Young Briton, No. 422 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

August 4, 1877.. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL, 91 rr? _O ON SESS CCOCOCrCOTCr OOl™"”:_—OOO _eeeeeeee ‘show true it is we all have our secret miseries ! Who would think that the wife of Lord Seaforth was such an unhappy woman ag I!”’ ‘¢ Not a sowl, yer ladyship,”’ replied Andy, in an emphatic tone; “‘not a sowl, I’m thinkin’.”’ The good-natured fellow was as sober asa judge by now, his recent wonder and excitement having di:pelled all effects of Pat O’Gorman’s todd y. Therefore he was not quite 20 talkative as he had baen. ; ia ag he drove aloag, he thought a good eal. Nor did he cease to think as he turned his steps homeward that night. ‘ Bezorra, it’s all a gfoat big mysthery,”’ muttered he ; “but sure I’m in luck’s way, for hasn’t me lady promised I shall pay no more rint ef I only hou’d me tongue. Andy O'Byrne will be afther doin’ that same at the price, I’m think- in’, ef for no other raison, Hurroo, now !”’ Had Andy only known who the man was of whom her ladyship went in such fear, he would probably have been still more puzzled. - Could it be that Lady Seaforth had mixed herself up with a gang of smugglers? Surely not. Yet appearances were against her. For the man was none other than the smuggler captain, Walter Beverley ? Verily, as Andy declared, it was alla ‘* great big mysthery.”” = # CHAPTER XIV. LADY SEAFORTH TAKES OUR HERO IN HAND, AND PROMISES TO MAKE ‘‘ A @REAT MAN OF HIM.”’ As Shadrach, followed by Stephen, entered the hué, the young girl gave a little ery of surprise. ‘*You here!” exclaimed she, ia pleasei tones, holding out her hand. Then she started. ‘¢ Why—why, what’s the matter ?’ she asked, observing tbe lad’s pale and wretched appear- ance, ‘* Are you ill ?’” The entrance of our hero had been the signal for the old soldier and Jackson to cease hostili- ties, and ere he could reply both of them came up to bim. Very different, however, was the expression of their countenances. The soldier looked simply curious, Jackson, on the other hand, was flushed with anger. Placing his hand roughly on Shadrach’s shoulder, he asked— ‘‘ Who, boy, told you to come here? Goback to your father immediately. Do you hear ?”’ ‘“‘ Plain enough, sor!’ returned our hero, re- turning the man’s angry glanco, ‘' plain enough, sor. Batsure I’ll be sfther doing nothing ov the kind.” “ Do- not hurt him!” broke in the young lady, pleadingly. ‘I myself told him to come Lere, Sir Peter. The brave boy saved me from being drowned yesterday.’’ ‘Saved you from beiog drowned! ”’ ejaculated Sir Peter, alias Jackson, starting violently. ‘* Tell me—how ?” The young lady did so, and as she proceeded ever and anon cast a pitying glance at our hero. Sir Peter bit his lips. ‘¢ Ho—ho ! that’s it, is {t ? ’’ cried he. Then, turning to Shadracb, he continued, sneeringly— “Traly, you are a gallant young fellow! Dennis O’Conuzor ought to feel proud of having such @ son.” ‘‘Sure, Sir Peter, or Mr. Jackson, or whativir ye may like call yerself, Dennis O’Connor’s no father ov mine at all, at all,’’ returned our hero boldly and provokingly, for he felt that he had an enemy to deal with. Sir Peter winced. Instead, however, of taking any further notice of Shadrach, he looked towards the young mite who was guzing at him inquiringly, and said— ‘‘Ah!I gee, Alico, you are bewildered. You think it strange that I should know this boy— your rescuer; but that’s easily explained. His father has been collecting some curious sea- shells for me, and as I did not care about him knowing precisely who I was, I bade him call me Jackson.”’ The explanation was a lame one. tz It was lamely expressed, too. Shadrach, for one, instinctively felt that it was not true. Here, then, was another mystery. Having no cause for suspicion, the girl, how- ever, scemed perfectly satisfied. “JT am glad you know him,” ste said, in a low eweet voice, ‘‘ for now I shall ask you to use your inflaence with mamma to reward him generonsly. At the risk of his own life he saved mine, you know, and I shall never forgot it.”’ Then, in a tone of deep concern, she con- tinued— ‘¢But tell me, Master— Master O’Oonnor, are you not ill? Have you not met wita some accident? How white you are! Why, I de- clare there is blood on your clothes! What has taken place—what has taken place, poor boy?” “Faith, a grate dalo, me—me——”’ : “ Oall me Lady Alice,’’ put in the young girl, seeing that our hero was at a lors how to address her. ; “A great dale, Lady Alice, yemust know——” And, with difficulty, for he was growing weaker and weaker from fatigue and for want of food, Shadrach narrated all the incidents that had taken place since he had saved her life. Lady Alico listened with breathless interest. More than once an exclamation of pity escaped her. But on Sir Peter the recital had a more start- ling effect. Had any one been closely watching him, he could not fail to have been struck with the strangeness of his manner. He frowned, he clutched his fingers nervously, he paced slowly up and down, but all the time he lost not one word of what our hero ssid. Especially excited was he when Shadrach re- peated the dying woman’s words. So excited, in fact, that tho lad suddenly stopped, and looked at him in wonder. ‘ What’s the matter, sor?” asked he. Sir Peter did not deign to answer. He merely said, ‘Go on, boy—go on,” and then fell to biting his lips till the blood nearly came. Up to now Stephen had been silent, and had kept in the background. But as Shadrach ceased his strange story, he gave vent to a ery of pain, and fell down in- sensible, Lady Alice was bending over him the next mo- ment, ‘‘ How thoughtless of me—how thoughtless of me. to be sure!” she exclaimed, remoreefully. “T might have known that you both needed rest after your terrible trial.” ‘ Sure, Lady Alice,’’ re‘urned our hero, “* it’s both food and slape we want.’’ * You shall have them at once,’’ said the beau- tiful young girl. ‘‘ Ha, see! he is recovering.” This was 80. Stephen’s eyes were slowly opening, and very soon he was on his feet again. It was only a sudden faintness that had come over him. The old soldier now spoke. ‘‘Had not we better see the two poor boys to the castle, Alice ?’’ asked he. ‘¢ Yes, yes, Captain Dagnell,’’ responded the girl, hastily. ‘ Don’t let us lose another mo- ment—that is,”’ she added, roguishly, ‘‘ if you and Sir Peter have had your quarrel out. ow foolish it is of you both to come to such high | words! . And then to proceed to blows, too! Really, it is shocking. I do wish you could manage to be friends.” The lame warrior shrugged his shoulders, | while Sir Peter cast at hima glance of defiance. ‘i é paige | I am much afraid, Alice,” remarked the have turned up at the castle. I must look to it, latter, with a frown, ‘‘ that we are not likely to teke your advice, Oapiaiw Dagnell seems to de- light in thwarting mein everything. J shall have to speak to Lord Seaforth about it when he returns.”’ “Speak as much as you like,’’ muttered the Captain, gruffly. ‘I shall also have some- thing to say to him.”’ ‘‘No more—no more, I pray you, uncles! ”’ broke in the young girl. Then, smiling, she added— | ‘‘ But come—come to the Castle, brave boys. We will all go together.’’ The maneion was, soon reached, when Shad- your real parents, then?” by fair means, if possible; if not, by foul rach and Stephen did ample justice, you may guess, to the substantial meal that was imme- diately put before them. Immediately afterwards they retired to rest. It was afternoon. ere they awoke, when they found fresh clothes-ia the.place of their old \ ones. “ Begorra,’” ejaculated our hero, ‘I felt cer- tain sure the fine young Jady would be afther trating us kindly, sgrah—tI was certain sure of it. ‘What a pretty girl she is!’’ responded Stephen ; “and she’s as good as she is pretty, I’ll wager.’’ : When they went downstairs they found Lady Seaforth, with Sir Peter and her daughter, in the noble dining -room, Most cordially did her ladyship receive them. ‘‘ Addressing Shadrach, she said— ‘¢You are a brave, brave boy, and I will make a great man of you.” Then she gave a lfttle start, and paused. “What did you say his namo was, Alice? ”’ ahe asked. ‘¢Shadrach O’Oonnor,”’ was the response. ng Shadrach O’Connor?’’ repeated her lady- ship. “‘ Yis, me lady,’’ put in our hero—“ that’s the name I go by ; but, sure, I don’t think it’s me rale wan.” Her ladyship glanced at him quickly. ‘‘ What do you mean, my boy?” qaeried she. ‘Well, axing yer ladyship’s pardon,” replied Shadrach, promptly, ‘‘I'don’t think it was the name of ayther me father or mother, but they call me afther wan O’Connor, who says he’s me father, though I don’: belave a word ov it.”’ Lady Seaforth seemed to take unusual interest in the lad’s auswers. “But don’t you remember anything about she asked once more, ‘¢No, me lady.’’ ‘‘ That is strange. How old are you?’ ‘¢ Rifteen, I’m tould.” Tae reply brought a flush to her ladyship’s fair ace. ‘¢ Rifteen ? Why ? ; She stopped as she met Sir Poter’s eye. Then, in a kindly, yet less interested tone, she went on— ‘Well, woll, Shadrach, whatever may be your parentage, rest assured you have got a friend in me, a8 has your companion here,’’ pointing to Stephen. } ‘‘Jt’s mighty kind ye are, me lady,’’ said Shadrach. “Very, very kind,” ejaculated Stephen, taking up the burden of thanks. ‘‘No thanks, no thanks,” interrupted Lady Seaforth. And then they fell to talking as to the lads’ future careers, Lady Seaforth determining to educate them at her own expense. ‘¢ As forthe smugglers,” added she, ‘‘ informa- tion must at once be given to the police and excise concerning them. Sir Peter,” she went on, ‘‘T yely on you to do this, though, doubtless, itis dow too late to make any arreats.”’ Sir Peter bowed. ‘‘T will go immediately,’ he said, leaving the room. | And a few moments afterwards he set out from the castle. There was an evil look on his countenance that boded no good to some one, That some one was evidently our hero Shad- rach. For as he walked moodily along he mut- tered— “Wiends and furies! to think that he should or all that I have been striving for for years will be spoilt. Yes, I rust get bim out of the way— 17? . (To be continued. Commenced in Wo. 417.) A MAN was saying in company that he had seen a juggler place aladder, in open ground, upon one end, mount it by passing through the counds, and stand upon the top erect. Another, who was present, said he had no doubt of it, as he had seen a man who had done the same thing, but with the addition, that when he arrived at the top he pulled the ladder up after him EONNICLOOO G <S7iGo