The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 22 January 1920, Page 3

The Storyteller

By William Carleton.

WILLY REILLY AND HIS DEAR COLEEN BAWN. (A Tale Founded upon Fact)

CHAPTER XL—Continued. "Now, gentlemen," said the squire, "fill your glasses, and let us enjoy ourselves. You have a right to be proud of your wife, Mr. Sheriff, and you, too, Sir Jenkins; for upon my soul, if it had been his Majesty's health, her ladyship couldn't have honored it with a fuller bumper. And, Smellpriest, your wife did the thing handsomely, as well as the rest. Upon my soul, you ought to be happy men, with three women so deeply imbued with the true spirit of our glorious constitution." "Ah, Mr. Folliard," said Smellpriest, "you don't know the value of that woman. When I return, for instance, after a hunt, the first question she puts to me is——Well, my love, how many priests did you catch to-day? And out comes Mr. Strong with the same question. Strong, however, between ourselves, is a goose; he will believe anything; and often sends me upon a cold trail. Now I pledge you my honor, gentlemen, that this man, who is all zeal, has sent me out dozens of times, with the strictest instructions as to where I'd catch my priest; but cl " Ilie ii: ' ever I caught a single priest upon his instructions yet; still, although unfortunate. in this kind of sport, his heart is in the right place. Whitecraft, my worthy brother-sportsman, how does it happen that Reilly continues to escape you?" •'Why does he continue to escape yourself, captain?" replied the baronet. ••Why," said the other, "because I am more in the ecclesiastical line, and besides, he is considered to be, in an especial manner, your game." "I will have him yet, though," said AVhitecraft, "if he should assume as many shapes as Proteus." "By the way, Whitecraft," observed Folliard, "they tell me you burned the unfor —you burned the scoundrel's house and offices." "I wish you had been present at the bonfire, sir," replied his intended son-in-law; -'it would have done your heart good." "I dare say," said the squire - "but still, what harm did his house and place do you? I know the fellow is a Jesuit, a rebel, and an outlawat least, you tell me so, and you must know. But upon what authority did you burn the rascal out?" "As to that," returned the baronet, "the present laws against Popery and the general condition of the times are a sufficient justification; and 1 do not think that I am likely to be brought over the coals for it; on. the contrary, I look upon myself as a man who, in burning the villain out, has rendered a very important service to Government." "1 regret, Sir Robert," observed Mr. Brown, "that you should have disgraced yourself by such an oppressive act. I know that throughout the country your conduct to this young man is attributed to personal malice rather than to loyalty." "The country may put what construction on my conduct it pleases," he replied, "but 1 know I shall never cease till I hang him." Mr. Hastings was a man of very few words; but he had an eye the expression of which could not. be mistaken —keen, manly, and firm. He sat sipping his wine in silence, but turned, from time to time, a glance upon the baronet, which was not only a searching one, but seemed to have something of triumph in it. "What do you say, Hastings?" asked Whitecraft; "can you not praise a loyal subject, man?" "I say nothing, Sir Robert," he replied, "but I think occasionally." "Well, and what do you think occasionally?" "Why, that the times may be changed." "Whitecraft," said Smellpriest, "I work upon higher principles than they say you do. I hunt priests, no doubt of it; but then I have no personal malice against them: I proceed upon the broad and general principle of hatred to Popery; but, at the same. time, observe, it is not the man, but the priest, I pursue." "And when you hang or transport the priest, what becomes of the man?" asked the baronet, with a diabolical sneer. "As for me, Smellpriest, I make no such distinc-

tions; they are unworthy of you, and I am sorry to hear you.express them. I say the man," "And I say the priest," replied the other."" . "What do you say, my lord?" asked Mr. Folliard of the peer. "-"I don't much care which," replied his lordship; "man or priest, be it as you can determine; only I say that when you hang the priest, I agree with Whitecraft there, that it is all up with the man, and when you hang tho man it is all up with the priest. By tho way, Whitecraft," he proceeded, "how would you like to swing yourself?" "I am sure, my lord," replied the baronet, "you wouldn't wish to see mo hanged." "Well, I don't know—perhaps I might, and perhaps I might not; but I know" you would make a long corpse, and I think you would dangle handsomely enough; you have long limbs, a long body, and half a mile of neck; upon my soul, one would think you were made for it. Yes, I dare say, I should like to see you hanged l am rather inclined to think I would a subject, however, on which I am perfectly indifferent; but if ever you should be hanged, Sir Robert, I shall certainly make "it a point to see you thrown off, if it were only as a mark of respect to your humane and excellent character." "He would be a severe loss to the country," observed Sir Jenkins; "the want of his hospitality would be deeply felt by the gentry of the neighborhood; for which reason," he observed, sarcastically, "I hope he will be spared to us as long as his hospitality lasts." In tho meantime, gentlemen," observed the sheriff, "I . wishthat with such keen noses for priests, and rebels, 'and criminals, you could come upon the trail of the scoundrel who robbed me of three hundred and fifty pounds." "Would you know him again, Mr. Sheriff?" asked Sir Robert, "and could you describe his appearance?" "I have been turning the matter over," replied the sheriff, "and I feel satisfied that I would know him if I saw him. He was dressed in a broadcloth, brown coat, light-colored breeches, and had silver buckles in his shoes! The fellow was no common robber. Stuart —one of your dragoons, Sir Robert, who came to ray relief when it'was too insists, from my description of the dress, that it was Reilly." "Aro you sure he was not dressed in black?" asked Smellpriest. "Did you observe any beads or crucifixes about him?" "I have described the dress accurately." replied the sheriff; "but I am certain that it was not Reilly. On bringing the matter to my recollection, after I had got rid of tho pain and agitation, I was aole to remember that the ruffian had a coarse face and red whiskers. Now, Reilly's hair and whiskers are black." "It was a reverend Papist," said Smellpriest; "'one of those from whom you had levied the fines that day, and who thought it no harm to transfer them back again to Holy Church. You know not how those rascals can disguise themselves." "And can you blame them, Smellpriest," said the squire, "for disguising themselves? Now, suppose tho tables were turned upon us, that Popery got into tho ascendant, and that Papists started upon the same principles against us, that we put in practice against them; suppose that Popish soldiers were halloed on against our parsons, and all other Protestants conspicuous for an at' tachment to their religion, and anxious to put down tho persecution Under which we suffered; why, d n it, could you blame the parsons, when hunted to death, for disguising themselves? And if you could not, how the devil can you blame the priests? Would you have the poor devils walk into your hands, and say, 'Come, gentlemen, bo good enough to hang or transport us' ? I am anxious to secure Reilly, and either to hang or transport him. I would say tho latter, though." "And I, the former," observed Sir Robert. '■'Well, Bob, that is as may happen; but d n me, I say, he never robbed the sheriff here; and if lie were going to the gallows to-morrow, I would maintain it." Neither the clergyman nor Mr. Hastings took much part in the conversation ; but the eye of tho latter was, during the greater portion of the evening, fixed upon tho baronet, like that of a basilisk, accompanied by a hidden meaning, which it was impossible to penetrate, but which, nevertheless, had such an effect upon Whitecraft, that he could not help observing it. "It would seem, Mr. Hastings," said he, "as if you had never seen me before. Your eye has scarcely been off me during the whole evening. It is not pleasant, sir, nor scarcely gentlemanly." "You should feel proud of it, Sir Robert," replied Hastings; "I only admire you." "Well, then, I wish you would express your admiration in some other manner than by staring at me." "D n it, Sir Robert," said the squire, "don't you

know that a cat may look at a king? Hastings must be a man of devilish good taste, Bob, and you ought'to thank him. ••-■.-.. -..vji >■.;;•.... -■-'.. '... ;• v,';.' •

• Mr. Brown and Mr. Hastings soon afterwards went upstairs, .and left the other gentlemen to their liquor, which they now began to enjoy with more convivial spirit. The old squire's loyalty rose to a very high pitch, as indeed did that of his companions, all of whom entertained the same principles, with the exception of Lord '-. Deilmacare whose opinions could never be got at, for the very sufficient reason that he did not know them himself. ' "Come, Whitecraft," said the squire, "help yourself, and push the bottle; now that those two are gone, we can breathe and speak a little more freely. Here's our glorious" constitution, in Church and State, and d^— all priests and Papists— a few, that I know to be hones c." "I drink it, but I omit the exception," said Sir Robert, "and I wonder, sir, you would make any exception to such a toast." "I drink it," said Smellpriest, "including the rascal priests." "And I drink it," said the sheriff, "as it has been proposed." "What was it " said Lord Deilmacare; "come, I drink — it doesn't matter. I suppose coming from our excellent host, it must bo right and proper." They caroused deeply, and in proportion as the liquor affected their brains, so did their determination to rid the squire of the rebel Reilly form itself into an express resolution to that effect. "Hang Reilly— the villain gallows for him —hurrah!" and in this charitable sentiment their voices all joined in a fierce aud drunken exclamation, uttered with their hands all clasped in each other's, with a strong and firm grip. From one mouth alone, however, proceeded, amidst a succession of hiccoughs, the word "transportation"; which when Lord Deilmacare heard, he changed his principle, and joined the old squire in the same mitigation of feeling. "I say, Deilmacare," shouted Sir Robert, "we must hang him high and dry." "Very well," replied his lordship, "with all my heart, Sir Robert; wo must hang you high and dry." "But, Deilmacare," said the squire, "we shall only transport him." "Very good," exclaimed his lordship, emptying a bumper, "we shall only transport you, Sir Robert." "Jiang him, Deilmacare!" "Very well, hang him!" "Transport him, I say, Deilmacare," from the squire. "Good again," said his lordship, "transport him, say And on went the drunken revel, until they scarcely knew what they said. The clergyman and Mr. Hastings, on reaching the drawing-room, found Helen in a state of inexpressible distress. A dispute on the prevailing morals of all modern young ladies had been got up by Lady Joram and Mrs. Oxley, for the express purpose of venting their diabolical malice against the poor girl, because they had taken it in their heads that she paid more attention to Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Hastings than she did to them. This dispute was tantamount to what, in the prize ring, is called a cross, when the fight is only a mock one, and terminates by the voluntary defeat of one of the parties,' upon a preconcerted arrangement. "I don't agree with you, my lady; nor can I think that the morals of young ladies in 'igh life, by which I mean the daughters and heiresses of wealthy squires " "But, my dear Mrs. Oxley," said her ladyship, interrupting her, and placing her hand gently upon her arm, as if to solicit her consent to the observation she was about to make, "you know, my dear Mrs. Oxley, that the daughter of a mere country squire can have no pretentions to come under the definition of high life." Wy not?" replied Mrs. Oxley. "The squires are often wealthier than the haristocracy ; and I don't at all see," she added, "w'y the daughter of such a man should not be considered as moving in 'igh life— always, of course, provided that she forms no disgraceful attachments to Papists and rebels and low persons of that 'ere class. No, my lady, I don't at all agree with you in your view of 'igh life." "You don't appear, madam, to entertain a sufficiently accurate estimate of high life." "I beg pardon, ma'am, but I think I can understand 'igh life as well as those that don't know it better nor myself. I 'ave seen a great deal of 'igh life. Feyther 'ad a willar at 'lgate, and 'lgate is known to be the 'ighest place about the metropolis of Lunnon and St. Paul's are upon a bevel." . -

"Level, perhaps, you mean, ma'am ; ; "Level or bevel, it doesn't much diversify; but I prefer the bevel to the level on all occasions. All I know is," she proceeded, "that it is a shame for any young lady, as is a young lady, to take a liking to a Papist, because we know the Papists are all rebels, and would cut our throats, only for the protection of our generous and merciful laws." "I don't know what you mean by merciful laws," observed Mrs. Brown. "They surely cannot bo such laws as oppress and persecute a portion of the people, and give an unjust license to one class to persecute another, and to prevent them from exercising the duties which their religion imposes upon them." "Well," said Lady Joram, "all I wish is that the Papists were exterminated ; we should then have no apprehensions that our daughters would disgrace themselves by falling in love with them." This conversation was absolutely cruel, and the amiable Mrs. Brown, from compassion to Helen, withdrew her in a corner of the room, and entered into conversation with her upon a different topic, assuring her previously that she would detail their offensive and ungenerous remarks to her father, who, she trusted, would never see them under his roof again, nor give them an opportunity of indulging in their vulgar malignity a second time. Helen thanked her, and said their hints and observations, though rude and ungenerous, gave her but little pain. The form of language in which they were expressed, she added, and the indefensible violation of all the laws of hospitality, blunted the severity of what they said. "I am not ashamed," she said, "of my attachment to the brave and generous young man who saved my, father's life. He is of no vulgar birth, but a highly-edu-cated and highly-accomplished gentleman—a man, in fact, my dear Mrs. Brown, whom no woman, be her rank in .life ever so high or exalted, might blush to love. / do not blush to make the avowal that 1 love him ; but, unfortunately, in consequence of the existing laws of the country, my love for him. which I will never conceal, must bo a hopeless one." "I regret, the state of those laws, my dear Miss Folliard, as much as you do; but still, their existence puts a breach between you and Reilly; and under those circumstances, my advice to you is to overcome your affection for him if you can. Marriage is out of the question ." "It is not marriage 1 think of —For that /'.■; out of the question— Reilly's life and safety. If he were safe, I should feel comparatively happy; happiness, in its full extent, I never can hope to enjoy; but if he were only •safeif he were only safe, my dear Mrs. Brown ! I know that he is hunted like a beast of prey: and under such circumstances as disturb and distract the country, how con lie escape?" The kind-hearted lady consoled her as well as she could; but, in fact, her grounds for consolation were so slender that her arguments only amounted to those general observations, which, commonplace as they are, we are in the habit of hearing from day to day. Helen was too highminded to shed tears; but Mrs. Brown could plainly perceive the depth of her emotion, and feel the extent of what sho suffered. "We shall not detail, at further length, the conversation of the other ladies —if ladies they can be called—nor that of the gentlemen after they entered the drawingroom. Sir Robert Whitccraft attempted to enter into conversation with Helen, but, found himself firmly and decidedly repulsed. In point of fact, some of the gentlemen were not in a. state to grace a drawing-room, and in a short time they look their leave and retired. (To bo continued.)