stare, then led me
into reception room, invited me to be
seated and went away.
Presently he returned and said that
the earl was not at home and he was
the only one who could give me the in
formation. Milady desired that l
should make myself at home-in the Ii
brary if l liked-till his lordship's re-
turn. Since was not averse to nosing
among books assented
An hour passed in this way, when
the butler entered and said that lunch
con would soon be ready and asked if
l would like to go to my room. Though
didn't like such trespassing, was not
averse to being entertained by an earl
and his lady, so l followed the man
upstairs. What was my astonishment
on entering TIL, room assigned me to
see my baggage there.
"How did this come here?" 1 asked.
"Milady sent to the inn for it, sir"
l brushed up bit and went down
stairs again. The butler announced
luncheon and led me into the dining
room. was received there by very
pretty young woman, who said to me:
"My husband will not return for an
hour or two, and, since he does not like
to have any one who calls during his
absence turned away, l have taken it
upon myself to make you at home. He
is very fond of Americans and would
never forgive me If | let one of them
go away without some entertainment"
l protested that l had only called to
learn of the whereabouts of one John
Curran, whom l had met in Colorado,
and the lady replied that the earl would
give me any Information in his posses
sion on his return. She entertained me
delightfully."- at luncheon, doing every
thing in her power to make me feel
that l was welcome. Her voice was
sweet and sounded still sweeter from
the rich brogue of an Irish lady. She
expressed great interest in America
and kept me telling her of the country,
the people and our customs. Just SIS
we were about to rise from the table
there was a sound Of wheels without,
the front door was thrown open, and
man stalked into the dining room.
Great heavens, he was Pat!
The moment he saw me he advanced
and, grasping my hand, gave it a Wig
orous shake, saying:
''Vnu'Vn n loct haUn
vowed that If you didn't come soon I'd
go back to America to find you" Then.
turning to the lady, he added:
This is the gentleman I've been
looking for"
81 supposed he was when he asked
for John Curran, who had come from
America a year ago."
"Well, I'm John Curran meself," add
ed the host, "and was Earl of Bally-
garach when we were trudging togeth-
er In Colorado, though l didn't know
1t. When l went out there were three
lives between me and the title, but two
of them had died, and had heard that
the third, my uncle, was very i'll. 1
was trying to get home, but didn't
know what should find here. / might
find an estate waiting for me, and l
might not be able to repay your loan;
but, by Jove, old man, that was
queer thing for you to do-leting me
have that money to get home with"
said something about his honest
countenance. but my conscience was
not clear, and / didn't help the matter
much. So / made light of the whole
matter, mentioning the spirit that ami
mated men who lived in new countries,
their disposition to help one another,
their respect for the softer sex and
their harshness with anything unman-
ly. Lady Ballygarach was much inter
ested in this account of a people she
had never mingled with, though / fan
cied that 1t was because her husband
had been one Of them.
The earl then asked where l had
put up, saying that he must send at
once for my luggage, but his wife in
formed him that she had sent for 1t,
whereupon he commended her highly
and declared she was a trump.
The earl kept me a guest several
weeks, during which he entertained
me royalty. He told me that he was
a younger son in another branch of the
family; that his father wished him to
enter the army, but, having no for
tune and being in love with the girl
who was now his wife, he had prefer
red to go to America to seek his for
tune. While away his father and his
older brother had died, and his uncle,
the earl, bachelor, had fallen Ill. The
death Of his father and brother had
left him with no one to call UPON for
funds, and, as he had before told me,
his uncle would not have helped him If
he had asked for help.
confess the change in him was 30
great from when l had known him In
the gold diggings that 1t seemed
strange to address him by his title. l
was struggling to get it out and had