Year: 1878

What | am about to relate occurred
during the Fenian agitation, with
which the whole of Ireland was dis
turbed some years ago. My husband
was agent of Lord Rymer, and as his
property was very extensive, it took a
considerable time to collect the rents
from the numerous tenants. l always
felt nervous while my husband was
away for this purpose, but more than
usually so at this time, because, in all
directions around, bands Of them were
going about making raids on houses
for arms, sometimes, hut 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 nice lawn
in front, and at the back flower gar
den, beyond which was shrubbery
leading down to boreen that joined
the high road about mile further
down.


On account of the disturbed state of
the country, the former tenant had
had every shutter lined with strong
iron plates, and extra strong bolts and
locks put upon all the doors, which
were also protected by strong sheets OF
iron. My father and mother lived near
the town, and before my husband came
to Ashgrove we had pretty place near
them; so | used to feel very lonely
sometimes at being so far away, and
wished from my heart that | could es-
tablish a telegraph communication from
one house to the other, so that we
could send messages to and fro, for
messengers were scarce in our neigh
borhood. However, at last | thought
of a plan. We had splendid New
foundland dog, most intelligent crea-
ture; he could be taught anything and
understood almost every wCrd we said
to him. / would teach Rory to carry
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
a note from me tied around his neck,
hidden in his curly black hair. In the
same way he would take 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,
and the half years 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
refused at rirst, but on seeing how ner-
vous about it, he at length consented to
do so. asked him to try to be home
before dark if possible, but he told me
not to expect him before ten o. clock.
felt very uneasy all day, as Of course 1t
was known to many that he would
have large sum of money with him
on his return, and feared he might be
waylaid and robbed, the road he had to
come by being very lonely one.


As ten O'Clock drew near, could not
rest, and every five minutes | 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
wayp" asked.


"No, indeed, Bella, except that
about three miles down, just in the
tara, Jerry's horse came near falling
over something; II was too dark to see
what 1t was, but Captain must have
seen it, for he gave n sudden spring,
and jumped clear over whatever was
there"


"Deed, ma'am," said Jerry, cit war
something vary strange, and heerd a
ouare kind o. noise like in the hedge
alongside of us. Ride on sir, as fast as
We cam ses to the masther, and may
the Holy Virgin be between us and all
harm. >


The horses were taken to the stable
and put up for the night, and we hac
nearly done tea when Jerry came tC
say that he had just heard that Ton
Hur,ey's wife was dead, and to know
If he might go to the "wake." As Il
would have been considered a dreadful
insult on his part not to have gone, o
course we gave him the desired permis
sion.


We sat and chatted for while by thu
fire, and went to 60 to bed. Presently
we heard a loud knocking at the hal
door and violent pulling at the bell