The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-11-05

her own course. 1t was open when
Dyck first saw 1t. because she was
singing little bits Of wild lyrics of the
hills, little tragedies of Celtic life
just bursts of the Celtic soul. as 1t
were, cheerful yet sad, buoyant and
passionate, eager yet melancholy.
She was singing in Irish. too. They
were the words Of songs taught her by
her mothers maid.
She had been tramping over the
hills for couple of hours, virile, beau
tiful and alone. She wore a gown of
dark gold. with little green ribbons
here and there. The gown was short.
and her ankles showed. In spite Of
the strong boots she wore they were
alert. delicate and shapely, and all
her beauty had the slender fullness of
a quail.
When she saw Dyck she stopped sud-
denly. her mouth slightly open. She
gave him sidelong glance Of wonder,
interest and speculation. Then she
threw her head slightly back, and all
the curls gathered In a bunch and
shook like bronze flowers. 1t was a
head of grace and power, Of charm
and allurement-of danger.
Dyck was lost In admiration. He
looked at her as one might look at
beautiful thing In dream. He did
not speak; he only smiled as he gazed
into her eyes.
A. a~~k 80
"Well, who are you?" she asked with
q slightly southern accent In her
voice, delicate and enhancing.
Her head gave little modest toss.
her fine white teeth caught her lower
lip with a little quirk of humor: for
she could see that he was gentle
man, and that she was safe from any
thing that might trouble her.
He replied to her question with the
words: ....
my name? Why. it's Dyck CAL
houn, that's ALL"
| Her eyes frightened. isn't that
enough?' she asked gently.
She knew Of his family. She was
only visiting In the district with her
mother, but she had lately heard of old
Miles Calhoun and his hayward boy,
Dyck; and here was. Dyck, with a
humor In his eyes and touch Of
melancholy at his lips. Somehow her
heart went out to him.
Presently he said to her:
"And what's your name?"
"Tm only Sheila Liyn. the daughter
of nv mother, q widow, visiting at
Loyland towers. Yes, I'm only Shei-
la!"
! She laughed.
"Well. just be only Sheila.'" he an
swered admiringly, and he held out
hand to her. 81 wouldn't have you be
anything else, though it's none of my
business"
For one swift instant she hesitated
then she laid her hand In his.
"Theres no reason why we should
| not" she said. "Your fathers re
spectacle"
She looked at him again with
sidelong glance, and with whimsical
reserved smile at her lips.
Eyes, he's respectable. agree, bu
he's dull" answered Dyck. "For ar
Irishman. he's dull-and he's tyrant
too. I suppose I deserve that, for Tn
a handful"
81 think you are. and a big handful
tool"
switch way are you going7" h
asked presently.
"And your"
"Oh, I'm bound for home" III
pointed across the valley. "Do you SCI
that smoke coming up from the plan
tation over there?"
, ayes, l know" she answered. :"
know. That's PlaymOre. your father
place. Loyland towers is between
, here and there. Which way were yo'
going there?"
.Round to the left" he said, puzzled
but agreeable.
|, Then we must say good-by. becaus
, / 60 to the right. That's my neares
j way"
. "Well, II that's your nearest way
|. I'm going with you," he said. "becaus
well. because-because-"
III you won't talk very much!" sh
. rejoined with little air Of instinctiv
coQuetry.
II don't want to talk. I'd like to lii
ten. Shall we start?"
Sheila's fathers name was Erri
. Boyne. and he had been. debauchee
: drunken. and faithiess; so at tim
or uncomfortable hurt his wife had free
!. herself. Then. under the egis of he
maiden name, she had brought up he
: daughter without any knowledge Q
her father; had made her believe n
was dead had hidden her tragedy wit
skillful hand.
Only now. when Sheila was release
= from u gOyerness, had she moved OF
q OF the little wild area of the Count
{ Limerick where she lived; only no.
had she come to visit an uncle who's
q hospitality she had for SO many year
= deE.pd herself. Sheila was two yeal
!. old when her father disappeared. an
Y ifteen years had gone since then.
Down the long road the two youn
n people travelled. gOssiping much. bot
4 ~ si,c,,, sslnrhpt1 nv something sud an