The Monroe journal., 1921-09-09

/ lcesluISt AAtCass etNs~@
men. The marvel is that the British
nee,s fought as well as they did
Poverty and sorrow. loss and be
reayement, were in every street
peeped mournfully cut Of every win
dow, lurked at street corners From
all parts OF the world adventures
came TO renew thelr' fortunes In the
turmoil Of London, and every street
was Kaleidoscope OF faces and
clothes and colors. not British, not
patriot. not national.
Among these outlanders we're Dycs
Calhoun and Michael Clones. They
had left ireland together In the late
autumn, leaving behind them the stir
rings OF the coming revolution and
plunging into another revolt which
was TO prove the test and trial OF
English character.
Dyck had left Ireland with ninety
pounds In HIS pocket and many tons
weight Of misery In his hesrt In his
homes he felt tragedies on foot In
Ireland which concession and good
government could not prevent. He
had fed from II all. When he set his
face to Halyhead, he felt that he would
never live In Ireland again. Yet his
courage was arm as he made his way
10 London, with Michael Clones
faithful. devoted, a friend and yet q
servant, treated like a comrade. yet
always with little dominance.
The journey to London had been
without event, yet as the coach rolled
through country where frost s!lvered
the trees: where, in the early morn.
ing. the grass was shining with dew I;
where the everlasting green hedges and
the red roofs of villages made pic
ture which pleased the eye and stirred
the soul. Dyck Calhoun kept wonder
ing what would be his future. He
had no profession. no trade. no SIKH
except with his sword. and as he
neared London ,town-when they left
Hendon-he saw She smoke rising In
the early winter morning and the bust
ness OF life spread out before him.
brave and huoyant.
As from the heights OF Hampstead
he looked down on the multitudinous
area called london, something
throbbed at his heart which seemed
like hope: for what he saw was In
deed inspiring. When, at last. in the
Edsware road, he drew near TO living
London, he turned 10 Michael Clones
and said:
michael, my lad, think perhaps
we'll find a footing here?'
SO they reached London and quar-
tered themselves there In simple lodg-
ings in Soho. Dyck walked the streets.
and now and then he paid a visit to
the barracks where soldiers we're. to
satisfy the thought that perhaps In
the life Of the common soldier he
might, after all. End his future. II
was, however, borne In upon him by
a chance remark of Michael one day
I'm not young enough to be recruit
and you wouldn't go alone without me,
would you?'-that this way TO live
ihood was not open 10 him.
His faithful companions remark
had fixed Dyck's mind against enter.
ing the army, and then, toward the
end of the winter, fateful thing hap
pened. Ills purse containing what was
left of the ninety pounds-two-fifths
Of it-dlSappeared. II had been stolen.
and I'm al the bitter days TO come,
when poverty and misery ground
them down, no hint of the thief, no
sign of the robber was ever revealed.
Then. at last. a day when letter
came from Ireland. II was from the
firm In which Bryan Llyn OF Virginia
had been Interested, for the letter had
been sent TO their care, and Dyck had
given them his address In London on
this very chance. II reached Dycks
hand on the day after the last penny
had been paid out for their lodgings
and they faced the streets penniless,
foodless-one was going TO say friend
less. The handwriting was that OF
Shella Llyn.
At street corner, by chemists
shop where a red light burned, Dyck
opened and read the letter. This is
what Shella had written to him:
MY Dear Friend:
"The time is near Il understand by
late letter to my mother from an
Officially when you will be freed from
prison and will face the world again.
l have not written you since your trial,
but have never forgotten and never
shall. | have been forbidden TO write
TO you or think Of you, but ! will take
my own way about you ! have known
all that has happened since we left
ireland. through the letters my mother
has received. know that Playmore
has been sold, and am sorry.
"Now that your day Of release Is
near. and you are TO be again free
man, have you decided about your fu-
ture7 Is II to be In Irelandf No, ]
think not Ireland Is no place for
sane and level man to fight his hght
for honor, fame and name. hear that
things are worse there In every way
than they have been 10 our lifetime.