The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-08-11

Dyck first saw IL, because she was
singing little bits OF wild lyrics Of the
hills. little tragedies OF Celtic life
just bursts of the Celtic soul, as il
were, cheerful yet sad, buoyant and
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 gown Of
dark gold, with little green ribbons
here and there. The gown was short,
ana 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
q 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 bunch and
shook like bronze flowers. Ii was
head of grace and power, of charm
and allurement-of danger.
Dyck was lost in admiration. He
looked at her as one might look ut II
beautiful thing In dream. lie did
not speak; he only smiled as he gaZed
into her eyes.
She was the first to speak.
We'll, who are your she asked with
a slightly southern accent I'm her
voice, delicate and enhancing.
Her head gave little modest toss,
her fine white teeth caught her lower
lip with little quirk of humor; for
she could see that he was a gentle
man, and that she was safe from any
thing that might trouble her.
lie 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
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?"
I'm only Sheila Llyn, the daughter
of my mother, a widow, visiting at
Loyland towers. Yes, I'm only Shei-
lai"
She laughed.
well, just be only Sheila,'" he an
swered admiringly, and he held out a
hand to her. II 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.
There's no reason why we should
not" she said. "Your fathers re-
spectacle"
She looked at him again with a
sidelong glance, and with a whimsical,
reserved smile at her lips.
"Yes, he's respectable. agree, but
he's dull" answered Dyck. "For an
Irishman, he's dull-and he's tyrant,
too. l suppose l deserve that, for I'm
a handful"
81 think you are, and big handful,
too"
(Which way are you going?" he
asked presently.
"And you?"
ooh. I'm bound for home" He
pointed across the valley. do you see
that smoke coming up from the plan
tation over there?"
Eyes, | know" she answered II
know. That's Playmore, your fathers
place. Loyland towers is between
here and there. Which way were you
going therei"
Round to the left" he said, puzzled,
but agreeable.
Then we must say good-by, because
go to the right. That's my nearest
way"
We'll, If that's your nearest way,
I'm going with YOU" he said, because
well, because-because--"
IF you won't talk very much :" she
rcjoined with little air of instructive
coquetry.
IL don't want to talk. I'd like to lis
ten. Shall we start?'
Shella's fathers name was Erris
Boyne, and he had been debauched,
drunken. and faithless; so az time
OF uncomfortable hurt his wife had freed
herself. Then, under the egs Of her
maiden name, she had brought up her
daughter without any knowledge of
her father; had made her believe he
was dead; had hidden her tragedy with
skillful hand.
Only now, when Shcila was released
from a governess, had she moved out
I of the little. wild area of the County
Limerick where she lived; only now
had she come TO visit an uncle whose
hospitality she had for SO many years
denied herself. Sheila was two years
old when her father disappeared, and
fifteen years had gone since then.
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