Year: 1878

What | am about to relate occurred
during the Fenian agitation, with which
the whole of Ireland was disturbed some
years ago. My husband was agent OF
Lord Rymer, and as his property was
very extensive, it took considerable
time to collect the rents from the num-
erous tenants. | always felt nervous
while my husband was away for this
time, because, in all directions around,
bands Of them were going about making
raids on houses for arms, sometimes.
but very seldom, demanding money,
and altogether causing great terror and
excitement.


The place where we lived was about
seven miles from town. The house
was large one, and there was a nice
lawn III front, and at the back flower
garden, beyond which was shrubbery
leading down to boreen that joined
the high road about a mile further
down.


On account Of the disturbed state of
the country, the former tenant had ev-
cry shutter lined with strong iron plotes,
and extra strong bolts and locks put up
OH all the doors. which were also pro-
tected by strong sheets of iron. My
father and mother lived near the town,
and before my husband came to Ash
grove we had a pretty place near them;
50 | used to feel very lonely sometimes
at being so far away, and wished from
my heart that | could establish tele-
graph communication from one house to
the other, so that we could send MESA
ges to and fro, for messengers were
scarce in our neighborhOod. Howe, er,
at last thought Of plan. We had a
splendid Newfoundland dos, a most in-
telligent creature he could be taught
anything and understood almost every
!
Rory to carry a note for me and bring
back the answer. Very quickly he
learned his lesson and greatly delighted
my mother and sisters were when they
saw him coming up the garden path,
knowing that he had note from me
tied around his neck, hidden in his cur
" black hair. In the same way he
would take a message to my husbands
office, and if William was out, he would
wait for him-but he never dreamed OF
coming back without an answer.


1t was near the end Of September,
ard the alfyear's rent had to be col
lected. William usually went by him.
self, but, as there had been frequent
robberies lately, entreated him to take
Jerry the coachman with him. He re-
fused at first, but ON seeing how nervous
| was about it, he at length consented
TO do 50. l asked HIM to try to be home
before dark If possible, but he told me
not to expect him before ten O'Clock. l
felt very uneasy all day, as Of course it
was known to many that he would have
a large sum of money with him on his
return, and | feared he might be way
laid and robbed, the road he had to
come by being a very lonely one.


AS ten O'Clock drew near, l could not
rest, and every five minutes l ran to the
door to try if could hear the horses
coming up the avenue. heard them at
last; and oh how thankful was that
William was safe at home again
+ Had you any adventures on your
! way p asked.


/ No, indeed, Bella, except that about
three miles down, just in the turn,
Jerry's horse came near falling ovel
something it was too dark to see what
it was, but Captain must have seen it,
for he gave a sudden spring, and jump
. ed clear over whatever was there


Deed, na'am, said Jerry, it wa:
something vary strange, and l heerd /
quare kind o. noise like in the hedge
alongside of us. Ride on sir, as fast a
We can, ses TO the masther, 'and may
the Holy Virgin be between us and al
HARM


y The horses were taken to the stable
: and put up for the night, and we haC
nearly done tea when Jerry came TO say
that he had just heard that Tom IIur
ley's wife was dead, and to know if ht
might 90 to the wake AS it woulC
have been considered a dreadful insul
on his part not tc have gone, Of course
we gave HIM the desired permission.


We sat aud cbatIed for a while by
the fire, and went to go to bed. Pres
emily we heard loud knocking at th'
hall door and violent pulling at th'
bell. William opened the window ant
asked who was there and what wa
wanted.


Are you Mr.. Thornton ?, said I
voice.


'Yes-what do you want'


'TAs house next your Office is on fire
sir, SAID the stranger. i have beef
sent to tell you so. If you have any
!, thing OF value there, you had better g
at once and have them removed to


safe place. | will ride on and say 80
q are coming