The diamond drill., 1921-08-13

uhuBnttrs lhce. She feit. as the years
went on, that Sheila had gifts grnnted
10 few. She realized that the girl had
resources which would make her q
governing influence In whatever
sphere or life she should be set.
Quietly, Sheila was rking cu0trol uf
their movements and indeed Of her
own daily life The girl had q domk
mating skill which came In part from
herself, and also 10 degree from her
father; but her disposition wns not
her fathers-it was her motherA
Sheila had been told by her mother
that her father had passed away
abroad when she was little child.
She had never seen her fathers pic
ture. and her mother had given her
the impression that their last days to-
getber had not been happy. She had
always felt that II was better not 20
inquire too closely into her fathers
life.
She was as bonny a lass as ever
the old world produced-iithe with a
body like that OF boy. strong and
pleasant OF face. with haunting beau
~ In the eyes, a majesty OF the neck
and chin. and a carriage which had
made Michael Clones call her a queen.
She saw Dyck only as a happy. Wild
son of the hilltop To her he was q
man OF mettle and worth, irresponsi-
BILE because be had been given no 10
sponsibility. He was country gentle
man Of Ireland. with all the interest
and peril Of the life OF country
gentleman
yes we ought 10 go 10 Dublin.
mother. We could help him. perhaps"
Sheila insisted
The mother shook her head mourn
fully.
my child, we could DO him no good
at all--none whatever. Besides, can't
afford TO visit Dublin now. It's an
expensive journey. and the repairs
we've been doing here have run me
close. My dear, our best place Is here.
OF one thing I'm sure-if Dyck Cal-
houn killed Erris Boyne, Boyne de-
served IL. OF one thing I'm certain
! beyond al else--it was no murder.
Mr. Calhoun wasn't man to murder
any one. don't belleve"--her voice
| became passionate-"he committed the
murder, and don't believe he will be
hanged"
Tie girl looked az her mother with
unveiled surprise -Oh, dearest, dear
est !" she said. Il believe you do care
for him. Is 1t because he has no
mother. and you have no sonr'
1T may be so, beloved"
With impulse Sheila swept her arms
around her mothers neck and drew the
fine head 20 her breast
AZ that moment they heard the clat-
ter Of hoofs, and presently they saw
a horse and rider pass the window.
IT'S a government messenger. moth
err" Shena said.
AS Shella said, II was "a government
messenger, bearing packet 10 Mrs.
Llyu--a letter from her brother 10
America, whom she had not seen Tor
many years.
The brother, Bryan Llyn, had gone
! out there as a young man before the
| Revolutionary war. He had prospered.
taking sides against England IN the
war, ond became man OF Importance
In the schemes of the new republican
government. Only occasionally had
letters come from him to his sister.
and for nearly eleven years she had
not had q single word from him.
Sheila watched her mother reading,
and saw that great emotion possessed
her, though the girl could not know
the cause Presently, however, Mrs.
Llyn, who had read the letter from
her brother, made Joyful exclama-
| tion.
''what is IT. mother dearr SheIla
asked eagerly. "Tel mew
The mother made a passionate Gcs-
ture OF establishment and Joy; then
she leaned back In her chair and
closed her eyes, with the letter-whlch
was closely written. IN old-fashioned
punctiliousness-ln her handc
"Oh, my Gear, my dearw she salo.
"How strange II all isl Your rncle
I Bryan is immensely rich. lie hns 40
children and 40 family; hls health Is
| falling"
Size seemed able 10 get no further.
"WelL what IS e. motherr asked
| Shella again.
For an Instant Mrs Lyn hesitated;
then she put Tie letter into Sheila's
| hands.
"Read H. my child" she said. Its
FOR x.uu ps tnurb es for me--lnda.d.
more for you than FOR me-"
Sheila took tie letter II ran as
| follows:
Dearest Sister
1T is eleven years since ! wrote TO
! you, and yet. though It may seem
strange. there have not been eleven
days IN all the time IN which ! have
not wished you and Sheila were here.
Sheila-why, She IS a young woman
She's about the ago you were when
left Ireland. and you were one OF