The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1921-08-23
CHAPTER I.
The Two Meet

at the sessions, or before that at the
asSizes."
II was only the lmpu,sive, CHEEKY,
warning exclamation Of wild young
Irish spirit 10 his friend Dyck Cal
houn. hut II had behind II the humor
and lncongruiiy Of Irish life.
The man. nyck Calhoun, after whom
were sent the daring words about the
sessions and the aSsizes. was year
or two older than his friend. and. as
Michael Clones. his servant and
friend, said. "the worst and best
scamp OF them all'-Just Up 20 any
harmless deviltry.
Influenced ny no traditions or Gus
toms. under control of no stern rec
ords of society. Calhoun had caused
some trouble In bis time hy he harm
less deeds Of a scapegrace, hut NOR
ally-that Is. IN all relations OF life
affected ny The Ten Commandments
he was above reproach. There never
was in Ireland cheerer. Drawer,
handsoHer fellow, nor one with such
variety Of mind and comp,,x.ty Of
purpose.
He gas the only child Of q high.
placed Gentleman; he spent al the
money that came his way, AMI occt-
sionally loaded hlmself with debt,
which his angry father paid re'
there never was a sayer heart, more
generous snirit, nor m eaSier-tempe-el
man; Z. gch. after all, he was euly
twenty-five when tho words win
which tie tale opens were sail TO him.
He was figure Of note among
those who spent their time In c-iti.
cizing the government and lamuing
the Irish parliament. lie even be-
came a friend Of some young hare
bralned rebels Of the time; yet No
one suspected him Of anything except
irrespoaS.hIllty. His record was
clean; pGhIa Castle was not after
him.
When his young friend male the re-
lIulh itfNAA Alit N'-NNlNlA Ai-A tAT0t as
Calhoun WIS making his way up the
rocky hillside 10 take the homeward
path 20 his fathers place. playmore
He raised his head. looking up into
the sky at some larks singing above
him In the heavens.
God love you little dearS," he
spoke aloud. II wish might die with
your slngin: in my ears. but do you
know what makes Ireland what Il Isl
Look at II now. Years ago, just when
the cotton mills and the linen mills
were doing WELL they came over with
their English legislation, md made Il
hard going. When We begin 70 get
something, over the English come and
take the something away. What have
We done, we Irish people. that we
couldn't have chance In our own
country? Lord knows. We deserve
chance, for It's hard paying the du.
ties these days. What with France In
revolution and reaching out her hand
10 Ireland 10 coax her into rebellion;
what with defeat In America ana
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 az
the fried fish and gulplng II down as
II Il was fish Itself what with the
smell and the dirt and the poverty of
Dublin and Derry. Limerick aud
Cork-ah. wellr He threw his eyes
up again. "Ah. well. my little love.
sing on You're a blessing among
LOT of curses; but never mind. It's
fire world, and Ireland's the best part
OF IT, Heaven knows it--and on this
hill. how beautiful II Isl"
He was now on the top Of a hin
where he could look out toward the
bog and in toward the mellow. way
ing hills. He could drink IN the yell
lowish green, with here and there T.
the distance little house: and about
two miles away smoke stealing M
from the midst Of the plantation
where playmore was-playmore. his
fathers house-to be his own one day
Dyct Calhoun had a soul Of char
acter. originality and Maynard dis.
tinction. lie had all the impulses and
enihus.asms Of a poet. all the thirst
for excitement Of the adyenturer. all
the latent patriotism Of the true Cel':
but his life was undlscipllned, aad he
had not ordered his spirits into com
par;mcnts Of faith and hope. lie had
gifts. They were gifts only 10 be
borne By those who had ambitions.
Now. rs he hooked ort "pon the
scene where nature was showing her
self ~ her hest, some glimmPr Of
great future came 10 him. He dld not
know which way his feet were des.
tined to travel In the business Of life.
II was too late to Join the navy; bur
there was stIll time enough 10 he q
soldier. or to learn to b. a lawye-.
Suddenly. as be listened TO the lark
singing overhead. with his face lifted
10 the sky, he heard a human voice
singing; and presently there m up q