The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-12-03

Dyck had left Ireland with ninety
weight of misery in his heart. In his
bones he felt tragedies on foot In
Ireland which concession and good
government could not prevent. He
pounds In his pocket and many tons
had fed from it all. When he set his
face to Holyhead, he felt that he would
never live in Ireland again. Yet his
courage was firm as he made his way
to London, with Michael Clones
faithful, devoted, friend and yet a
servant, treated like a comrade, vet
always with little dominance.
The Journey to London had been
without event, yet as the coach rolled
through country where frost silvered
the trees; where. in the early morn
Ing, the grass was shining with dew ;
where the everlasting green hedges and
the red roofs Of villages made a pic
ture which pleased the eye and stirred
the soul. Dyck Calhoun kept wonder
ing what would be his future. He
had no profession, no trade, no skill
except with his sword; and as he
neared London town-when they left
Hendon-he saw the smoke rising in
the early winter morning and the bust
ness Of life spread out before him,
brave and buoyant.
AS from the heights Of Hampstead
he looked down on the multitudinous
area called London, something
thrObbed at his heart which seemed
like hope; for what he saw was in
deed inspiring. When, at last, in the
Edgware road, he drew near to living
London, he turned to Michael Clones
and said:
michael. my lad, I think perhaps
we'll find footing bere!"
So they reached London and quar-
tered themselves there in simple lodg-
ings in Soho. Dyck walked the streets,
and now and then he paid visit to
the barracks where soldiers were, to
satisfy the thought thas perhaps in
the life of the common soldier he
might, after all, find his future. It
was, however, borne in upon him by
a chance remark Of Michael one day
I'm not young enough to be recruit
and you wouldn't 60 alone without me,
would youT'-that this way to a live
lihood was not open to him.
His faithful companions remark
had fixed Dyck's mind against enter
ing the army, and then, toward the
end Of the winter, fateful thing hap
pened. His purse containing what was
left Of the ninety pounds-two-fifths
Of ft-disappeared. It had been stolen,
and In all the bitter days to come,
when poverty and misery ground
them down, no hint Of the thief, no
sign Of the robber was ever revealed.
Then, at last, day when a letter
came from Ireland. It was from the
firm in which Bryan Llyn Of Virginia
had been interested, for the letter had
been sent to their care, and Dyck had
given them his address in London on
this very chance. It reached Dyck's
hand on the day after the last penny
had been paid out for their lodgings
and they faced the streets penniless,
foodless-one was going to say friend
less. The handwriting was that Of
Sheila Llyn.
At street corner, by a chemists
shop where a red light burned. Dyck
opened and read the letter. This Is
what Sheila had written to him:
my Dear Friend:
"The time Is near Il understand by
a late letter to my mother from an
Officially when you Will be freed from
prison and will face the world again.
have not written you since your trial,
but / have never forgotten and never
shall. I have been forbidden to write
to you or think Of you, but l will take
my own way about you. l have known
all that has happened since we left
Ireland, through the letters my mother
has received. / know that PlaymOre
has been sold, and I am sorry.
"Now that your day Of release is
near, and you are to be again free
man, have you decided about your fu-
ture? Is it to be In Ireland? No, I
think not. Ireland Is no place for
sane and level man to fight his fight
for honor, fame and name. hear that
things are worse there in every way
than they have been in our lifetime.
"After what has happened in any
case, 1t is not field that offers you a
chance. Listen to me. Ireland and
England are not the only places In the
world. My uncle came here to Virs
ginia poor man. He Is now immense
" rich. He had little to begin with,
but he was young like you-indeed,
4 little older than you-when he first
came. He invested wisely, worked
oravely, and his wealth grew fast. No
nan needs fortune to start the bust
ness Of life In this country. He can
ret plenty Of land for almost nothing /;
ne can get credit for planting and fur
,ishing his land, and. II he has friends,
he credit is sure.
"All America is ready for the likes
" you. Think 1t over, and mean !
while please know there has been