Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-09-01

|
"Well, sir they've come from Vir-
ginia."
Dyck Calhoun slowly got to his feet,
his face paling, his body stiffening.
From Virginia. Who should be coming
from Virginia, save she to whom he
had just been writing?
"Who has come from virginia."
He knew, but he wanted it said.
"Sure, you knew a vessel came from
America last night. Well, in her was
land long ago"
Queen of Ireland-well, what them"
Dyck's voice was tuneless, his manner
rigid, his eyes burning.
We'll, she-Miss Sheila Llyn and her
mother are going to the Salem planta-
ton, down by the Essex Valley noun
tain. 1t is her plantation now. 1t be-
longed to her uncle, Bryan Llyn. He
got it in payment of debt. He's dead
now and all his lands and wealth have
come to her. Her mother, Mrs. Llyn,
is with her and they start tomorrow
| Ut Jne next Jay lOT Sdle1n.
Dyck Calhoun made an impatient
gesture at this last remark.
eyes, yes, Michael. Where are they
now"
"They're at Charlotte Bedfords lodg-
ings in Spanish town. The governor
waited on them this morning. The
governor sent them flowers and"
"Flowers-Lord Mallow sent them
flowers! Heps fend, man, suppose
he did?"
There are better flowers here than
any in Spanish Town."
"Well take them, Michael; but if
you do, come here again no more while
you live, for I'll have none of you.
Do you think I'm entering the lists
against the kings governor?"
you've done it before, sir, and
there's no harm in doing it again. One
good turn deserves another I've also
to tell you, sir, that Lord MallOw has
asked them to stay at Kings house."
Lord Mallow has asked Americans
to stay at Kings house?"
"But they're Irish, and he knew them
in Ireland, y'r honor"
From whom do you get your infor-
nation" asked Dyck Calhoun with an
air of suspicion.
"From Darius Boland, y'r honor"
answered Michael with a smile. "Who
is Darius Boland, you're askin' in yr
mind? Well, he's the new manager
come from the Llyn plantations in
Virginia; and right good stuff he is.
with a tongue that's as dry as cut
wheat in August. | saw him this
mornin' on the quay at Kingston. He
was orderin' the pOrters about with an
air-Oh, bedad, an air! | saw the
name upon the parcels-Nliss Sheila
Llyn of Mora, Virginia, and so l spoke
to him. Well said he, who might
you be? For there's queer folks in
Jamaica, I'm told SO | said l was
Michael Clones, and at that he dotted
his hat and held out a hand. We'll,
here's luck said he. Luck at the
very start! I've heard of you from
my mistress. You're servant to Mr.
Dyck CalhOun-ain't that it? And
nodded and he smiled agatha smile
thatid cost money anywhere else than
in Jamaica. Queer way of talk he has,
that man, as queer as"
Il understand, Michael. But what
else? How did you come to talk about
the affairs of Mrs. and Miss Llyn? He
didn't just spit it out, did he?"
"Sure; not so quick and free as
spittin', y'r honor but when he'd sorted
me out, as it were, he said Miss Llyn
had come out here to take charge of
Salem, her own estate in Virginia be-
in in such good runnin' order and her
mind bein'S active. Word had come
Of the trouble with the manager here,
and one of the provost marshal's depu-
ties had written accounts of the fog
ging and ill-treatment of slaves, and
that's why she come-to put things
right at Salem !!
ITO put things wrong in Jamaica,
Michael, that's why she's come. To
loose the ball of confusion and free
the food of tragedy-that's why she's
) come! Man, Michael, you know her
hst0ry-who she was and what hap
} pened to her father. Well, do you think
there's no tragedy in her coming here?
! | killed her father, they say, Michael.
/ was punished for it. | came here
TO be free of all those things-lifted
, out and away from them all. longed
to forget the past, which is only shame
and torture; and here 1t is all spread
out at my door again like mat, which
| must see as | go in and out. There
was no talk on BOands part of their
coming here, was there, Michael?"
"None at all, sir, but there was that
in the mans eye and that in his tone
which made me sure he thought Miss
Llyn and you would meet"
"That would be strange, wouldn't It,
in this immense continent Dyck re-
marked cynically.S. "She knew / was
here before she came. l wonder her
mother let her come here. Her mother
knew part of the truth. She hid it all
from the girl-and now they are here
michael, order my horse and will
: go to Spanish Town. This matter must