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'TIS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

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'TIS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. A DAUGHTER OF THE GERALDINES. OR A TALE OF TREASON AND OF LOVE, [BY J. ARTHUR PRICE, BARBISTEE-AT-LAW.] CHAPTER VI. The hall of an Irish baronial castle, even in the last days of the eighteenth century, was still a scene of hospitality and mirth. The huge wood fire still blazed gaily, and Ghed a genial light upon a lord and vassal, and the holly and mistletoe that gleamed amid the shield told that Christmas was near. The Rev. Sir John Carson sat at his table to- night in his Winford castle in more genial humour than usual. The worthy old gentleman had been laid up with the gout for a long season, and this was the first evening since Evelyn's return from England that he had taken his place at his own table. By his daughter's side sat her betrothed lover, in his military uniform. For that day Arthur had ridden over from the camp, and had in solemn form requested from Sir John the honour of a family alliance. There had been a good deal of bowing, Latin quotations, and English notions on both sides. Owen mentioned his ancient family, and dwelt long on the becuties of Wales. Sir John, as in duty bound, laid stress on the fact that Evelyn, although she had two brothers, was nevertheless an hsiress, thanks to the kindness of an aunt, to a fine estate in Donegal. Everything, however, was now happily settled, and Sir Edward declared as he sipped his claret that the absence of his eldest son. who was a barrister and an M.P. in Dublin, was alone wanted to complete their happiness. His younger son, a genial laughing fair-haired boy of two-and-twenty, who was a student of Trinity College. Dublin, sat at the bottom of the table, and looked amused at the lovers with mil:l amusement. Arthur and Evelyn, like most young people on similar occasions, were too full of their own happiness to spare even one thought on the affairs of others. Sir Edward, however, who was alike a scholar and a politician, was anxious to draw from his future son-in-law his ideas on literature and government. They talked for some time on the subject of the Eisteddfod and Irish and Welsh bards, Sir Edward expressing a warm hope that Irish and Welsh minstrelsy would revive. We have recènL.lv." the Baronet remarked. held a great gathering of bards in Dublin. And I flatter myself with the hope that when these unhappv troubles have quieted down that it will be an annual gathering, and that the Irish bard and Irish poetry will once more enchant our nation and yours too." There has been some talk" Owen replied, of re- viving our Eisteddfod in Wales but lam doubtful if the idea will be brought to pass—at least in my time. The religious rnovemer.t is opposed to all the pomps and vanities of this wicked world." We are not at all bigoted here," said Evelyn. 41 My father always preaches that if we, both Catholics and Protftstants, do our common duty we shall not do so badly cither here or hereafter. And I do not know whether you will think the worse of me when I tell you that I buy good Roman Catholic works, and give them to such of our pupils as can read. They will never, at least not in our time. become'Protesfcuits?. so I think, and my father also thinks, tba.t it is better they should be good Romanists than bad ones." Arthur smiled. "I am pleased, sir," he said, "to find so much of the spirit of modern enlightenment here." Arthur then inquired from f-velyn of Lady Lucy Foley, but although Evelyn told him a great ilea/, che said not a word that could throw any light on his mysterious ml venture ia the Glamor- ganshire woods. At last, after a pleasant diniw-v nad been dis- posed of. and the second bottle of port had made its appearance, Arthur saw. with sincere regret, Evdvn rise to withdraw. whil* the; old Rector e,;lied on him to dojusvic^ to the port. At the same time almost her brother rose, and with a few hurried words of apology Istt the room. Sir Edward did his best to extinct from Owen his idea of the political situation. Owen informed him that he greatly feared the action of the mili- tary authorities in the eon:ity was !<v haish and brutal as certainly to drive the peasantry into insurrection. "1 fear so. also, Mr., or shall I call you Lieu- tenant, Owen. it was a great pity that themagis- trates ever proclaimed tins county. If my gout had not made it impossiiiie I should certainly have gone to the recent Quarter Sessions and protested against a measure so fatal to the public order. I know as well .s the Government Imows that there are conspirators and disorderly rufhans in the country, but what we need is to strengthen the constitution by making it more free and giving power to men who enjoy popular confidence. TWo months ar/o I ttould have disarmed all the conspira- tors in the village myself without the aid of a single soldier, but now the people consider them- selves outraged, and their hearts are all with the rebels. Our wretched system of government makes traitors. But I see your glass is empty. Arthur reluctantly sat by and sipped his wine. while the old rector continued his discursive talk on politics when just as, to his joy, they were about to leave the table to join Evelyn, the crash of several shots resounded, at no great distance. Both gentlemen uttered an involuntary exclama- tion, and then Arthur said. That was musketry the troops must be in possession of the village." '■Mercy," cried the Rector. "Oh. Lreutenant Owen, let us go there at cnce. My flock, my children." Arthur hurried to the window and looked out. The mansion of the squire-parson stood on a raised eminence, and the village lay below. In the dark night nothing distinct could be seen, but a. long tongue of flame from burning houses was rising to the sky. As he looked there came another roll of musketry louder than the first, and Evelyn and the servants rushed shrieking into the room. Oh, Arthur," Evelyn cried. the soldiers are in the village, your vile soldiers. Oh, the chil- dren. the poor children, go and save them.' I will, Evelyn, I will," said Arthur. Oh yes," put in Molly, and your brother is there too." My son," cried the rector I must go." Xo. father, no," cried Evelyn, who now strove to become calm you could do no good there. Let Arthur go." I am ready, Evelyn." said Arthur but who will protect you and Sir Edward ? •• Leave us to God. Arthur." Evelyn, you are rio;ht," exclaimed her lover. I must go," and he imprinted one kiss on her cheek; and whispering, "Think of me, darling Evelyn, if I fall, and remember the old lines— T cou!,1 not love thco, dear, 60 well, Loved I not honour more. he onened, the door and passed out. Making the flame his guide, he hurried down the hill that the castle crowned right into the village. He had got half-way when piercing shrieks reached his ear, and he heard a rush of feet in his direction. At that moment a cloud that had obscured the moon passed away, and he was able to see a female form running, pursued by men. The woman, who was making right up the pathway down which he was descending, shrieked as she saw him and stood still. In a moment she had been seized by the two men, who were close on her track. She gave one piteous shriek as she struggled in her captors' grasp; but in another moment the young Merioneth squire was on the spot; and feeling that words would be useless, he hurled one of the ruffians to the ground with a blow from his fist, and, drawing a pistol from his belt, ordered the other to immediately release1 the girl. The wretch, frightened at the fate of his fellow, and recognising the uniform of a superior officer, sullenly "complied, and, assisting his friend to rise, they both made tracks. Owen. not without, difficulty, restored the poor o'ir] to her senses, and then drew from her. & He drew from the girl, not- without some difficulty, a narrative of the facts that had recently taken place in the village. A party of yeomanry, accompanied by Rome Welshmen of the Ancient Britons Regiment, had reached the village early in the evening, and had proceeded to break open some houses in search for arms, and to conduct their search in a most brutal manner. One or two hot-headed youths hnd naturally offered some resistance, and the soldiery h:i.d at cnce replied by shooting them down. Tho whole viPao-a was now a scene of horror and carnage of the"?aost fearful description. Bidding the fair cirl to go to the castle, Arthur hurried down to the"village, passing on his way one or two more features. When at last he reached the row oi mud caoms that mixed with one or two stone-built houses formed the village of Erne, a sight too horrible for pen to describe met his eyes. Tre peaceful village was in flafnes, women and children were in the hands of a brutal soldiery, and the leader of the band of soldiers was actually

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