The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-10
Terence
Maloney
A Story For
St. Patrick S Day
By F. A. Mitchell

A IOOl
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 CEN
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 os auburn
hair on his head that kinked itself into
dozens Of little curls. Unlike Mr..
Thackerays 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. Ills lips were cam
60 cut, and Il succession of smiles was
continually cascading over them. His
figure was light and agile. his limbs
being seemingly moved by hidden
springs.
Such a combination of attractions
might well be expected to make a fool
of the girls. At any rate, not a girl
ever came near him without giving
him at least part OF her heart But
blame seemed to roll Off Terence like
water of ducks back. No girl could
complain of his endeavoring to win
her, for he was in a 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. II 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.
he was SO popular that every Irish man
or woman who was i'm doubt as to his
or her political part, on hearing that
Terence Maloney was patriot resolved
ut once to be a patriot too. If the real
/ lnn1arS nf tho lpSiroI 70
win over a town where old and expe-
rienced 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 were the words, spoken In
Terence's rich. sonorous voice, Are ye
wild us?" Whereupon a 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
ish 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.
Ii seemed advisable TO the govern
ment agent to wait and watch for a
favorable opportunity to eliminate Mr.
Maloney. Not till the rebellion was
coming to an end did he consider II
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 1t would make to prefer the for
mer charge. he hoped to allay the feel
Ing by proving that his man was 9
| common criminal
Shaw learned that on the evening be
fore st. Patrick's day Terence was +
attend bah In the town hall OF hi
native village. The agent got togethe
number OF persons In his pay VIII
We're 10 lay a trap for the young pa
triot. Terence was present, scatter
ing his smiles as usual When th
dancing was at its height a messenge
delivered note to Terence statin
that a friend had been wounded In
duel and desired to see him immed
ately.
Terence left the hall. mounted
: horse and rode away. In passing
place darkened by oyerhanging tree
he was met by half a dozen men wh
asked him some questions. then, wit
a cry Of Robbery" put spurs to the
horses and dashed away in every d
rection. Terence sat on his horse. VOL
dering what II all meant But a soil
tion was not long In coming to hin
He knew that Shaw was desirous
arrestins him for treason. but dared ne
do Ii. Ii now occurred to him that I
had been called from the hall on pu
pose TO be waylaid by these men. WI
would doubtless the next day chsrs