Out of the West

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 4

Out of the West

SYNOPSIS

mother are, through comparative P°ver|y. obllg-ccl to let furnished their- old raim seat, inisroe Hall, in the West ol lielam The letting- Is In the hands of an agent. Joseph MacDonagh, who flnds lcna ™s J" 1 the summer—a Mr and Mrs bllas luatidon, rich Americans, with one son, who is ai a University In England. Sheelagh and her mother (with a favourite dog and pony) take up residence a few miles away In the house ol a 'ormer tennat farmer named Coolin. ''} c r° Sheelagl) learns of the love between hora Coolin and Rory, the gardener at mis.ot Riding past the ruins of Inisroe ADDey, Sheelagh sees two men frantically ajj?gmg. According to legend, in the groundb of the Abbey largo quantities of gold anu silver were once burled, but In spite 01 local ralth In the legend, all attempts to locate the treasure have been futile, one of the men Is Larry Shaughnessy, Inlsroe’s most famous wastrel. The other is a stranger. Shortly afterwards Sheelgah meets Larry, but he denies ever digging In the grounds. Sheelagh visits the ruins, but although she saw the two men digging there not long ago, the ground is apparently untouched. Silas Brandon’s forebears were Irish, and It Is the desire to visit the home of his ancestors, wealthy where they were poor, that impels hint to make the Journey. Ills only son, Terence, is at Oxford, and Is now expected home for the Long Vacation. Looking out to sea from hi? bedroom window one night Terry sees a boat, being rowed along the shore. Next morning bathing he sees this boat In a narrow .11let near the Abbey ruins. Going towards the ruins he meets two men (one Larry Shaughnessy) who engage him In talk, and it is only afterwards the idea conies to him that he had been purposely kept from entering the Abbey grounds. Sheelagh takes a ride on her pony past the gates or her ancestral home, and Is seen by Terry. Riding homo Sheelagh is accosted by a drunken foreigner, but Larry shaughnessy comes to the rescue. Farmer Coolin meets with an accident and has to stay in bed. Mrs Cbolin cannot leave him, and Sheelagh offers to take her place with Norn at the market the following day. She poses as .Nora’s cousin, and wears an old red cloak, heavy shoes and thick woollen stockings. CHAPTER XVl.—(Continued). Before the sat)or could recover Terry came back with all his strength and knocked him Into the road with a straight left to the ribs. Poised on his toes the young man xvaited for his antagonist to resume the fight, but It was over. The Spaniard ' struggled to his feet and ran away down the hill towards Inisroe as fast as he could. "Thank you so much!” said Sheelagh fervently, going to Terry and forgetting her assumed brogue In her gratitude. "That's all right, Miss —Miss Coolin. I hope he didn’t hurt you.” “No. I’d -only just met him.” “Thank heaven I It was lucky I came back.” "Came back?” asked Sheelagh in surprise. "Yes," answered Terry, hesitatingly. "You see—er —my people were in the market looking round, and as they were not quite sure of the best way home I took them back—l mean I showed them the way—to Inisroe, you know, and —well, I thought I’d just have a run round as I had nothing particular to do.” “I see,” smiled Sheelagh, "and It was fortunate for me that you did.” "And for me,” added Terry. "But it was just a chance.” “llow did you know I was Miss Coolin?" He laughed awkwardly. "Well, that also was pure luck. I met a carrier’s van on the other road. It had stopped outside a farm gate, and the driver was taking a basket off the roof, I had seen the name Coolin when I bought the butter from you, so I stopped as well. While I was fiddling with the engine the girl who ) was with you came to the gate, and the driver said her cousin wasn’t In the van. The girl seemed surprised, so I thought I’d carry on and find you.” "But what made you take this road?" asked Sheelagh. Terry smiled tolerantly. "Well, I argued with myself that if you had been on the same road as the van the driver would have seen you, so ” “I think the other road is so much nicer. Thank you ever so much." Sheelagh was resuming her journey when Terry asked her If he could take her home in his car. "Oh, no, thank you.” Sheelagh thought it was quite time she remembered she was a peasant girl. "I’m used to walking.” "Yes, of course, I dare say, but—well, I mean —you see I was sort of looking for you, you know, and —I would like to finish the job by taking you home.” Sheelagh's eyes twinkled with amused understanding, but she said demurely: “It’s very kind of you. Just on the road near the gate will be quite far enough, thank you." He asked Sheelagh if she knew who her assailant was. She mentioned having seen him In the market that morning, but said nothing of her first meeting. "You haven’t asked me who I am yet,” he smiled. "Och, it isn’t for me to ask the name of a real gentleman; whatever has it to do with me? Ye saved me from that devil, and ye’ve lost your cap as well." Terry laughed. “Yes, I liked that old cap. I shan’t he able to match it here, I’m afraid. I bought it with these clothes in Oxford. But it doesn’t matter. Half the time I don’t wear it." "Then ye are English?” exclaimed Sheelagh. "And I though you said you lived round here. But I ought to have known. A gentleman living here wouldn’t take any notice of a poor country girl like me.” Terry glanced at her hut did not put his thoughls on that question into words. “I still think T met you at Inisroe, although I may he wrong.” "Oil. yes,” laughed Sheelagh. "I remember ye said something like liial when ye bought the butter. And you also said you were Irish. Oxford’s in England, isn't it?” The girl's quizzical lone net I led Terry. He slowed down to a gentle cruising speed. "1 am really Trish,” he prniesli’d. "My falher and mol her have come over from America for a holiday, and have rentdi Inisroe Hall for the summer. Perhaps you know il, even if you were no! the young lady I saw I here.” Sheelagh's silvery laugh inlerrupled , his slory. | "Anyhow," lie resumed, "my name ■ is Brandon —Terenee Brandon and . I I’m only al Oxford because, well, bn- j i- msn my |'.illier I (links I oiigbl In be j 111 ere. and I lie next is my las! l-o-m, , any wa y.” "Bui how does Dial make yon Irish ? j More American, perhaps?” I "My falber's grandfather emigraled ; from Ibesn pads, and sell In I in New i York "lain, lln \\ i s \ -tv |-oo;-. Then my falher went into Die steel bus:- 1

BY Herbert GaLvay. (Author of "The Squire of Redesby,” "Fetters of Silk,” etc.) A Charming Irish Love Romance.

ness in Pittsburg and was very lucky, j perhaps. Anyhow iie made money, I ■and managed to send me In an Eng- i lish University. This is t be first time j any of us have- been to Ireland, but father and mother have often talked about it, and they decided to take Inisroe Hall, as I said, so I hat v*c j could stay together during my hob- j days—what is known as the Long i Vacation.” ; "And I hope you’ll like Ireland ” j ventured Sheelagh. "and that you'll I not be thinking it’s no safe place for . a girl.” I "I don’t think it's quite safe for j men,” said Terry enigmatically. i "I think I’d better walk now," sug- | gested Sheelagh abruptly, making a j move as though to prepare to get out. , "Why not let me lake you to tire gate?" "Because my mother —well ,it isn’t, right that a poor girl like me should be riding with—er—people who can afford to come all the way from America to live at Inisroe Hal!." "Oil, that’s nonsense I Wtnt is; wrong with me?” . ; Sheelagh looked at her companion | with secret approval. “Nothing at all—but mother ” "Let me go with you to sec your mother?” Sheelagh was really alarmed at the bold suggestion. “Oh, no,” she said, "unless —you would like her to thank you for what ” Terry stopped the car in the next few yards, and jumped out. "Not that, please! I am very glad I was able to bo of some service, Miss Coolin.' Goodbye!” He held open I lie small door as though it were that of a state carriage, and bowed his bared head as lie helped her to alight. Sheelagh laughed at the ceremony. “Och! It’s no trouble for a girl like me to get out,” site said, but took the proffered hand nevertheless. “Ye couldn’t have looked after me better if i’d been a grand lady, and I’m glad I met ye.” “I’ll watch for you again," he answered, but Sheelagh, with a parting wave of her hand, apparently did not hear, for she ran along the road without once looking back. Terry Brandon stood motionless, watching her until she turned into the gate of Coolin’s farm, then, with his thoughts in a whirl he climbed into the car and proceeded slowly in the same direction. Nora Coolin saw him go by, and recollected that she had noticed the car stop outside the gate at the same time as Flynn’s van, about an hour before. “Miss Beaufort!" she called. "Mary,” corrected Sheelagh, turning hack on her way to see Airs Coolin. Nora smiled. “Perhaps, yes till ye get those things off. Did you walk on the main road?” “I came on the lower road. I wanted the view of the glen. I think the other way is rather monotonous.” "Ob, Ihcn, of course, you wouldn’t see him?" "What do you mean?” For answer Nora pointed to l!io sports ear rapidly diminishing in the distance. “The young man driving there stopped outside Hie gate when Flynn brought homo your basket, and as . he’s just gone by you must have seen him if you had come along the main road.” Sheelagh shaded her eyes with her hand as' she watched silently until the car disappeared round the bend. “I wonder if that is the young man from Inisroe Hall?" said Nora, as she removed her gaze. “I wonder," echoed Sheelagh softly. Mrs Coolin complimented the new helper on the way she had taken her •place at the market, but said she hardly thought it was a fitting occupation for a girl who was not used to a rough life. "I enjoyed it," replied Sheelagh, and xvill lie glad to do it again if you want me." “Oh, 1 hope to bo there myself next Saturday, please God. The doctor says my husband should bo belter In about a week." Sheelagh expressed a hope that it would be so, but dlcl not quite know whether she desired to repeat the ex- . pcrlenees of that memorable day. ■ She had no wish to encounter for a third time the foreigner from lnis- • roc; yet, on the oilier hand, she felt sure Terry Brandon would be there looking for her. Her whole outlook on life seemed to be altered. Site had imagined herself and her mother spending Hie summer days in peace and comparative comfort until the Brandons concluded their tenancy of the Hall. True, her mother appeared to be ’ perfectly satisfied with the change, but to Sheelagh things were not the same. Even llie dairy—in which site had hoped lo spend many profitable ami interesting hours —had lost its appeal. Masquerading as a peasant girl had appeared great fun in anticipation, but . site had found that in practice il tended to degenerate into sheer deception with many embarrassing moments, and, as in her case, real danger. She would have liked to tell Terry Brandon who site was, but tlie ■ circumstances of his parents’ advent in the district made her hesitate. She felt she could never tell him that her mother owned Inisroe Hail, and that his people were really her ! mother's tenants. All the business had been conducted with the agent, MacDonagh, and the identify of the owner of Hie propled y was a question that naturally never arose. Although Terry Brandon had no idea that Sheelagh bail lived al Inis-i-ih' Hall ever sinee she was burn, be bad a shrewd suspicion that she was ; not tin' peasant she pretended lo be. j Many lillle mannerisms slrengtlienled him in Ibis opinion. First, her rej markable resemblance to the girl in Ibe riding costume who came up the drive al. Ibe Hall, lie fell Dial no disguise could bide, from him Ibe memory of liial llrsl glimpse of her. Her unconscious forget fulness, now i and again, lo speak in ebaraeler, and j the ob\ ions i-ellnenn-nl of her bands. were signs of In ding not usually assoi-i.iloil wild peasants. Finally, llm mosl convincing proof was I iie q nes| ion of her a Urged reki - ; I ion s ll iji In I!i'- i ioidins. j l-'iymi. Ibe carrier, bad referred, i will-mil roni rad-id ion by Ibe I a rnn-r's ! d.iiigbler, lo her cousin: and Ibe u; i - i k 1111 \\ n Im•.i uI x had implied liial, limy I were sisters. | "Thei-o's on!> one lliing lo do." ; smil-'d Terry, as In- seal lln- Miigalli Ia i full sju-:• d Inwards I nisi , "and 'li.nl is I■> mi l out for m >soli !” , i iTo be Goiituun-l.)