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'TIS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

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*Sir E. Carson's theology was the theology of^ the Established Church in Ireland in the latter half of the 18th century. The best Churchmen in Ireland were tolerant to Roman Catholicism, and several Protestant bishops desired to remove t.heir disabilities. The narrow Irish protestantism of to-day dates only from the Evangelical movement, which became a force in the island only in the first decade of the present century. superintending the torture of an old man of seventy, on whose head a pitch cap was being applied. Owen at once recognised him as his Merioneth neighbour and walked up to him, the soldiers making way for him, for many knew him per- sonally, and they all recognised his military drese. Owen walked up to the captain, who was calmly laughing at the agonies of the sufferer, but Beresford was too enraged to see him. Owen. however, struck him on the shoulder and ex- claimed. "Coward and villain, you shall answer to me for this night's work—for the wrong you have done to Ireland for the shame you have heaped on Wal°s." "You hear Owen," said Beresford. Yes, I am here Captain Beresford," said Owen sternly. Xow release that man at once or I shoot you dead. Men. I, Captain Owen, order that man to be released." Beresford grew pale, and the men looked anxious, the fury of their first rage had subsided and hardened ruffians as they were they were beginning to feel some remorse. Their worthy commander who now had lish of his own to fry that night, and to whose mind it now occurred that it might be well to shift any responsibility to another person merely said. Captain Owen, I resent your language. What we have done here was absolutely necessary to intimidate a band of rebels. However, I have other work to do to-night to rescue a loyal family from danger. I resign my command to you." "Pass now," said Owen fiercely, but you shall yet answer to me. and to your sovereign," as Beres- ford shrunk away with a few followers. With considerable difficulty Owen collected the soldiers, and speaking to the Welshmen in Welsh, and to the others in English, denounced their con- duct as a disgrace to humanity. With great difficulty he drew them together, and ordered the men whom their companions denounced as the ringleaders in the affray to be disarmed. He then urged them to do their best to extin- guish the flames but. although one or two of the peasants which saw that order was restored, their efforts produced little effect, and next morning the greater part of the village was marked only by a heap of ashes. Meanwhile the fugitive girl, whom Owen had rescued, had carried to the castle the news of the terrible catastrophe that had taken place. Only Evelyn's entreaties could prevent her father from hurrying at once to the village to his parishioners and son, whom he declared, with passionate grief, had undoubtedly fallen in the fray. Tortured as poor Evelyn was with horror and dismay for the fate alike of a lover and a brother, surrounded as she was by crying and sobbing servants, and, thinking it possible that her own doom was nigh, the brave girl forgot all her own trouble as she urged her father to pray. At first the old man would not listea, but a.t last the feeling of his own helplessness came to him, and, murmuring sadly God's will be done." sank back in his chair and closed his eyes. He has fainted," cried Evelyn, for her hand that lay on his brow felt it grow cold. and she saw his cheeks had turned to a deadly pallor. But they answered not, for at that moment a clatter of horse hoofs was heard ivt the gates. The two men-servants, who had hitherto stood passive as sheep, each seized a pistol which stood on the table. Oh bolt the door," but it was too late. A loud crash told that the party outside had forced the door without waiting to summon the inmates to admit them. Five or six men armed to the teeth, wearing the freize coats of the Irish peasantry, rushed into the seen. The men servants were at once over- powered and disarmed, and the leader of the party walking up to where Evelyn stood caught hold of her hands. The shrieks of the women were in vain, but Evelyn in all her agony felt glad that at last her father could not see. By what right," she commenced. But the leader muttering something about no time to lose, with the aid of his followers dragged her out. There were horses at the door, and Evelyn with her hands tied behind her back was placed 011 a grey palfry, the bridle of which the leader linked with his own. Down the path they hurried as fast as their horses could carry them, and reached the same point where Arthur had previously rescued the peasant girl. There, however, they turned off in a different direction, and were turning their horses' heads towards the high road that Evelyn knew lead to the borough town. when she heard the sound of another troop of horsemen riding ¡ in her rear. She prayed that they might come as deliverers. but she felt surprised that her captors made no I efforts to escape. In a moment or two the troops were clearly mixed, and she heard voices in loud conversation, but there war. no sound of strife. A second afterwards her captor abruptly stopped [ as an officer in the uniform of the Yeomanry r«de 'up to him. A few low words passed between them, and the man dismounted from the horse, into the saddle of which the officer immediately sprung. You are saved from the wild Irish, and are safe in the hands of loyal men," said a mocking voice that Evelyn knew well. She looked at his face, it was Captain Beresford. She remembered now she had left him abruptly at Llangollen, and realised in a moment that all the tragedy of the night was a coward's revenge. Captain Beresford," she said, "do you suppose that you deceive me. I know that all this has been your vile plot. Do you suppose that I know so little of Ireland as to suppose that Irish peasantry ride horses ?" "It matters, my dear Evelyn," said that worthy in a mocking voice, very little what yon may suppose. I think, however, that some dny or other you will oblige me by telling it. You know it will sound better to say then that the man who will be your husband rescued you from the rebels than to let them know that he was the leader of an abduction club. I shall trust to your pride, my pretty one. Now. my darling, I am taking you to the old ruinod castle of my family, done up for your accommodation among the wild hills, and you shall leave that castle as my bride, or you shall never leave it at all." Evelyn shuddered. She knew Ireland well enough to be aware that these were no idle threats. In Ireland abduction ulubs had long ex- isted, and impecunious squires had often carried away girls possessed of property, and forced them to marriage by threats of violence. The Govern- ment in recent years had endeavoured to deal sternly with this form of outrage, but their efforts had only met with partial success, and in the days of disorder that were now coming on. the supporters of the Government in power had little cause to fear being called to an account. Still the girl would not believe that any human heart could be utterly callous, and she made one appeal for pity. Captain Beresford, if I have wronged you in the past, I can only express my regret. But do not take on me so cruel a wrong. You may your- self stand in need of mercy one day. I have a father at home sick, perhaps dying. Oh, take me back to our castle and I will forgive you all." "Miss Evelyn Carson," said the monster. if you knew what intense pleasure ycur words gave me, how absolutely I enjoy the pain I am causing you, you would go on talking this way. It is positive pleasure to my ears." These were the last words he ever spoke on earth. The party had reached a. place where the road was surrounded by high stone walls. As the captain finished speaking three or four shots were fired from the right side of the party' The captain dropped dead from his horse, and in a seaond a party of wild Irishmen, some of them half masked, and all of them armed with pikes, rushed among the horsemen, who, after discharg- ing their pistols, turned their horses' heads and gallopped away in safety, leaving there a few of their number on the ground. The bridle of the captain's horse and Evelyn's palfrey were alike secured, and the young lady was pulled from her saddle with scant ceremony. She was immediately surrounded by an angry crowd, and picks were pointed at her breast but in a moment the leader af the party cried, Down with your pikes." Evelyn saw with delight that he was a priest of the Roman Church. Sir," she exclaimed. I am Miss dirson—Sir Edward Carson's daughter. Restore mo to my horn*, and I will pay you a handsome reward." "That is impossible, my daughter," said the priest. We are in arms for an outraged Church and. an oppressed nation, and your government would not have mercy upon us if we did set you free. However, you need not fear. We must. nevertheless, take you to our camp; but we will treat you kindly." Evelyn was then put in the charge of two men. while the priest, with the aid of the lanterh, proceeded to search the bodies of the fallen men, for alas! the wounded had been already despatched Nothing of value was found except some docu- merits in Beresford's pockets, of which the priest took possession. The men, however gladly riSed their victims of their arms and proceeded to con- ceal their bodies in a neighbouring bog. They then formed into a column, and, putting Evelyn into their midst, they proceeded in the direction of the distant hills, where she-gathered from their conversation they had already formed a camp. An hour later the troop of Yeomanry and Ancient Britons," which Owen had got into order with great difficulty, marched along the same road. Their commander, however, felt so little trust in them after their recent conduct that he would not take it upon himself to conduct them to the castle or to leave them and go there himself so that he was in utter ignorance of the events that had taken place there. He passed the place where the recent skirmish had taken place, and reached the camp in the early morning. The sentinel informed him that the commanding' officer was awake and was anxious to see him, as news of great urgency had arrived from England. Owen went there gladly, as he was determined at one-, to quit a service which was now a disgrace to an honourable man. On entering the tent of his commander, Colonel Seat-on. he was surprised to see several members of the English constabulary and his old friend Vaaghan-Williams. As he entered, his old friend shook him warmly by the hand. I come here, my young friend, with serious news. A warrant has teen issued for your arrest, on the charge of treason, by a certain Glamor- ganshire J.P., one Robert Jones. The charge is treason, but it is so absurd that you need not trouble yourself about it. I take it as granted that you will establish your innocence at the magisterial investigation." As Mr. Williams ceased speaking the constables came forward and claimed Owen as their prisoner. Colonel Seaton then spoke. I have discussed the matter in your absence with your friend, and I think, although as a soldier, and on other ground, you might raise a technical question of jurisdiction, I would advise you to surrender, and will see that you do not suffer." I thank you, Colonel Seaton," said Arthur, and will take your advice. Let me say, however, that I came to you with the intention of telling yon that I can no longer, as a man of honour, serve in this campaign. Deeds of horror were done last night that will bring a blush to the cheeks of many a Briton yet unborn." The Colonel only sighed, and courteously with- drew. Owen and the old Counsel then had a few words together. *■ It is a very simple matter,' said the Counsel. Two scoundrels, one man a bad charac- ter, and the other ntan Smith, the Bishop of St. David's valet, charge you with having concerted some plot at a certain cottage near Llandilo with a French traitor who was undoubtedly in the country, quite recently. No doubt you can prove that you were far away at the time ? No, Mr. Williams. I fear I cannot." Why notasked the Counsel. I am pledged not to reveal where I was that evening." Oh, but this is nonsense. You see, Owen," he added, it is a very serious charge." But. if the characters of the witnesses are bad, and I have you to cross-examine them, I have nothing to fear." In ordinary times that might be so. but, you see, these are days of panic, and there is no telling what a j-ury will do. Howover, I trust you will see your way to get over vour scruple." CHAPTER VII. Six months after the events recorded in the last chapter had taken-place, a hackney coach contain- ing two ladies—both young, both pretty, and both Irish—drew up before the residence of the Prime Minister of England in Downing-street. Even the powdered menial who answered the coach- man's knock looked at them with respect. Beau- tiful as they were, sorrow had implanted its mark on thfcir brows, and they both wore deep mourn- ing. Will you tell Mr. Pitt," said the elder of the two, who spoke with a queenly grace. tha.t Lady Lucy Foley and Miss Evelyn Carson have arrived here at the time fixed in his letter." The servant bowed low, and escorted them up- stairs to a slightly-furnished ante-chamber, and left them with the intimation that he would inform Mr. Pitt of their arrival. "I pray heaven that our interview will prove successful," said Evelyn anxiously. I trust so also," replied Lucy. In the ter- rible months that are past we have suffered so r,, much that surely we may now hope that heaven in its mercy will spare those of our loved ones who now survive." She would have ispokcn more, but at that moment Mr. Pitt entered the room. Lady Lucy looked closely at him. She had. seen him years ago when she was a child, when, with his proud face. his dauntless bearing, and his youthful earnestness, he drew the cheers of the patriots in the English Parliament, who saw in him the great reformer of the future. Now, alls all this was changed. The proud Roman face might look as dauntless -,sever, but the man's face told that a terrible and ungenial tasked had wrecked his spirit and ruined his health. The man which had fought alike the French Revolution, and the Irish nationalists was as surely marked for death as any of his victims. He received hi3 visitors with profound but some- what distant courtesy, and politely asked Lady Lucy to explain to him the nature of the services which she sought from him. 1; Doubtless sir. you woudered that the sister of Edward Fitzgerald sh ould venture to intrude her- self on the Prime Minister of England." Mr. Pitt's only reply was a cold and distant bow. I- You agree with me I see," said Lady Lucy, "but, Sir, my object in coming here was not to mention my deceased brother. He must answer for his deeds before a higher, and I, Sir, add a more merciful tribunal than any in our country. My desire is to speak to you of another victim of those unhappy discussions—Mr. Arthur Owen." Mr. Owen, Madam," said Mr. Pitt sternly, "must answer to the ordinary courts of justice. His trial. I understand, takes place almost imme- mediately." It is true: but, Mr. Pitt, that man has been cruelly wronged." "Really." said the Premier, somewhat im- patiently, "you must allow IDe- to say that I am not his judge." Restraining Evelyn with difficulty. Lady Lucy replied. What you say, sir, is perfectly true. But may I say this ? I know you are an honour- able and a just man. and I wish to explain to you a great iniquity. I am the cause, if anyone is, of that young man's trouble, and if anyone is to be indicted for treason let it be me and not him." Lady Lucy then proceeded to tell Mr. Pitt how she and her brother had found Alltud in the storm. He had been knocked down and robbed; "But. will you believe me. though he has applied for a warrant against the man who did this wrong, it has been refused on the ground that the would-be murderer is one of the Crown witnesses in Mr. Owen's case." Mr. Pitt muttered something about the folly of the J.P.'s, and asked Lady Lucy to proceed. Lady Lucy then told him Alltud's story—how he had heard the plot concocted between Beresford and another gentleman to carry off Evelyn (she suppressed Lord Cnsrlcreagh's name for prudential considerations), and I bring you here the sworn depositions of the rector of Abermaw, who in several points conlinr.s the bard's narrative. She then relate d that her brother visited Wales to take a farewell of her before engaging in his last fatal enterprise. (To be continued i'1 our next.) 1'1"

BARRY DOCK TRADE IN 1891.

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I. THE WELSH UNIVERSITY,

DEATH OF 1fR. PARRY THOMAS,…

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