YOUNG TERRENCE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 10

YOUNG TERRENCE

(By Madge Barlow.)

Mihil Devine could be bitter, bitter when he chose, and that was oiten. The vinegary look on his wizened face set one’s teeth on edge just as promptly as if one had, in a thoughtless moment, dug them into a particularly sour crab apple. , \ ~ Mihil wore a fringe of grey bristles pound his chin, and had small, ferrety eyes and a wooden leg from the left ltneo down. The timber stump was short, -o that he walked jerkily, with a halting rise and fall in his gait that gave the boys some excuse for calling him “Dotan J -carry-wan.” The originator of the nickname was Young Terence. He invented it one summer day seated at a scliopl desk in the drowsy hour succeeding play-time, Avliile the master dozed, and the sun blistered the Avails, and the very flies on the ceiling Avere constrained to slumber. It Avas the arithmetic lesson, supposed to be carried on siientiy,. but what boy could bend his mind to the dull figures on the blackboard Avith a buzz of bees in Die air, and a smell jof moAvn hay, and the musical siveep of scythes in the meadoAv beyond P Yeung Terence’s ear rested on his smudged slate, and his weary, longing eye turned to the open door Avhen a AvellknoAvn sound smote the cobble stones and Mihil went tip-tapping past. Sheer envy prompted him. to pull a hideous face, i.iihil replied with a threatening motion of the bill-hook he carried. Terence immediately dropped his penci'v to extend ten dirty fingers in a bit of pantomime which seldom fails to rouse the ire of the person for Avliom it is intended. A shoAver of oaths from indignant Mihil rent the atmosphere and sent thrills of delight through the room, thrills intensified by the dauntless Avay Young Terence Avent on bare toes to the df*>r to shout defiance after the . blasphemer, and folloAV it up Avith that brilliant creation of his biain —“Yah! OuT Dot-an’-cany-Avan.” lie tip-toed in again, aflusli Avith victory, and in time to receiA-e the congratulations of his mates before the master aAvoke. But all at once the adulation tumed to Head S’ea fruit while the taste of it Avas y r et sweet in his mouth. He had chanced to look towards the corner where a demure gioup of girls sat seAA'ing, and he noticed one little face groAV hot, and one head droop, and by-and-bye tears rolled sloAvly down the crimsoned cheeks and fell on the gay piece*" of cotton in Delia Devine’s lap. Young "Terence felt himself a brute. He. had forgotten in the heat of the chase that Miiiil Avas her father. And he Avas so fond of Delia, so eager to stand high in her opinion. Quiet and crestfallen Terence crept back to - his place and feigned a mighty interest m his slate. He propped his ragged elbows on the desk, and made a lattice of liis fingers through Avliich he could Avatch the forlorn Avee figure and feed full on misery for the remainder of <tshe afternoon. When school dispersed at three o’clock Delia ran home instead of Avaiting for the other girls, and he conceived a desperate notion of folloAving her, and of presenting his person to Mihil, and begging that insulted individual to kick him thoroughly. Delia Avould see the heroic act. She would love and pity him, and soothe his dying moments with sobs and kisses; for to fall into the hands of Mihil and come out alive Avas more than he dared to expect. But life is SAveet at any price, and Young Terence had urgent business at the further end of the village that obliged him to defer the sacrifice until another day. He avus in a less exalted frame of mind next morning, and rather inclined to resent Mihil’s meanness in lodging a complaint with the schoolmaster and demanding satisfaction. doubt it Avas an exquisite satisfaction to him to beheld Young Terence hauled before the seat of justice and" soundly switched with a rod of his oavii cutting, but in return for the pleasure thus experienced Mihil had to suffer odium. The hated name Avas then and" there secured to him by the tacit consent of every boy Avho Avitnessed the flagellation. “Dot-an’-carry-Avak” he became from that hour, and Avhen Mihil took his Avalks abroad the Avelkin rang. He and they Avent at it hammer and tongs, taunting and scolding, while the village greybeards listened and said it Avas “a crool shame to broAvbate the man.” Aside, they winked, and murmured that “childher Av*>r the mischief for fun, an’ ’tAyas the price of the oul’ riaygur, anyhoAV-” Because of Delia, Young Terence dist. ciplined his tongue ever after, but be had soavu a flourishing seed, aud he reaped the harvest almost ten years later Avhen he AA r anted to ask Mihil for his only girlie, and Avas afraid of the ancient hatred in his eye. ' . Ten years Avas nothing to Mihil. He was one of those exasperating people Avho could keep a grudge fresh for a lifetime, and even carry it to the other shore and make a point of meeting you Avith it the moment you landed. lie liad always i’egretted' the inadequacy ' of Terence’s punishment, and now that another and more subtle scourge lay near his hand he Avas not slpav to Avield it. Grve him Delia indeed ! He Avould as soon measure Delia for her coffin and drive her out to the family burial-place at once. He told Young Terence .so on a certain eA r ening after he had lulled him into a false security with fair words, and led him gently to the utterance of his heart’s desire. It happened in Devine’s kitchen, for the house was free to all alike, and Mihil carried a smooth face to the son of the McGuires, and never denied him Old (Honor, Delia’s grandmother, crouched iu the chimney corner eyeing this bold Avooer malevolently. The amount of love existing between herself and the M’Gnires could be , easily accommodated on the tip of a teaspoon. “You ought to hang yer head Avid shame,” cried Young Terence in his impetuous, boyish Avay, flinging out iiis hand and thiwing back his head. “Tm a hard Avorker, I’m an honest man, I

love the girleen, an’ she loves me, but for the sake of an quid spite you d part us. Well I know ’tie the bit of child s folly yer rememberin’, an’ may God forgive the bitfherness tliat’d keep it warm all these years.” . . Mihil Avent on mending a spade shaft, his timber leg thrust forward aggressively Ills straw hat forming a battered lialo at the rear of his head. He turned on the settle to get a good view of the speaker, and the vinegar in his blood cams to the surface. " “The raison isn’t here nor there, lie snarled. “You Avon’t get her. She s goiid marry Billy Hozier th’ minit plazes me to say th’ word. That’s ugaa'S for you, I’m thinkin’.’’ “Billy Hozier, the publican!” exclaimed Terence. “Th’ same, me fine buck. I don’t know any other of the name.” Torence Avhitened and choked with rage. “Sure he’s a little bald-headed tub ox a man that’ll niver see sixty agin. He could be Delia’s grandfather.’ “He’ll rule Her th’ betther,” grimaced Mihil “A tight hand is Avhat th’ saucy slip needs. Billy Has it.” “He’s ben-id lavo wives already, groaned the unhappy pleader. “Well 9 They’re doAvn deep enough, no fear of thim objectin’. If they could, they’d be too much m dhread of Billy. “Yer a bad oul’ schamer, replied Terence, with a realisation of the gravity of his position and the utter uselessness of trying to soften Mihil. . All the same, I wouldn't be cocksure if I was in yer brogues. Delia has more n a word to say to it.” And he Avent out, because his hands were itching to lay themselves violently on the wizeped, sneering atomy. “Delia hasn’t a ha’porth to say tot. screamed Mihil, darting to the door and thrusting his head round the corner do as she’s hid, or 111 know foi why. I’m niasth® here, me young battalia, ha!” chuckled Gran frorb the chimney nook. “That’s th’ way to talk up to a M'Guire; my blesem on yen.

“Divil’s cur© to him," ejaculated Mihil, sitting down, with considerable force and mopping his inflamed face. ‘‘Did lie think ii> walk right over me an’ get his wants widout as much as by yer lave i Til tache him th' differ.” And while he and his aged parent plotted mischief, the couple most concerned were strolling along a quiet gxeen lane in close communion. Young Terence’s left arm encircled a lissom waist, his eyes drank dee]) draughts of love from “eyes that spake again/’ and the very dimples in Delia’s pink cheeks were full of an arch playfulness that laughed at fear. He had told her about Hilly Hosier, an i to see her quick flash of mirth was to see a gladsome sight, and one which mad' Young, Terence lose his liead and bchav j as if the green lane were the entire world, and he and she the only people The demure, pretty coquette liked t) hear of her conquests, and was not averse to adding elderly Billy to her long list of dupes, but as a husband he was not to be thought of ; neither he nor, any other man, except, perhaps, the favoured youth beside her. And when Delia said "perhaps,” with the sweetest lisp imaginable, had no option save h> turn it info “yes’’ by a .process, which both. seemed to hud highly agreeable. He called her Honey in these talks and rambles, haying an endearing tongue and the heart eloquent, which is the sign of a true lover. Delia liked that too though she vowed he vvas merely gmtifymß M* f °°ds *£, TheL-VSe W »r>’ carry-wan, and wish he had crippled S tongue before he sent the words on their ill-starred mission. He had paid, and was paying, a penance quite disproportionate to the offence. “You won t marry Billy Hozier, anyway?” he whispered coaxingly. "Say you W °^&t E l,” 6y Hilled Delia. "The idea. Hd die a voteen first.” That was why Young Terence could afford to meet the publican’s malicious

smile with calmness when he stroue up the village after parting from . Delia. Billy stood in the door of,his shop, wearing a blue linen apron and a pair of carpet slippers down at heel. His short trousers afforded a -liberal clisxjlay'.- >1 ankle, his round, red face was destitute of hair, but prolific in chins. The ample curve of his squat figure gave evidence that it was a long time—a very long time —since Billy had had the pleasure of contemplating his own feet. "Fine day/ - ’ /remarked Terence. Mr JtLozier puffed his chest like a pouter pigeon. “It might be worse/' he said condescendingly. As a shookSeper and a chairman of the Goumy Council he was rather inclined to patronise Providence. i ; > - “There’s a- power of things might be worse/’ was the dry reply, and Terence would liavq passed on, but Mr iiozier buttonholed him. “Have a dhrink ?” he said, shutting one eye_ tighl/an cl gazing at him out ot the corner of the other with a cold, fishy “Donf care if I do/ J < ‘ “ghat’ll it be?” queried Billy, bustling behind th©- bar ami mailing a racket among the tumblers. .. 7 ‘‘Ginger-beer.” -. “Oh, come, now. If ye’re on the watlier tack the well's beyant, an' ye can lap till ye're tired. Ginger-beer i ' Bnagfi • I've a wee dhrop ot stfiff here Tiiat'il warm the blood m you; an’, besides, i want you to dhrink to me goou luck, Terence avick. I'm goin' to be mamd.', “Ginger-beer,” persisted ieienee, leaning on the counter and casting a merry glance over the stock-iii-traue and duo owner thereof. “Thames”—as Bally nand.ed him a fizzing /tumbler, gt urnpling audibly—"l’m goin' to be married coo, an' tiifiperance principles are the right wans to start wid. Here’s luck, ouid puncheon.” He tipped back his head to quaff the cooling draught, and so missed die sight of Billy's rising wrath. (When the empty tumbler, was set down, Terence smacked liis, lips, drew a deep breath, and turned to go. " ' st “I'm obleeged, in troth,” Billy, letting a spark of hatred kindle under nis shaggy brows. .“Much obleeged tor yere kind wishes, but 1 forgot to mintion tJiat 'twas Delia Devine I'm includin' to marry.” • ‘‘An’ I forgot to mintion whether 'twas good luck or bad 1 wished ye,” said young Terence, serenely going forth. The chairman of tiie county Council took a seat on a keg. Me was’ used to bluffing the board-room and tne village generally, and -this departure from routine quite upsst him. His eye lead a glassy, unbelieving look that bordered on the pathetic. "*

Young ■ Terence's wooing made but a halting progress. It came to Miiiil's ears that his daughter was secretly ueiyJng him by meeting her ineligible suitor in lone places at hours which the village gossips did not consider respectable; and, beinsr tried by the home jury of twi>. and convicted on a tearful plea of guilty, Delia was'sentenced to partial imprisonment. Mihil marked out the area allowed her for exercise, and Gran was appointed jailer, with full power to resort -to harsh measures if Miss Delia attempted to rebel. ; But “love laughs at locksmiths” and stern parents and the most vigilant of grandmothers. There was a close-set hedge around the cabbage garden, and when Delia paced the sid-e-path of an evening in company with her knitting Terence whispered words oi cheer through a tiny gap at the top of the plot, so that in turning slowly round she had ample time to hear, and evenCvdrop brief answers. x ! he field on the other side belonged to the ‘ Squireen. A sign-board warned off trespassers, and lent a spice of excitement to the adventure. If there, liad been a fierce bloodhound to encounter Terenfee would have liked it all the better.

The sight of Gran pottering about the lower end of the .cabbage rows in her pride of office 'convulsed him. He could scarcely . resist the .temptation to utter a wild whoop* rush the garden, and snatch Delia away in his arms after the fashion an Indian brave. He had weird plans of rescue, but they were not adapted co , the prosy, eyery-day life we live, and while he thought till his brain ached the village talked of Delia's forthcoming marriage as a settled thing, and Hilly Hozier began to accept congratulations. .The -necessity for. action was-borne in upon our hero one wet evening after he had waited vainly behind the hedge in a two hours’ drizzle. No Delia appeared, - and with a, soaked shirt and a leaden heart young Terence left.and betook himself to the village. Hozier’s shop was crowded, and'Billy treated him to an ini pudent wink'across r; the rows of bottles in - the window. Terence sauntered on, feigning blindness, and half-way down tlr#Street he pulled up at the tailor’s open Window. The tailor sat inside stitching as' if for dear life, and drawing his breath with a heavy sough that set the table aquiver. He seemed to be in a decline. “Th' breathin.'s . bad tOrday,” said Terence, compassionately. ' "Yis, ? ';. panted the 'knight of the thimble. ’ ‘“’Tip ’ Billy Hozier’s f&u’t; toisfor tun-’ to him.” ' "How?”, queried Terenc.e dully. “Sure,’he’s in a mortial. hurry to get his iveddin’ clothes finished, an’t still wantin’ two weeks of S’raft. He’d have .. .to be nii3ured this very day, or he’d puli the roof down' atop of me. I wish I had th’ makin' of a wpoden shuit wid brass trimmin’s for him, th’ spalpeen. ■;>Tis a good skin fit I'd give him.” •The tailor paused to cough violently. “'There's ' Billy ; for, yeh, me jewel.’ *How’ii creation am I to fit yeh?’ sez I, studying his figger. 'Th' best yeh can, sez he. 'llould that,' sez I, puttin tfi •tape on the third button of his weskit. ' ‘Hould tight till yeh see me agm, an 1 let th' tape started to run fYoun' him. Be Jiriimy 1 Pjthought Id '.dhrop half-way. '.Yeh don't ketch me . takifi*; exercise, of that' sort often. L wiut near snuffin' it out whin I dhrew. up at th' winnin* port.''' r "Is't a fact that—that he's goin? to foe marrid?” faltered'Terence,' too sick to amiloi

{‘Wish Iy-uras as sure of Hivin. Isn’t,. Mrs. Mcgam dmn' th’ bride’s dhress; an' isn't Mary Hogffh to be best maid; an' haven't they twinty couple axed to fcb’ weddin'-iaist? iSDrra wan o’/me got au invite, but Til make a Bust o' me own. ITi take it out of Billy in tIT limit's/' Perhaps it was the cold of his shirt that caused young Terence’s blood to recede icily to his heart. He felt Con-science-stricken. He had frittered away the precious moments in dreams, i hot deeds, and if all were lost the fault was his alone. “I'll peg home,'" lie said huskily, lifting hie eibows off the window-sill. ‘‘Where's yer spunk ty* howled the tailor with the remnant of his breath'. “Are yer wits in pawn ? Man alive, if yell let your bone go wid th' dog—mailin' Billy, an' axin' his pardon—l'll bate tIT head off of yen on th'-public sthreet. I'll give yeJi th' double weight o’ thim a 3 far as they go.” And he brandished a pair ot puny,- wasted lists, moving Terence lo laugliler and pity. julo baue the tailor adieu in better humour, and went briskly towards Ho- 1 gam s. The widowed Mrs Ilcgan and ne were fast, friends, and it was open secret that she had once aspired t'o have .biliy. i'or a son-in-law. That was after the secefid Mrs Hozier’s decease, ere Mary iojogan's charms began to wane. Terence knew it must' be gall and wormwood to both women tp. sew the bridal robe for Bany s imrq fdhoice, and lie knew also tna» ne was going to tiie nglit place for synipaoiiy ot an active sort. “i b neve sne sMhriven into marryiu s 'him,”'sam Mary, biting her thread otf viciously,' ana turning ner back to the light to hide a pair ox rea-rimmed ey©3.

Delta''looks : like . a ghost,” adaed the widow, pursing her month., “Bite axed Mary , here to stand wid her »jt she'd ahrop dead- at tne alfffar, ■ an’ to piaze the poor girrul Mary'li uo it. 'Tis Delia sues snowin’ the kindness to, an’ not tnac -u-eeaivin' villain.”

“i d ■expect liotiun’ else from Mary,” inurmureu soft-tongued Terence. The little dressmaker glanced proudly at nor only cm id, and pegged Terence to stay anu snare their evening meal, first compeiiioig htm to change his dam]) Cipuies tor Suite of the departed Hogan's. Over the not cane and tea all three held an earnest', animated conversation, which uausea the women s faces to beam, an 1 in tne middle of it Mrs Hogan jumped up, and running round the table seized ins nands and wrung them warmly. "n upend on. me, lad,” she saiu, with smilHg emphasis. “I'll carry it through wid Mary's help. ■Wisna, tlid iver anybody hear tiie. like? 'ills a gran' headpiece ye have, 'Berry acushla. God's messiri ...an' mine off .yerseif an' Delia. ’

mi ml and his worthy parent soon noticed a f cnange in the (M’iae-eiect. She seemed to grow resigned, nay, cheeriul, as tne weciuiug day 1 drew near, and instead of sulking when the neighbours dropped in to gossip over her good fortune, she listened amiably to their friendly banter, and spoke a pleasant word u> everybody. Terence never darkeimu. ne vine's door, and it was rumoured that Delia passed him on the street, and jerked her head haughtily aside. “idhe didn't care a chraneen for him/' said the delighted Mihil to Mr ilozier. ‘ dhe knows which'side her bread is buttered,” replied' Duly looking sour, lie had -old scores of contempt and ffoutiug to settle with Delia by-and-by. In public she and Mary seldom conversed natural aptitude for intrigue enabled them to- wear a mask of aloofness before the faces of the enemy, but in private they talked volubly, ancl giggled, and carried on a ,secret‘traffic in small twisted notes breathing the fervour of paosionate young love. Time wore round to the evening of the mariiage, and then the village wives who met to robe the bride declared they Had known all along that there was a bit of spit-e working the Hogans. The fine silk wedding dress was sent home unfinished. Mrs Jttogan pleaded severe megrim as an excuse,

Consternation reigned. Delia stormed, vowed slie would not stir a foot until the dress was completed, and sat down .n fier room, partially clad, to await do vempiuenis, , . ,

Mihil dared not protest, because ferninin , sympathy" ranged itself on Delia s sicie..- A messenger was sent post baste out of the village, but returned with the tiuings that Mrs Hogan had sought relief in bed, and,wouldn't stir as much as a finger if the Devines put gold pieces under her feet. Meanwhile the bridesmaid appeared to find her position awkward/ ' Delia remained obstinate and deaf to the voice of entreaty. Either she would be married in, a properly made dress, or not at all. Mary shed tears in a corner under the fire of scathing remarks directed at her, and the tap of Mihil's wooden leg pounding up and down the kitchen floor served , to punctuate the. babel of tongues.

At last,, in desperation, Mihil went himself, determined to bring the recalcitrant lady .on the scene if he. had to have her bound and carried. He found her prostrate, but' the feeble means issuing from behind her cap-strings did not sliamo Mihil’s rude bluster. However, his threats and arguments gained a slight concession. If the wedding party would start early, and Miss Devine would consent to step off the side-car for a minute or two, the necessary finishings could be done in Mrs Hogan’s own house while the rest of the party waited outside. More than that she would not promise, being a "lone wiclda” with nobody to look to in case harm* befei her.

It requixed a lot of persuasion, aided by some strong language on her father’s part, to win Delia's agreement to this proposal, an>l she finished dressing m sulky silence. ‘Billy* and his supporters arrived, the cars were filled and, still pouting, Delia took her seat beside Mary and nursed her grievances until they got beyond the village bounds.. At _ Mrs Bogan’s she jumped to the ground,* and, smiling on the unsuspecting guests, bade them drive slowly up and down. "i’ll nQt be long inside,” she cried, pausing oh the threshold to blow a light kiss to Billy.' ' , : c And she certainly was not long rn&ida^

though they waited vainly for her to come out again. The widow’s liouse had a door front and rear (an unusual distinction), and behind the house was a little wood, and beyond the wood was a smooth white road cutting the face pf the hills ana leading direct to Boscommon. And one whose wits were awake saw another car emerge from tne shadow of the trees and climb the bill,with thr j© people seated on it. He stared into Mary’s roguish eyes, guessed the truth, and wisely kept his qounsel. Hut when the vehicles had jaunted up and down at a funeral pace far 30 minutes Billy lost temper, strode to the door, and, kicking it open, beheld Mrs Hogan, the picture of rosy health, regaling herself with a cup of tea and a penny novelette.. He asked savagely where Delia was. Mrs Hogan gave it as her opinion that Delia was well on her way to Roscommon, where the bulk of Terence M‘Quire’s relations lived. She also intimated that the driver of the runaway car was x>ig Shan M‘Quire, the champion fighter of the west. Her advice to Billy to pursue them was received with derisive laughter by the Cheated guests who thronged about him and made him the wretched butt of their quick wit. He would be a bold man who would venture to question any action of Shan’s. Billy might have followed while the anger was hot in him if a dozen stout farmers bad rallied to bis assistance, but he was unpopular, and when Fate gave him the cold shoulder so did they. Leaving the distracted father and bridegroom engaged in a bitter war of words outside Mrs Hogan’s closed door, they mounted the cars again and returned leisurely the •way they came, telling the joke to all and sundry until the whole place was alive. Billy could have done an immense stroke of business that day had lie been courageous enough to take clown bis shutters.

Twilight cast its shadow upon the land. Above the rim of a grey cloud the crescent moon peeped coyly," flecking a bare road with patches of white light. The mountains veiled their peaks in silvery trails of mist grey as the sky. A solitary horse and car proceeded along the road at a walking pace. The driver, Big Shan, gazed dreamily ahead to where the home-lights welcomed him with a promise of good cheer now that the day’s work was . done. He was not sentimental. He wondered at the foolishness of the runaway couple coming arm-in-arm behind him up the incline,’ and he doubted his mother’s wjsdbin in encouraging such ongoings, but he was prepared to fight for them if need be, and for the honour of Roscommon. The prospect of-a scrimmage Btirred vis veins lilte martial music. He didn’t look back once, being a man of feeling and sound sense. They wouldn’t have cared if he had; they loved Shan with the delirious love due to a great deliverer. Delia’s head rested contentedly against her true lad’s shoulder. She looked bewitching in the bridal dress of pale lavender, and Young Terence sail her eyes were just like- violets hid ,n a lidllow where the dew lies long. "An' you weren't afraid to trust your-

self to me, honey,” he whispered for th© hundredth time. 'You had faith in m© to the last, an' the brave heart to risk all.” Delia’s answer took the simplest possible form. iShe kissed his downbent cheek shyly, and her sweet puckered lips ravished the soul of Young - Terence s© that he stood entranced, forgetful of time and ptacei, and everything except the bliss ol knowing her to be his. The moon peered boldly out of her cloudy covering, and smiled to see the unfolding of a story as old as the hoar old earth. But a prosaic notebpoke in upon their ecstacy. It was Shan's impatient coo-ey wafted to them from the other side of the hill.