10
now, but I have made another plan how
fctupid of me!"
"You had forgotten," he said in his heavy
voice; "it is easy for you to forget what I
have been looking forward to lor a whole
week. What is your plan to go out walk
ing with Mr. Bingham, I suppose?"
"Yes," answered Beatrice, "to go out
with Mr. Bingham."
"Ah! you go out with Mr. Bingham every
dav now."
"And what if I do?" said Beatrice quick
ly; "surely, Mr. Davies, I have a right to
go out with whom I like?"
"Yes, of course; but the engagement to
come to the castle was made first: are you
not going to keep it?"
"Of course I'm going to keep,it; I always
keep my engagements wheu I have any."
"Very well, then; I shall expect you at 3
o'clock."
Beatrice went on home in a curiously
irritated condition of mind. She did not,
naturallv, want to go to the castle, and she
did want to go out with Geoffrey. How
ever, there was no help for it.
"When she came in to dinner she found
that Geoffrey was not there. He had, it
seemed, gone to lunch with Dr. Chambers,
whcm he had met on the beach. Be'ore he
returned they were all three starting for the
castle. Beatrice leaving a message to this
effect with Betty.
About a quarter of an hour afterward
Geoffrey came back to fetch his gun and
Beatrice, but Beatrice was cone, and all
that he could extract from Betty was that
she had gone to see Mr. Davies.
lie was perfectly ."urious, though all the
while he knew how unreasonable was his
anger. He had been looking forward to the
expedition, and this sudden change of plan
was too much lor his temper. Off he
started, however, to pass a thoroughly
miserable afternoon. He seemed to miss
Beatrice more at every step, end gradually
to grow more and more angry at what he
called her "rudeness." Of course, it never
occurred to him that what he was really
angry at was her going to see Mr. Davies,
or that, in truth, her society had become so
delightful to him that to he deprived of it
even for an afternoon was to be wretched.
To top cveryt Sng, he only got three good
shots that afternoon, and he missed them all,
which made him crosser than ever.
As 'or Beatrice, she enjoyed herself just
as little at the castle as Geoffrey did on the
beach. Owen Davies took them through the
great unused rooms, and showed them the
pictures, but she had seen them before, and
though some ol them were very fine, did
net care to look at them again at any rate,
not thai afternoon. But Elizabeth gazed at
them with eager eyes, and mentally ap
praised their value, wondering if they would
ever be hers.
"What is this picture?" she asked, point
ing to a beautiful portrait of a Dutch burgo
master by Rembrandt.
"That," answered Owen, heavily, for he
knew nothing of painting and caied less,
"that is a Velasquez, valued for probate at
3,000 no," referring to the catalogue and
reading, "I beg your pardon; the next is the
"Velasquez; that is a Eembrandt in the mas
ter's best style, showing all his wonderful
mastery over light and shade. It was valued
icr probate at 4,000 guineas."
"Four thousand guineas!" said Elizabeth.
"Fancy having a thing worth 4,000 guineas
hanging on a wall !"
And so they went on, Elizabeth asking
questions and Owen answering them by the
help ol the catalogue, till, to Beatrice's re
liei, they caiue at length to the end of the
pictures. Then they took some tea in the
little sitting room ot the master of all this
magnificence. Owen, to her great annoy
ance, sat opposite to Beatrice, staring at her
with all his eyes while she drauk her tea,
with ESe sitting on her lap, and Elizabeth,
observing it, bit her lip m jealousv. She
had thought it well to bring her sister here;
it would not do to let Mr. Davies think she
was keeping Beatrice out of the way, but his
mute idol worship was trying to her leelings.
After tea they went to the top of the tower,
and Ef2e rejoiced exceedingly in the view,
which was very beautiiul. Here Owen got
a word w..h Elizabeth.
"Your sister appears to be put out about
Eomethms," he said.
"I daresay," she answered carelessly,
"Beatrice has an uncertain temper. I think
she wanted to go out shooting with Mr.
Bingham this afternoon."
Had Owen been a less religious person he
might have sworn; as it was, ho only said:
"Mr. Bingham it is alwavs Mr. Bingham
from morning to night! "When is he going
away?"
"In another week, I believe. Beatrice
will be sorry, I think; she makes a great
companion of him. And now I think "that
ne must be getting home," and she went,
leaving this poisoned shaft to rankle in his
bieast.
Alter they had returned to the vicarage
and Beatrice had heard ESe her prayers
and tucked her up in her small white bed,
she went down to the gate to be quiet for a
little while before supper. Geoffrey had not
yet come in.
It was a lovely autumn evening; the sea
seemed to sleep, and the little clouds, from
which the sunset fires had paled, lay like
wreaths of smoke upon the infinite blue sky.
"Why had not Mr. Bingham come back, she
wondered; he would scarcely have time to
dress. Supposing that an accident had hap
pened to hint. Nonsense! what accident
could happen? He was so big and strong he
seemed to defy accidents; and yet had it not
been lor her there would he little enough
left ot his strength to-d?y. Ahl she was
clad that she had lived to be able to save
him from death. There he came, looming
like a giant in the evening mist.
There was a small hand-gate beside the
large one on which she leaned. Geoffrey
stalked straight up to it as though he did
not see her; he saw her well enough, but he
was cross with her.
She allowed him to pass through the gate,
which he shut slowly, perhaps to give her
an opportunity of speaking, if she wished to
do so; then, thinking that he did not seeher,
the spoke in her soit, musical voice.
"Did you have good sport, Mr. Bing
ham?" "So," he answered shortly; ''I saw very
little, and I missed all I saw."
"I am so sorry, except for the birds. I
hate the birds to be killed. Did you not see
me in this white dress? I saw you CO yards
away."
"Yes, 3Iiss Granger," he answered, "I
saw you:"
"And you were going by without speak
ing to me; it was very rude of you what is
the matter?"
".Not so rude as it was of you to arrange
to walk out with me and then to go and see
Mr. Davies instead."
"I could not help it, Mr. Bingham; it was
an old engagement, which I had forgotten."
"Quite so; ladies always have an excuse
for doing what they want to do."
"It is not an excuse, Mr. Bingham,"
Beatrice answered, with dignity; "there is
no need for mc to make excuses to you about
my movements."
"Of course not. Miss Granger; but it would
be more polite to tell me when you change
your mind next time, you know. How
ever, I have no doubt that the Castle has at
tractions for you."
She flashed' one loo at him and turned to
go, and as she did so his heart relented; he
grew ashamed.
"Miss Granger, don't go; forgive me. I
do not know what has become of my man
ners, I spoke as I should not. The fact is, 1
was put out at your not coming. To tell
the truth, I missed you dreadfully."
"You missed me. That is very nice of
you; one likes to be missed. But, if you
misted me for one afternoon, how will you
get on a week hence when you go away and
miss me altogether?"
Beatrice spoke in a bantering tone, and
laughed as she spoke, but he langh ended
in something like a sigh. He looked at her
Jor a moment, looked till she dropped her
eyes.
"Heaven only knows!" he answered sadly.
"Bet us go in," said Beatrice; in a con
itraioed voice; "how chill the air has
turned."
CHAPTER XV.
ONLY GOOD-NIGHT.
rive more days passed, all too quickly,
and once more Monday came round. It was
the 22d of October and the Michaelmas Sit
tings began on the 24th. On the morrow,
Tuesday, Geoffrey was to return to London,
there to meet Lady Honoria and get to work
at Chambers. That very morniug, indeed,
a brief, the biggest he had yet received it
was marked 30 guineas had been forwarded
to him from his chambers, with a note from
his clerk to the effect that the case was
expected to be in the special jury list on
the first day of the sittings and that the
clerk had made an appointment for him
with the solicitors for 5:15 on Tuesday. The
brief was sent to him by his uncle's firm,
and marked, "With you the Attorney-General
and Mr. Candle'ton, Q. C," the well
known leader of the Probate and Divorce
Court Bar. Never before had Geoflrey found
himself in such honorable company, that is
on the back of a brief, and not a little was
he elated thereby.
But when he came to look into the case
his jov abated somewhat, lor it was one of
the most perplexing that he had everknowu.
The will contested, which was that of a
Yorkshire money-lender, disposed of prop
erty to the value of 80,000, and was pro
pounded by a niece of the testator, who,
when he died, if not actually weak in his
mind, was in his dotage, and superstitious
to the verge of insanity. The niece to whom
all the property was left to the exclusion of
the son and daughter of the deceased, both
married, and living away Irom home
staged with the testator and looked after
him. Shortly before his death, however,
he and this niece had violently quarrelled
on account of an intimacy which the
latter had formed with a married man
of bad repute, who was a dis
charged lawyer's clerk. So serious had
been the quarrel that only three days before
his death the testator had sent for a lawyer,
and formally, by means of a codicil, de
prived the niece of a sum of 2,000 which
he had left her, all the rest of his property
being divided between his son and daugh
ter. Tnrce days alterward, however, he
duly executed a fresh will, in the presence
of "two servants, by which he lest all his
HE DISREGARDED BEATRICE'S "WARNING.
propertv to his niece, to the entire exclusion
of his own children. This will, though very
short, was in proper form, and was written
bv nobody knew whom. The servants
stated that the testator, before signing it,
was perfectly acquainted with its contents,
for the niece had made him repeat them in
their presence. They also declared, how
ever, that he seemed in a terrible iright,
and said twice, "It's behind me; it's behind
me!"
Within an hour of the signing of the will
the testator was fonnd dead, apparently
from the effect3 of fear, but the niece was
not in the room at the time of death. The
only other remarkable circumstance in the
case was that the disreputable lover of the
niece had been seen hanging about the house
at dusk, the testator havingdied at 10 o'clock
at night. There was also a further fact.
The son, on receiving a message from the
niece that his father was seriously worse,
had hurried with extraordinary speed to the
house, passing someone or something he
could not tell what that seemed to be run
ning, apparently from the window of the
sick man's room, which was on the ground
floor, and beneath which footmarks were
afterward found. Of these footmarks two
casts had been taken, of which photographs
were forwarded with the brief. They had
been made by naked leet of small size,
and in each "case the little joint of the
third toe of the right foot seemed to be
missing. But all attempts to find the
feet that made them had hitherto failed.
The will was contested by the next
of kin. for whom Geoffrey was one of the
counsel, upon the usual grounds of undue
influence and fraud, but, as it seemed at
present, with small prospect ot success, for,
though the circumstances were suspicious
enough, there was not the slightest evidence
of either. This curious case, o: which the
outlines are here written, is briefly set out,
because it proved to be the foundation of
Geoffrey's enormous practice and reputation
at the bar.
He read the brief through twice, thought
it over well, and could make little of it. It
was perfectly obvious to him that there had
been foul play somewhere, but he found
himself quite unable to form a workable hy
pothesis. Was the person if it was a per
son who had been seen running away,
concerned in the matter ? If so, was he
the author of the footprints ? Of course,
the ex-lawyer's clerk had something to do
with it; but what?
"We shall lose this," he said aloud in de
spair; "suspicious circumstances are not
enough to upset a will," and then, address
ing Beatrice, who was sitting at the table,
working: "Here, Miss Granger, 3 ou have
a smattering of law, see if you can make
anything of this," and he pushed the heavy
brief toward her.
Beatrice took it with a laugh, and for the
next three-quarters of an hour her fair brow
was puckered up in a way quaint to sea. At
last she finished and shut the brief up.
"Let me look at the photographs," she
said.
Geoffrey handed them to her. She very
carefully examined first one and then the
other, and as she did so a light of intelli
gence broke out upon her face.
"Well, Portia, have you got it?" he
asked.
"I have got something," she answered.
"I do not know if it is right. Don't vou
see, the old man was superstitious; they
frightened him first of all by a ghostly voice
or some such thing into signing the will,
and then to death after he had signed it.
The lawyer's clerk prepared the will he
would know how to do it. Then he was
smuggled into the room under the bed, or
somewhere, dressed up as a ghost perhaps.
The sending for the son by the niece was a
blind. The thing that was seen running
away was a boy those footprints were made
by a boy. I have seen so many thousands
on the sands here that I could swear to it.
He was attracted to the house from the
road, which was quite near, by catching
sight of something unusual through the
blind; the brief says there were no curtains
or shutters. Now look at the photographs
of the footprints. See in No. 1, found out
side the window, the toes are pressed down
deeply into the mud. The owner of the feet
was standing on tiptoe to get a better view.
But in No. 2, which was found near where
the son thought he saw a person
running, the toes are spread out
quite wide. That is the footprint of
someone who was in a great hurrv. Now
it is not probable that a boy had anything to
do with the testator's doath. Why, then, was
the bov running so hard? I will tell you: be
cause ne was frightened at something he had
seen through the blind. So frightened was
THE
he that he will not come forward, or answ er
the advertisements and inquiries, .Find a
bov in that town who has a joint missing on
the third toe of the right foot, and you will
soon know all about it."
"By Jove," said Geoffrey, "what a crimi
nal lawyer you would make! I believe that
you have got it. But how are we to find this
boy with the missing toe joint? Every pos
sible inquiry has already been made and
failed. Nobody has seen such a boy whose
deficiency would probably be known by his
parents or schoolfellows."
"Yes," said Beatrice, "it has failed be
cause the boy has taken to wearing shoes,
which indeed he would always have to do at
school. His parents, if he has any, would
perhaps not speak of his disfigurement, and
no one else might know of it, especially if
he were a new comer in the neighborhood.
It is quite possible that he took off his boots
in order to creep up to the window. And
now I will tell you howl should set to work
to find him. I should have every bathing
place in the river running through the town
there is a river carefully watched by de
tectives. In this weather." the autumn was
an unusually warm one, "boys of that class
often paddle and sometimes bathe. If they
watch close enough they will probably find
a boy with a missing toe joint among the
number."
"What a good idea," said Geoffrey. "I
will telegraph to the lawyers at once. I cer
tainly believe that you have got the clue."
And, as it turned out afterward, Beatrice
had got it; her suppositions were right in
almost every particular. The boy, who
proved to be the son of a peddler who had
recently come into the town, was found
wading, and by a clever trick, which need
not be detailed, trightened into telling the
truth, as he had previously frichtened him
self into holding his tongue. He had even,
as Beatrice conjeetured, taken off his boots
to creep up to the window, and as he ran
away had, in his fright, dropped them into a
ditch full of water. There they were found,
and went far to convince the jury ofthe tt-utn
othisstorv. Thus it was that Beatrice's
quick wit'laid the foundations of Geoffrey's
great success.
This particular Monday was a field day at
the vicarage. Jones had proved obdurate;
no power on earth conld induce him to pay
the 34 11. 4d. due on account of tithe.
Therelore Mr. Granger, fortified by a judg
ment duly obtained, had announced his in
tention of distraining upon Jones' hay and
cattle. Jones had replied with insolent de
fiance. If any bailiff, orauetioneer, or such
people came to sell his hay he would kill
him or them.
So said Jones, and summoned his sup
porters, many of whom owed tithe, and none
of whom wished to pay it, to do battle in
his cause. For his part, Mr. Granger re
tained an auctioneer of undoubted courage,
who was to arrive on this very afternoon sup
ported by six policemen, and carry out the
sale. Beatrice felt nervous about the whole
thing, but Elizabeth was very determined,
and the old clergyman was now bombastic
and now desnondent. The auctioneer ar
rived duly bv the 1 o'clock train. Hp was a
tall, able-bodied man, not unlike Geoffrey in
appearance; indeed at 20 yards distance it
would have been difficult to tell them apart.
The sale was to take place at 2:30, and Mr.
Johnson that was the auctioneer's name
went to the inn to cot his dinner before pro
ceeding to business. He was informed of
the hostile demonstration which awaited
him, and that an English member of Parlia
ment had been sent down especially to head
the mob; but being a man of mettle pooh
poohed the whole affair.
"All bark, sir," he said to Geoffrey, "all
bark and no bite; I'm not afraid of these
people. Why, if they won't bid for the
stuff, I will buy it myself."
"All right," said Geoffrey, "but I advise
vou to lookout. I fancy that the old man
is a rough customer."
Then Geoffrey went back to his dinner.
"You are not going, Mr. Bingham, aro
you?" asked Beatrice in a voice which be
traved her anxiety.
"Oh, yes," he answered, "of course I am.
I would not miss the chance lor words.
Why, Beeoham Bones is going to be there,
the member o! Parliament rho has just done
his four months for inciting to outrage. We
arc old friends; I was at school with him.
Poor fellow! he was mad even in those days,
and I want to chaff him."
"I think that you had far better not go,
Mr. Bingham," said Beatrice; "they are a
very rough set."
"Everybody is not so cowardly as you
are," put in Elizabeth. "I am going at any
rate."
"That's right. Miss Elizabeth," said
Geoffrey. "We will protect-each other from
the revolutionary fury of the mob. Come,
it is time to start."
And so they went, leaving Beatrice a prey
to melancholy forebodings.
She waited in the house for the best part
of an hour, making pretense to play with
Efiie. Then her anxiety got the better of
her. She put on her hat and started, leav
ing Effie in charge of the servant, Betty.
Beatrice walked quickly along the cliff
till she came in sight of the Jones' farm.
Prom where the stood she could make out a
great crowd of men, and even, when the
wind turned toward her, catch the noise of
shouting. Presently she heard a sound like
the report of a gun, saw the crowd break up
in violent confusion, and then cluster to
gether again a dense mass.
"What could it mean?" Beatrice won
dered. As the thought crossed her mind she per
ceived two raen running toward her with all
their speed, followed by a woman. Three
minutes more and she saw that the woman
was Elizabeth.
The men were passing her now.
"What is it?" she cried.
"Murderl" they answered with one voice,
and sped on toward Bryngelly.
Another moment and Elizabeth was at
hand, horror written on her pale face.
Beatrice clutched at her. "Who is it?"
she cried.
"Mr. Bingham," gasped her sister. "Go
and help; he's shot dead!" AnJ she too
was gone.
Beatrice's knees loosened, her tongue
clave to the roof of her mouth; the solid
earth spun round and round. "Geoffrey
killed! Geoffrey killed!" she cried in her
heart; but though her ears seemed to hear
the sound of them, no words came from her
lips. Oh, what should she do? Where
should she hide herself and her grief?
(To be continued next Sunday.')
PITTSBURG- DISPATCH,
WILD DAYSJN ERIN.
The Country Drinking Clubs of the
Nobility a Century Ago.
THROWING DICE FOR HEIRESSES.
Abduction of the Beauties of Eathmeaden
and Iheir Awful Kevenge.
AN ACCOUNT OP A DKIKKISG CONTEST
IWBITTEN FOR TTIK DISPATCn.l
A very wild and reckless generation was
the one which gave nobles and squires to
Ireland toward the close of the last century.
The constitutions of these men must have
been of iron, for they performed feats that
their successors and descendants would
tiembleto attempt. The terrible-Hellfire
clubs with which the country was at that
time filled will live in story as the nursing
places of debauchery and vice. It is the
fashion to rail at the British aristocracy of
the present time; but the wildest scions of
noble houses nowadays are saints compared
to their father3 and grandfathers.
Every county in Ireland had its Hellfire
or Abduction club. In the former, Bac
chus was king. Punch and claret flowed
all night long, and the rattle of the dice
box was never still. In the latter, the
young men drew lots for well-known
heiresses. The winner was assisted by the
whole club in carrying off the young lady of
fortune who had fallen to his share. Every
member of the club was sworn to help the
lucky winner in his abduction of the rich
maiden; and if a marriage was effected the
bridegroom was bound to make a handsome
gift out of his wile's lortune to the club.
On a lonely peak in the Dublin mountains
stands a crumbling edifice of granite. Far
away across two counties this remarkable
object can be clearly discerned. It looks
like some mighty ark, perched upon the
wind-swept summit. This is all that is left
of the once notorious Dublin Hellfire Club.
The walls of the clubhouse are ot tremen
dous thickness. The roof is made of gran
ite, and loopholes served for windows. There
are two stories, and extensive vaults stretch
underground, where once the rarest wines,
cooled among the cobwebs, and many a jar
of illicit "poteen" and Dutch schiedam were
stored.
WHERE NOBILITY GATHERED.
In this lonely house the best blood of Ire
land once met in uproarious carousal, whiie
the winds howled around their mountain
hold and the rain beat upon the lofty roof of
"Hellfire Hall." The members drove twice
a week lrom Dublin to their meeting place
in great drags and lumbering coaches.
Then the clubhouse was lit up, and far
down the valley the quiet peasantry saw its
windows all ablaze, and crossed themselves
in fear. For well they knew the mad devil
try that was about to reign within those
massive walls.
The "session" ofthe Hellfire Club opened
at midnight. Then every member took his
seat, the president Lord Santry, or Colonel
St. Leger, or Mr. Gerald Blanchville be
ing at the head of the lestive board. At the
foot was left a vacant chair. This was lelt
for the devil, whom the president formally
invited to join the revels. It is more than
probable that His Satanic Majesty availed
himself of the polite invitation. When the
devil had been summoned, his health was
proposed and drunk in the best claret, after
which the frolic began. At 6 o'clock in the
morning the "session" was pronounced at
an end, and every member made a low bow
to the place where the devil was supposed to
sit, bidding "auld clootie" goodhy.
When the coaches were brought round,
and with bloodshot eyes and unsteady
hands, the Hellfire lords and gentlemen pre
pared for their great race down hill. Many
Irish roads are steep, but the Montpelier
road, which leads to the'Hcllfiro clubhouse,
is steepest of the steep. At one point it is
almost perpendicular, and its width 90 years
ago barely permitted of two carriages pass
ing one another. Then the ruts and chasms
along its course were positively appalling.
Yet down this Montpelier road the members
ofthe Hellfire Club raced four-horse coaches
every morning after one of their great de
bauches. THE SIAD RACE DOWS HILL.
Helter skelter went the carriages down
the hill. The horses plunged and bounded;
the drags swayed madly from side to side;
the clubmen hallooed and made the echoes
ring with their horn3. Now and again a
coach rolled over, or the horses fell beneath
their load. Then came a series of terrific
collisions. Coaches ran over one another,
or fell back and tumbled, occupants and all,
into the ditch. Very few escaped unhurt,
and half the coaches were utterly destoyeu.
But the Hellfire Club had had its tun, and
what cared it for a few paltry bruises? All
Dublin generally got up early to witness the
returns of the battered heroes to their resi
dences in the gay capital.
The amount of drink consumed by these
dead and gone topers was enormous. "A
16-tumbler" man was but an ordinary
drinker among them. Any one who could
not manage his 1G tumblers of lragrant
punch was considered as unworthy of re
spect. Frequently the Hellfire Club of one
county would challenge ti it of another to a
drinking contest. Champions were then
selected, and the match came off at a fixed
place. An account of a drinking contest
which came off in 1790 between the gentle
men of the counties, Kilkenny and Water
ford, may he interesting. It is copied from
the Leinster Journal of May 12 in that
year.
"At a meeting of the Hellfire Club," says
the Journal, "at Castle Blunden, the resi
dence of Sir John Blunden, M. P., it was
decided to send Lord Galmoy to drink
against Mr. Power, of Gurtane, the cham
pion of County Waterford."
DESCRIPTION OP THE CONTEST.
On the 19th of May the Journal thus
describes the contest: "The champions met
at Curraghmore, the seat of the Maiquis of
Waterlord. Mr. Villiers Stuart, M. P.,
was umpire for Waterford, and Mr. Brenan,
of Eaden Hall, for Kilkenny. The contest
began at 8 o'clock, when the two combatants,
the umpires, Lord Watenord, the reieree,
and a footman, locked themselves up in tin;
library, the referee keeping the keys. After
three hours' hard drinking Mr. Power be
came very tipsy, and be ore midnight he
6auk under the" table. Then Lord Gal
moy, who was quite fresh, after his
20 tumblers, challenged Mr. Brenan, and
drank that gentleman under the table also.
Meanwhile Lord Waterford and Stuart had
drained 26 tumblers, and my lord could
touch no more; so Lord Galmoy and Mr.
Stuart fell to in a fierce contest. Very soon
Mr. Stuart gave in, and he followed his
friends beneath the board. The footman
who bad served the drinks still remained, so
Lord Galmoy challenged him. But the
footman was very thirsty and sober, and my
lord had hard work to overcome him. He
finally did so, however, and, having drunk
the whole company under the table, to the
great honor of Kilkenny, he took the key
from the referee's pocket, unlocked the
door and went to bed."
So ended a contest which in those davs
was considered as important as that of Troy.
The abduction clubs became so common
in Ireland that it needed a very stringent
hand to put them down. The occasion of
their overthrow was as follows: The Leinster
Abduction Club, in which were the thrilt
less younger sons of many old and dis
tinguished families, drew lots lor the two
beautiiul daughters of Mr. Kennedy, of
Rathmeadan Hall, a rich and popular
country 'squire. The two young ladies
were co-heiresses, and would inherit Bath
meadan Hall and a large property. The
winners in the lottery were two young
bloods of ancient race but empty pockets
Captain James Strange and Mr. Gerald
Byrne, nephew of Lord de Tabley. The 107
gentlemen present then "swore on their
swords to assist Strange and Byrne iu carry
ing off the heiresses.
WAYLAID AND CARRIED OIT.
A little while after 'Squire Kennedy and
his daughters drove to a country concert.
SUNDAY, , MARCH 2,
They were waylaid, aud the two girls were
thrown across the saddle-bows o! Byrne and
Strange, while the members of the club
routed Mr. Kennedy's servants. The luck
less heiresses were then couveyed to a shoot
ing lodge of Lord Galmoy's in the moun
tains, where a mock clergyman was ready
to perform the ceremony of marriage. The
girls resisted, and the younger one, Anne
Kennedy, fired a pistol at Strange, shooting
him in the arm. They were, however,
finally persuaded to go through the pre
tended marriage. Meanwhile Mr. Kennedy
had aroused the Government, and it
became necessary to leave the moun
tain hiding-place. With a guard of
20 gentleman, a dash was made by
night across the borders, and toward morn
ing the party reached a small harbor on the
Wexford coast, where a 'fishing vessel was
in readiness to convey them to France.
They put out to sea, hut stress of weather
drove them back, and next morning the boat
was boarded by coast guards and a detach
ment of militia. Strange and Byrne fought
manfully, but they were finally captured
with some ten of their fellow members. They
were tried at Maryborough assizes by the
Lord Chief Baron, who declared that ho was
determined to make an example, and con
demned the two abductors to death. The
ten gentlemen who had been captured with
Byrne and Strange were heavily fined.
IIANGED AMONG TLOWEES.
An effort was made to obtain the pardon
of the two young men. A petition signed
by CO Irish and 21 British peers, together
with nearly a thousand of the gentry was
presented, but withoutavail. CountTaaffe,
Lord Chamberlain of Austria, who was
Strange's cousin, and the Spanish Prime
Minister O'Donnell, who was uncle to
Byrne, interceded with the Lord Lieutenant.
But a pardon was firmly refused, and even
the small mercy claimed by the prisoners of
being shot instead ot hanged was denied
them. They met their doom with the utmost
fortitude on June 10, 1780. The scaflold
was covered with choice llowcrsand wreaths,
sent by the kinfolk and friends of the ill
advised iellows. A rescue was attempted,
but after a sharp skirmish with the military
the rescuers were suppressed and the ring
leaders fined 500 each. Atter this terrible
example the spirit passed away from the
abduction clubs, and they soon afterward
died out altogether. Brenan.
TUN OYER THE W1KES.
An Old Iiady Who Got Her Money's Worth
nnd a Snd Yonns Man.
Youth's Companion.
Telegraph operators with a sense of the
Indicrous sometimes find their dull, every
day routine enlivened by the amusing mes
sages handed in by their customers. An
operator in a small Western town was sit
ting alone in his office, when an old lady
entered who informed him that she wished
to send a message to her daughter.
"How much will it cost?" she asked.
'"Fifty cents for ten words."
"How much for five words?"
"The same. We do not send any mes
sages for les? than 50 cents."
"All I want to say is, "I will come home
to-morrow,' and that will be the same as if
there were ten words, eh?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Well, I may as well have my money's
wutb," she said reflectively. Tnen, holding
up one hand nnd counting the words off on
her fingers, she added, "Johnny cut a
tooth yesterday."
"There," she'said, "yon send that along,
too, to make us even," and with a comrorta
ble sense that she had not been defrauded
by the company, she went on her way.
The operator was of too sympathetic a
nature to be amused over the distress of a
young man who, three minutes after the de
parture of the last train for the day, rushed
up to the window and dashed off the follow
ing message to he sent to a town CO miles
away, addressed to a Mies Something-or-other:
"Have just missed train. Must postpone
ceremony until to-morrow. Would walk
there if I could. Try to be calm."
SETH PAUL'S FUNERAL.
A Itcmarhablo Servlco by Reformed Drank
nr!s Over Ills Remains.
New Yort AVorld.I
Seldom in history have such peculiar
and impressive funeral services taken place
as were those of the late Seth Paul yester
day afternoon at the old Jerry McAuley
mission. No relatives were gathered about
the plain coffin, which rested down in front
by the platform; the services were conducted
by a reformed drunkard; the eulogies and
remarks were made by men who had been
companions in vice of the deceased.
The mourners who crowded the room,
whose eyes were wet with tears and whose
hands went into their pockets and gave
"Brother Paul" Christian burial, were also
reformed drunkards except Rev. Mr. Bow
dish, of the Old John Street Church, who
offered a prayer and read the burial services.
S. H. Hadley, Superintendent of the Mis
sion, related incidents tending to show how
sincere was the conversion of "Brother
Paul." Mr. Lawrence told how, 17 years
ago, before he himself had fallen so low as
to lose friends and home, from which
wretched state this mission had rescued
him, he boarded at a hotel at Riverside, and
that the late Brother Paul was then its pro
prietor. Mr. Paul was night clerk at the Hatfield
House at the time of his death.
ALLISON'S UK-ELECTION.
Futllo Efforts of Town Dcmocrati to Gel Up
Opposition to Illm.
Des Moines Special to Philadelphia Press.
It has been decided to hold the election
for United States Senator on Tuesday,
March 4. A strong effort has been made
by Democratic correspondents to create the
impression abroad that there is some doubt
of Allison's election. There is abso
lutely no ground for doubt whatever. He
will receive every Republican vote in the
Legislature and would receiveadozeu Dem
ocratic votes if they were needed. The talk
of an anti-Allison movement comes entirely
lrom a few soured and uuhappy politicians
who were once Republicans, butarenotnow,
and from some of the more bitter partisans
among Democrats.
Some of the leading Democrats have so
high an opirion of Allison that they prefer
him to any Itcuublican, but the lower grade
of Democrats have been sending out these
blank forms lor petitions asking for the
election of Governor Larrabee instead of
Allison. They are circulated by Democrats
in every county in the State, and come back
bearing Democratic names. If there were
50,000 such petitions as these they would
make no impression upon the Republican
members of the Legislature, for they do not
in any degree represent Republican senti
ment. COAL UNDER LONDON.
A Gcolocicnl Society Proposes to SoIto tho
(lueMlon nt Last.
Newcastle, EnR., Chronlcle.3
Scientific minds are again being exer
cised as to the probable existence of coal
under the metropolis. Great things iu this
direction were expected from a series of
operations carried out some time ago with a
view of obtaining an increased water sup
ply, but the results were rather disappoint
ing. Once more, however, an attempt is,
apparently, about to be made to solve the
problem; and a proposal "has been made by
a fellow of the Geological Society to start a
fund of 2,000 guineas for the purpose of
making experimental borings.
Woodchuek as Appropriate.
Buffalo Courier.
Buffalo is not a romantic name to fasten
on a war ship. In most ports it will be
supposed that she is named after a beast,
and it will be wondered if there are com
panion ships named Bear, Moose and
Woodchuek. How did this city come to be
named Buffalo, anyhow? Onr forefathers
must have been very short of names?
1890. .
SITTING THE SADDLE.
Great Men of Washington Who Bave
Kerve Enough to Chase Foxes.
BATKE AN ENTHUSIASTIC RIDER.
Jere Eusk as Picturesque on Horseback as
Joe Cannon is Unique.
A FAD WITH FASHIONABLE LADIES
ICOBBESrOJTDENCX OF TniC DISPATCH. I
Washington, March 1.
THIS open winter
has been exception
ally fine for Washing
ton horsemen. There
has hardly been a day
when they could not
ride out to take their
daily constitutional
on smooth-shod horses.
As Henry Cabot
most enthusiastic
Lodge, one of the
horsemen at the cap-
ital, said the other day,
an "all winter October.'
it has been
Fox hunt-
ing, it it had been fashionable in winter
months, might have been pursued just as
well as during the autumn.
Three years ago there was hardly a score of
horsemen in Washington; now the fad has
run to such a length that there are perhaps
as many as 500 thoroughbred riding horses
that are used for nothing except the pigskin.
The craze for horsemanship came in with
the Cleveland administration. Secretary
Whitney, whoi3an exceptionally fine horse
man, kept quite a stable of thoroughbreds,
and Mr. Greger, of the Russian Legation,
made it fashionable to attend the cross
country fox hunt which usually wound up
with a dinner or a luncheon at the Whitney
country seat, Grassland. Nearly all of the
members ofthe Cleveland Cabinet were fine
riders, although they did not join in the
fashionable fox hunt. Mr. Cleveland never
trusted himself to the pigskin, and it was
owing to his opposition and positive ob
jection that Mrs. Cleveland was never seen
in riding habit in full course after the
hounds.
BIDEBS OP THIS ADMI2TISTEATIOX.
The present Administration contains sev
eral good horsemen. General Harrison
himself rides now and then on his large,
rangey, shiny bay horse, which he bought
before coming to Washington last year.
Mr. Blaine does not ride, takiDg his outdoor
Hon. Tom Bavne Afield.
exercise mainly by walking or riding with
Mrs. Blaine in his pretty little landau.
General Tracy, now and then, is seen riding
in a very statelv, old-fashioned way on a
superb thoroughbred, which he brought
from his New York farm to Washington.
Occasionally Postmaster General Wana
makcr is seen riding a beautiiul, fleet,
mouse-colored mare, and Secretary Noble is
quite otten ont on a fine bay.
Uncle Jerry Rusk, however, of the Agri
cultural Department, is the horseman ofthe
administration; he rides a tall, long-legged
sorrel and make3 a very fine appearance
with his long snowy beard and his piercing
black eyes, running and loning about in
the country roads surrounding the capital.
Attorney General Miller seems never to
have time to take a horseback ride and Sec
retary Proctor seems not to have the inclina
tion. Colonel Halford has lately taken to
the saddle and rides the President's horse.
A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO BIDE.
Around Washington is one of the most
delightful and picturesque pirk regions to
be found in this country. It resembles very
much the interior scenery of England, be
ing diversified by groves of large, old trees
and broken up by streams that come tum
bling down over the rocks through vallevs
that abound in hiding places for real wild
foxes. Through the woods the chase be
comes very exciting, and the dogs and horses
enter heartily into the sport. It takes a
good horseman to thread these thickets and
precipitous rocky defiles. So there is some
honor in taking the brush at a Washington
fox hunt.
During Lent the horsemen are promising
themselves a great many delightful event".
A series of hunts win be followed which
will be equal to anythirg hitherto enjoyed.
One of the foremost spirits in all this eques
trian sport is the voung Congressman from
Massachusetts, Henry Cabot Lodge, who
rides like a Centaur. His handsome, athletic
figure looks superb on horseback, and he
rides in a most spirited way. He took the
brush in one of the most exciting chases two
years ago, aud had hardly time to allow the
blue ribbon to be pinned upon his lappel be
fore he was arrested by the Sergeant at
Arms under a call of the House, and
obliged to retire from the field.
BAYSE A SUTEKB HORSEMAN'.
Almost a enthusiastic as Mr. Lodge is
the Hon. Thomas M. Bayne, the Pittsburg
Congressman, who loves a horse as he does
his duty. He has a hne stable, and may be
seen odt any afternoon after the adjournment
ofthe House either driving or riding. He
is a superb horseman, sitting his animal
fairly and as if he was p3rt of him, never
fearing the highest fence nor the broadest
ditch. Congressman Hitt, of Illinois, also
keeps a fine stable, having seven superb
thoroughbreds fitted mainly to his own taste
and notions of ridinc, and at the same time
suited also to Mrs. Hitt, who is one of the
most dashing and fearless of the lady riders
at the capital.
Senator Spooner and his wife are daily
riders. Two years aso Senator Spooner sent
to Kentucky by Joe Blackburn and bought
a fine black riding horse for himself, and a
few weeks later obtained anrthcr for Mrs.
Spooner. The two have been enthusiastic
riders ever since their marriage 20 years
ago. The Senator, who is noted for his
mental rather than his physical stature,
looks as well on a horse as'Napoleon did.
THE LAND OP THOBOUGHBREDS.
Senator Blackburn and Senator Beck, who
come from the land of thoroughbreds, are
both good riders. They Keep fine horses
brought from Kentucky, and exercise them
daily. Blackburn is a fine-looking man on
a horse, and a most enthusiastic lover of the
sport. Senator Beck, since his ill-health,
has not been out as much as he formerly
was. Librarian Spofford used to be seen
riding his big, long-legged bay horse, witk
his market basket on his arm, almost every
morning. It has been some time since he
and Historian Bancroft have made their
rides together, Mr. Bancroft's failing health
making it necessary for him to refrain from
his fond diversion.
Senator Edmunds is another well-known
rider in Washington. He surmounts a
very tall chestnut and is not given to very
fast riding, but looks well on horseback and
evidently enjoys the spcrt. His daughter
used to be his almost inseparable companion
with him.
ONE-LEGGED EIDERS.
The South Carolina Senators, Wade
Hampton and Senator Butler, although
they have but one pair of less between
them, are habitual horsemen. Zeb Vance,
of North Carolina, used to be verjjfondof
riding about Washington and now rides
summers when he goes home to North Caro
lina, but his eyes have given him so much
trouble during the list few years that he
has not gone out on a horse. His colleague,
Senator Ransom, however, is an enthusi
astic rider.
Vice President Morton makes a very fine
appearance on a horse and is seen riding
occasionally with his three daughters. The
fffm
o a
Henry Cabot Lodge in the Saddle.
picture is a very Dretty one. the lather aud
three very womanly little riders. Another
family picture of horsemanship, and one
that will be remembered a long while by
anyone who has seen it, is that of ex
Congressman Van Manning, of Mississippi,
and lm six children, most of them little
girls, out together cantering along a country
road. Mr. Manning owns a farm out a few
miles from Washington, and breeds fine
horses, so that he h.is'no difficulty in sup
plying his numerous family with hne
animals.
A UNIQUE EIDER.
The most unique rider in Washington i3
probably, since the departure of Dr. Yow,
of the Chinese Legation, the Hon. J. G.
Cannon, of Illinois, who takes daily rides.
His charger is n cood, steady, honest, big
boned hay and the Hon. Joe rides, if not ex
actly like a Centaur, with a great deal of
spirit and purpose. His arms have a ten
dency to go akimbo and flap like the wings
of the great American eagle, nnd thelilinois
Congressman looks very much like the old
fashioned rider that used to make the
rounds of the log churches in the Sucker
State.
The most numerous class of riders, how
ever, in Washington are noi Congressmen
nor Senators, but members of the guild of
society, scientific men and military men.
Major Powell, the head of the Geological
Survey aud an old army man, i3 one ofthe
best riders in the city, although he has but
one arm. All the army men have their own
horses and are to be seen almost any day out
upon them. General Schofield likes to ride
and his small, rich mahogany bay horse is
his favorite.
BIDING SCHOOLS POPULAB.
The Washington Riding School, one of
the largest in the country, which was built
two years ago by Mr. J. D. Brown, has
proved a very handsome investment. Any
one who wants to see the notable people of
the country can find them there almost any
time.
The number of ladies in Washington who
keep their own stables and ride out every
day with their grooms is now beyond count
ing. With them it has come to be a society
fad to which there is no stop orending. This
Mr. Hilt After the Hounds.
results in health and strength. No city in
the North can afford such almost continual
opportunity for riding as Washington, and
this undoubtedly is a reason which leads
many wealthy people in looking about for a
home in their years of retirement from busi
ness to come to Washington and spend the
rest ot their days.
Julius A. Tbuesdell.
FORTUNES OF RICH SEN.
A Genial Old Grnllcman Who Knows All
About the Antor Estate.
New Tort Star.:
Probably one of the most trying and ar
duous positions a man can hold is to be con
fidential aid and general manager for a
millionaire whose estate amounts to $j0,000,-
000 or more. I had a chat yesterday with
Abner Bartlett, a genial, astute old gentle
man who probably knows more about the
value of the estates of the rich men of New
York than any other man. Mr. Bartlett
has for many years mannged the landed
property of the late John Jacob Astor. It
was MrJ Bartlett the richest man iu America
always consulted when about to make a
purchase, and it was Mr. Bartlett who
looked alter the hundreds of buildings and
acres of city lots owned by Mr. Astor. In
speaking ot the value of millionaires' es
tates, Mr. Bartlett said that the majority of
estimates were simply ridiculous.
"Take the Stewart estate, for instance,
said he. When an appraisement was made
on the city property I was called in. It
bad been estimated by the newspapers that
the property was worth all the way from
$75,000,000 to 5100,000,000. I looked into
the matter carefully and pnt the amount at
?25,000,000, and as it aiterward turned out
1 was correct in my estimate."
From several gentlemen who have been in
a position to estimate on Mr. Astor' wealth
in an intelligent manner it is believed that
John Jacob Astor left $100,000,000, whion
is inherited by his son, William Waldorf.
v
STATIONS IS LIFE.:.
Oliver Optic's Advice to Boys on
Choosing a Profession.
INDUSTRIAL PUESDITSARE BEST.'
ITo Reason Why the Jlechunic Should Sot
Stand High in Society.
CHANCE DSTEE3IIXES OCCUPATIONS.
IWEITTET TOE THE DISPATCH.l
In our plastic language certain words
have come to include a great deal more than
their original significance would warrant,
and "profession" is one of them, and "occu
pation" would often express what is meant
by it. When we speak of young men start
ing out in life and selecting a calling by
which tbey are to earn their daily bread, we
are very apt to call it a profession if its na
ture is not yet settled. IF the business
chosen is mechanical, agricultural or mer
cantile, it cannot properly be called a "pro
fession." Formerly the term was applied
only to the three learned professions, though
the word now includes a number of other
callings, such as teachins and others requir
ing the exercise of great mental ability. We
u u the term rather indefinitely when we
aik what a young man intends to do for a
I ving.
This is doubtless a very important ques
tion, though it oftencr settles itself than it
becomes the result of careful consideration.
I will venture to say that iu more than half
the cases of boys seeking an occupation the
circumstances rather than actual choice are
responsible for the selection. Even in this
country, where occupation is suDpoaed to
be abundant, the boy who is trying to find
a place discovers that it is a matter of no
little difficulty to get one. His family
needs the 3 or 5-1 a week he earns and he
has to take the firt place he can fiv-1 that
will yield him this pittance. He makes a
beginning without either" his parents or
himself having selected his occupation.
MECHANICS OR COUNTEE JUMPERS.
I wish that more boys were disposed to be
come mechanics, farmers and generally to
seek a subsistence in industrial pursuits, for,
with a taste for such callings, I believe they
would be more independent and more suc
cessinl as "bread winners." Unfortunately
many of them get the idea that it is more
genteel to measure off tape behind a counter
than it is to wield a sledge-hammer or shove
a foreplane. As a counter-jumper he can
keep lm hands white and clean, stand in the
nresence of ladies and dress himself like a
swell, though he may be a modest and sim
ple gentleman in thi3 occupatica-as well as
in any other.
We have been pleased to observe to what
an extent places of this kind are filled in
late j ears by women, to whom they seem
more properly to belong. If any boy, with
such information as hecan obtain in his own
locality, will take his slate and pencil and
figure up the compensation cf mechanics
and salesmen in drygoods stores, he will
have some material to guide him in choosing
a profession. Ot course, he mnst include in
his calculations the cost of clothing for a
nice young man behind a connter in a store
frequented by ladies and one in a machine
or carpenter's shop. He mnst consider the
more expensive tastes and habits of the
former as compared with the latter.
In making this examination into the pros
pects the future may hold out to him, the
young man cannot avoid, it he would, being
greatly influenced by the repute in which
these occupations are held in his community,
the social attractions which one may pre
sent and the other may not, and especially
the chances held out to him for future ad
vancement each may offer.
THE SOCIAL PAET Or IT.
There is no good reason why the mechaniO
should not play the piano or the banjo if he
is so inclined none why he should not keep
himself clean and respectable and go into -society;
none why the doors of mansions
should not open as wide to him as to the
salesman in a store. If the daughters of
Squire Tinsel look down upon a mechanic
and smile upon a counter-jumper, the
former may console himself that he is no
loser by the preference, and that he may
save the money the latter expends upon
concert tickets and carriages.
Not more than one in a hundred of these
retail salesmen will make anv great ad
vancement in his business. There is not
room enough for more than that proportion
of them at the top of the ladder. The
chances for boys entering wholesale houses
are better.
The taste and even the iancy of a boy
ought to be consulted before he is planted in
any occupation, if the circumstances will
permit, as they will not always. In later
years there is a tendency to establish me
chanical schools in the large cities, and
they ought to bs encouraged to a much
greater extent than at the present time.
P.EAL USE OF MECHANICAL SCHOOLS.
Some boys manifest a very decided me
chanical bent at an early age, and others, so
far as can be ascertained, have not the slight
est inclination in that direction. It can
hardly be expected that such schools will
turn out finished mechanics, but they will
render incalculable service in giving their
pupils the skill to do such- small jobs 03
every man ought to be able to do. But tho
greater service they will render is in testing
the fitness of their scholars tor mechanical
occupations.
Iftheboyis to learn a trade it is cer
tainly best to let him choose it for himself.
He ought to be carefully and wisely coun
seled. Not many boys have the stability ia
their undeveloped year, or the knowledge
of the ways of the world to make a suitable
choice of a cailiug. Young peoDle ought to
be able to see this for themselves and ask
advice of those who are more experienced
than themselves. A young man may be
tickled by the eloquence of a lawyer and
decide to'become one himself, with little or
no knowledge ofthe duties and trials ofthe
profession. I have known of hundreds of
young men and young women who have
made up their minds to become authors.
EABLY TANCIE3 NOT TO BE rOLLOTVED.
It is only a fancy, for some of 'ihem can
not spell common words correctly, and they
are utterly ignorant of the struggles which
the calling generally involves. I am in
clined to believe that those who set out early
to become authors seldom end in being such.
In very many cases a young man will-find
that he has mistaken his calling; but be bas
not for this reason necessarily v wasted his
time in seeking what proved not to be avail
able to him.
Within reasonable limits it is not wise for
a yonng man to change his occupation. Un
less for the very strongest reason, and with
the advice of competent counsellors, he had
better stick to his occupation, even if it is
not entirely pleasant to him. What is not
agreeable to-day may be so to-morrow.
Olivee Optic.
YICTOKIA'S SIGNaTUBE.
Tbe Qaecti Better Off That Gcorso IV,
Who Had to Use a &:ainp.
New York Star.:
James Burbank, an ex-member of the t
Canadian Parliament, is at the Hoffman
House. He told many interesting facts ..?
about the Queen's signature. v sty
"The Queen's signature to State docu-fcjj-
ments," said he, "is still a model of firm-
ness and legibility, no sign of Her Majesty's i ,
advanced age being dicernib!e in the boldly
written Victoria K.' which she attaches to? , ZA
such papers as have to bear the royal auuAf T5
graph. The question of the signing';: of '
State documents in England by tho Sot- J
creigu became one of great importance In
the last months of George IV's reign. Dur-
ing this period His Majesty was in such a "
debilitated state that the writing ot numer
ous autographs was an impossibility, and -'
under these circumstances a short bill was
hurriedly passed through Parliament an- I
thoriziug the King to affix a fac-simile of . '
his antftfrTflnh hvmpans nfftn inb-ail atamn." "
J3
amimm- u..j-.l -j.ij i i . , . -rt B "TfS1 it I I m'i'.i ii , 'P-rnrM t ifciiiiiiM mm 1 1 i n iw ill ill til n ! n i i I ib 1 i .1 i " I li I it i ii 1 )r -J ----JJBr'f iT ""l ' -UB3H IXMBKBKJXHfff l BpTBIBJfBPtj-fffTiJ'jf'MWffslrTiTWlwTWrnW