The diamond drill., 1921-07-30
CHAPTER !.


assizes."
1t was only the impulsive. cheery,
warning exclamation OF wild young
Irish spirit to bis friend Dyck CAL
houn. but II had behind II the humor
and incongruity OF Irish life.
The man. Dyck Calhoun, after whom
were sent the daring words about the
sessions and the assizes. was n year
or two Older than his friend, and, as
Michael Clones, his servant and
friend, said. -the worst aud best
scamp OF them all"-Just up to any
harmless deviltry.
N Influenced 81 NO traditions cr Gus.
tdfns. Under control Of no stern rec
ords or society, Calhoun had cnused
some trouble In his time by the harm
less deeds OF scapegrace. but NOR
aliy-that Is. In all relations OF life
Affected by the Ten Commandments
ne was above reproach. There never
was In Ireland a cheerier. braver,
handsomer fellow, nor one with such
variety OF mind and complexity OF
purpose
He was the only child OF a high
placed gentleman; he spent all the
money that came his way, and occE-
sionally loaded himself with debt.
which his angry father paid. Yet
there never was gayer heart, a more
generous spirit. nor an easler-tempered
man though, after all. he was only
twenty-five when the words with
which the tale opens were said 70 him.
He was a figure OF note among
those who spent their time IN criti-
cizing the government and damning
the Irish parliament. He even be-
came friend OF some young hare
Drained rebels OF the time; yer no
one suspected him OF anything except
irresponsibillty. His record was
clean; Dublin Castle was not after
him.
When his young friend made the re-
mark about the session and asslzes
Calhoun was making his way up the
rocky hillside TO take the homeward
path to his fathers place. Playmore. |
He raised his head. looking up into
the sky at some larks singing above
him I'm the heavens
God love you. little dears." he
spoke aloud. Il wish might die with
your singing In my ears. but do you
know what makes Ireland what II Is?
Look Mt 1t now. Years ago, Just when
the cotton mills and the linen mills
were doing well, they came over with
their English legislation, and made it
hard going. When we begin 10 get
something, over the English come and
take the something away. What have
We done, we Irish people that we
couldn't have a chance I'm our own
country Lord knows. we sIeserye n
chance. for It's hard paying the dn-
ties these days. What with France In
revolution and reaching out her hand
to Ireland 10 coax her into rebellion:
what with defeat In America and
drink In Scotland; what with poverty.
and the cow and children and father
and mother living all In one room.
with the chickens roosting In the raft.
ers; what with pointing the potato Mt
the fried fish and gulping It down as
II II was fish Itself; what with the
smell and the dirt and the poverty OF
Dublin and Derry, Limerick and
Cork--ah. welll He threw his eyes
up again. "Ah, well. my little love.
sing oni You're a blessing among a
lot OF curses: but never mind, It's a
fine world. and Ireland's the best part
OF 1t. Heaven knows it-and on this
hill, how beautiful'It Isl"
He was now on the top OF n hill
where he could look out toward the
bog and In toward the mellow, wav-
ing hills. He could drink IN the yell
towish green. with here and there In
the distance little house; and about Z
two miles away smoke stealing up
from the midst OF the plantation I
where Piaymore was--Playmore. his
rather's house-to be his own one day. Q
Dyck Calhoun had a soul OF char
acter, originality and wayward dis
dnction. He had all the impulses and !
enthusiasms OF poet. all the thirst !
for excitement of the adventurer, all {
the latent patriotism OF the true Celt;
but his life was undisciplIned. and he K
had not ordered bis spirits into com p
partments Of faith and hope. lie had b
gifts. They were gifts only 20 be g
borne by those who had ambitions
Now. as he looked out upon the b
scene where nature wns showing her
self at her best. some giimmer OF a
yreat futdre came to him. He did not "
Know which way his feet were des-
ined TO travel in the business OF life. L
Z wns too late 70 Join the navy; but :
here was still time enough 10 be
'oIdier. or TO learn 10 be lawyer. n
Suddenly. as he listened 20 the lark g
lnging overhead. with his face lifted
o the sky. he heard a human voice %
dnging: and presently there ran pp