The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-29
Terence
Maloney
A Story For
St. Patrick's Day
By F. A. Mitchell


To ogle ye by
Oh. murther. but that was a 1ew'I!
A fool
He made Of the girls, this O'Toole
Whoever was this Larry O'Toole of
Mr.. Thackeray's he was certainly the
counterpart Of one Terence Maloney,
who was born in the eighteenth GEN.
tury and died in the nineteenth Ter
ence was about halfway through with
his mortal career when the eighteenth
century was coming to an end, and
with it the differences between Ireland
and England were entering upon one
OF their periodical explosions.
There was everything about Terence
to cause him to be beloved In the
first place he had fine crop of auburn
hair on his head that kinked itself into
dozens Of little curls. Unlike Mr.
Thackeray's friend, he had two eyes,
brimming with good humor. His COM
plexion was that mixture of white and
red which is never found in such per
fection as in Erin. His lips were cam
go cut, and succession of smiles was
continually cascading over them. His
figure was light and agile, his limbs
being seemingly moved by hidden
springs.
Such combination of attractions
might well be expected to make a fool
of the girls. At any rate, not girl
ever came near him without giving
him at least part Of her heart But
blame seemed to roll off Terence like
water off a ducks back. No girl could
complain of his endeavoring to win
her, for he was in constitutional
state of girl winning. The good humor
constantly bubbling in his eyes and the
smiles lowering about his lips were
considered perennial supply which all
might quaff. If any girl inveighed
against Terence for deceiving her there
were dozens to condemn her for desir-
ing to appropriate what belonged to
every girl in Ireland
Naturally when the troubles of '9S
came on Terence was imbued heart
and soul with rebellion. 1t is Just such
persons as he who enter upon enter
prises without counting the cost. He
was not leader in the true sense of
the word: he was rather fomenter
Not that he went about pleading with
his fellow countrymen to rise, but that,
having taken up the cause of Ireland.
ne was so popular that every Irish man
or woman who was In doubt as to his
or her political part. on hearing that
Terence Maloney was a patriot resolved
at once to be patriot too. If the real
leaders of the movement desired to
win over town where old and expe-
renced heads were influencing the peo-
pie to caution they would send Terence
there. He would ride through the main
street. scattering smiles to the right
and to the left, and the only oratorical
effort needed We're the words, spoken In
Terences rich. sonorous voice, wAre We
wild usT Whereupon succession Of
affirmative shouts would roll down the
street. keeping pace with the orator.
Hence 1t was that one Peter Shaw.
an agent of the English government
sent to Ireland to send back informa-
tion as to the best measure of sup
pressing the rebellion, wrote TO London
that there was one man, Terence Ma
loney. unknown to the government,
who was doing more harm to the Brit
1sh cause than the real leaders. Shaw
advised the government to arrest Ma
loney and get him across the channel,
but he cautioned them against any
public arrest. since Maloney was so
popular that such course would infiu-
ence all his friends. Shaw received
instructions to use his own Judgment
In the matter.
1t seemed advisable to the govern
ment agent to wait and watch for
favorable opportunity to eliminate Mr..
Maloney. Not till the rebellion was
coming to an end did he consider It
safe to make the arrest. And then in
stead Of accusing Terence of treason
he trumped up charge against him
of highway robbery. Realizing what
a stir it would make to prefer the for
mer charge, he hoped to allay the feel
ing by proving that his man was a
common criminal
Shaw learned that on the evening be-
fore st. Patrick's day Terence was to
attend ball in the town hall of his
native village. The agent got together
number of persons In his pay who
were TO lay trap for the young pa
triot. Terence was present scatter
ing his smiles as usual. When the
was at its height messenger
delivered a note to Terence stating
that a friend had been wounded In a
duel and desired to see him immedi-
ately.
Terence left the hall, mounted
horse and rode away. In passing a
place darkened by overhanging trees
he was met by half dozen men who
asked him some questions, then. with
a cry of "Ro bberyi" put spurs to their
horses and iashed away in every d.
rection. Terence sat on his horse, won
dering what 1t all meant. But a solu-
ton was not long in coming to him.
He knew tblt Shaw was DESTROYS OF
Inc - l.