LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6706, 20 November 1889, Page 1

LITERATURE.

A COMPROMISING TELEGRAM. When Mr Basher, of the Morning ChhufntfCame ontof prison after "doing" his three months for libelling LadyEnth Kxlwig, it cannot be said that his feelings towards her and her husband were at all softened. The gentle and soothing influence of afcriot seclusion and oakmn-picking had not had its anticipated effect. He still regarded his old enemies with hatred as bitter aa erer entered the heart of man. On regaining his freedom, his first thought was therefore of revenge. In what way could he gratify the deep animosity which he entertained for Sir John and Lady Butt-? His disaster had had one- good result. He was as unscrupulous as talus means as ever, but that experience had taught him prudence. Never again would he publish anything libellous which he himself knew to be unfounded, simply because he thought the person libelled could not prove it untrue. No, even when the plaintiff was a Radical, and the-tibel waß political, and the jury was of London, that was not a safe course. This resolve was decidedly prudent, but it, of course, greatly restrained his freedom of action. Indeed, for a time it seemed-as if it would prevent altogether ! his xevengenpon Sir John. The Radical baronet was in public life a man of the highest honour ; in private life he was a pattern to his class. Mr Basher for months watched his prey as a cat might watch a mouse. He employed private detectives to dog his victim's footsteps and report on his movements. He even bribed servants in his house to supply him with information as to their master's guests and-acte and conversation. Bat it was all of no use. At the end of three months Mr Basher had not discovered a single-fact on which to base an abusive or insulizng-or humiliating article. He was beginning to think of abandoning his efforts in despair, and would probably have done so had it not been that he believed the future gave more promise <ih»w the present. The three months during which he hadbeen watching Sir John were summer mnnHna r and. the Radical "baronet had been all the time in town, attending to his Parliamentary duties. The automn was now approaching, when he usually went to a shooting-box he possessed in the West of Ireland. Now Sir John, like all good Badicals, was on very intimate terms with the Farnellites in the House, and, unlike some good Badicals, he was on -equally intimate terms with them outside the House. When, therefore^he went to his shooting-box in Galway f or-therecess, he usually numbered among his guests two or three of the Irish members. Not merely that, bat when in Galway he took an active part in local politics, presiding at League meetings and assisting at League demonstrations, and behaving generally in a way that caused great indignation (and embarrassment) to the-Coerdonißts, who, though they treated mere Farnellites arbitrarily enough, hesitated about tackling so wealthy, wellconnected, and able an English member as. Sir John. Now, it was in this part of Sir John's conduct that-Mr Basher saw promise of a chance of vengeance. Lately there had been several serious outrages in the Radical member's neighbourhood in Galway. Though he had over and over again implored the people not to be led into crime, still several of the Tory organs had hinted that his speeches had some responsibility for these wild acts of despair. Mr Bashers hope was that more and grosser outrages would be committed during Sir John's autumnal stay in Ireland, and he trusted, by bribing the member's servants and employing private detectives, to be able to get evidence to implicate him, however unwittingly, with them or their perpetrators. When the recess arrived. Sir John did, as-he usually did, and Btarted for Galway, to spend there a well-earned holiday in fishing and shooting. As usual, too, he invited a number of guests to his pretty lodge, and among them-were several of his ParneHite friends. Mr Basher's detectives naturally at once followed him. They pitched their tents at JBallymulwhacking — the largest village near Sir John's place—and there spent their time chiefly in picking up local knowledge at the public-houses, and in intriguing with Sir John's servants and gamekeepers: Several of these they managed to get into their pay, and from them they picked up a good deal about the doings and sayings of the Eadical member and his guests. Little of what they heard, however, was of much use or importance so far as Mr Basher was concerned. Several weeks had elapsed, and time was beginning to hang rather heavily on the hands of Mr John Wylie and his assistant detectives, when at last something took place that promised them a little excitement, if not occupation. A monster meeting- of the National League was announced. It was to take place at Ballymulwhacking, and besides local Nationalists of very advanced opions, Sir John and several of his guests were to speak. The meeting, strange to say, was not proclaimed — perhaps Sir John's announced attendance had Bomething to do with that— and it took place on theday fixedin a large meadow cloce to the village. Sir John presided, and delivered a moderate, sensible, and eloquent speech, which was listened to by the vast assemblage with the greatest attention, and greeted with unanimous applause. Then several of Sir John's guests followed in speeches equally moderate. The meeting promised to go off in the most perfect fashion, when one local politician threw everything into confusion. He spoke on a resolution asking the people to discountenance the taking of farms from which, the late tenants had been evicted, and, carried away by excitement, he denounced, in fiery language, land-grabbers generally. That was bad enough, but as. he went on he began to apply his denunciation to particular instances. Sir John had by this time become very uneasy. He tried in various ways to show the speaker his disapprobation-of his language ; but Mr Doolan himself being excited, and also being urged on by the excitement of his audiece^paid no attention. " And there's Tim Twohy— you know him, don't you ? " (Cries of " Yes ! yes ! ") " He's an instance of a load-grabber. What has he done? He has grabbed the land of the Widow Sullivan— the poor woman who was- thrown out on the road last winter with her seven young children—one a baby in her arms — thrown out to perish, to perish of cold and hunger, throws out of the farm her husband tamed out of a bog into a garden. Now, what does such a man as Twohy deserve 9" " Shooting ! " replied a voice, and a yell of approval went up from the wilder spirits present. "I must really interfere," cned Sir John, rising to his feet. " Such language cannot *be permitted here. This man Twohy may be all you say, but to mnrder him would be a sin and a crime and a shame.''' "I didn't mean," explained Mr Doolan, now^oooleddownalittle, **to-euggesfcany-thing of the sort. To murder him would, I know, sot only be a-sin and a crime and a shame, bofcit wootd-be more — it would be a gross and disgraceful blunder. The presence of our rflw*"** 1 " is the most ! complete «eply toscch. foolish? as well as shameful suggestions, W-e have the lobcsal psrfcfof England with us ; with it*»id«w«&»*««iri*o-wJninibeJoag run.

triumph with blood is our greatest and most dangerous enemy." The meeting generally enthusiastically agreed with this explanation of Mr Doolan's, and expressed their agreement in loud applause. But it was evident that his reference to Twohy had touched a tender point in many of their hearts, for this man had displayed more callous selfishness than most land-grabbers do, and he was naturally more hated by his neighbours than most hind-grabbers are. No one knew this better than he did himself, but he was a man of reckless courage, and he disdained the threats of those among whom he -was living. Since he took the farm in question, his life had been in constant danger, but he refused police protection, and declared his resolve to fight out his own battles himself. His dauntleesness waß his safety ; nobody cared to tackle such a customer, but still, so intensely was he hated that everyone felt sure that some day or other he would fall beneath a revenger's hand. Sir John's annoyance over this incident was excessive. He knew a3 well as any j one how ferocious was the feeling of the neighbourhood against Twohy, and how jjreat the danger o£ his murder waß. That Doolan's reference to the man would increase that danger Sir John never for a moment imagined — he knew Irishmen too well to believe that they are so easily influenced— but still it was both foolish and injudicious. Besides this ground for annoyance Sir John had another and a more personal one. It, as was more than likely, Twohy should Borne day be murdered, what a weapon this unfortunate incident would be in the hands of Sir John's enemies ! It is hardly necessary to say that an account of this meeting, including, of course, full particulars of Doolan's indiscretion, was duly forwarded to Mr Basher. He received it with delight, and in two or three very offensive articles drew the attention of the public to the sort of language used by the speakers, and the sort of interruptions made by the hearers at the meetings presided over by Sir John Kilwig. Bnt what was bis delight when, before he had let the incident pasa out of the public mind, and within a month of its occurrence, news reached London that Tim Twohy had actually been murdered ! The murder waa perpetrated in the style Trlucii distinguishes agrarian crimes. A band of armed men, with blackened faces, had come in the night to Twohy'a house and forced the door. Before he could strike a light and seize his gun they I were upon him. They dragged him from ' his bedroom to the kitchen, and there, without more ado, blew his brains out. The crime attracted much attention in England. People, too, had naturally not forgotten the reference made to Twohy, and the punishment suggested as suitable for him at the great meeting over which Sir John had presided, and all the Tory newspapers, and more especially the Morning Clvimes, dwelt upon these facts, and called upon the public to recognise the connection between them and the murder. And as Sir John had foreseen, his enemies took advantage of the opportunity to make the most infamous and damaging attacks npon him. He felt, indeed, his position bo compromiaed that, but for the remonstrance of his friends, he would have retired altogether from public life. (To be continued.)