The Argosy — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

2.28 Faithful unto Death. The flame of half a dozen torches threw a lurid and uncertain light over the restless crowd. More than half of the men’s faces were blackened, and many of them carried bludgeons. I could not be sure whether there were any firearms, but fancied I could distinguish the gleam of a gun barrel here and there in the torch light. ‘¢ What do you all want ?” I called out as loudly as I could. “‘ My husband is not here. Why do you come in this way and frighten us defenceless women in the middle of the night ?” ‘Shure we know that,” cried a harsh voice out of the crowd. ‘‘ We know the captain is away on the divil’s business; but we owe him one for shooting Pat Henessy, and we’re going to take it out of you in revenge. Come out here till we talk to ye.” ‘Oh, mistress,” cried Nelly, ‘‘shut down the window or they’ll shoot you.” Seeing I was doing no good by talking to them, I closed and fastened the window, and retired with Nelly inside the room. ‘‘ What are we to do now?” I whispered. ‘There is only one thing, ma’am: I must creep out and go across to the barracks and bring the sojers. Keep a good heart, mistress, dear, and I'll be back in no time. Ill go mght across the stream, and sure it’s less than a mile. Put me out at the drawing-room window, through the glass room where the flowers do be, and ye’ll ‘fasten it up again safe, and sure no one will know anything till I get back.” I went down stairs with her quietly and without a light, softly opened the window into the conservatory and let her out. “Tis little my life will be worth if they catch a sight of me,” said she, ‘but ’tis our only chance, and I promised the master I would take care of ye. May the blessed Virgin protect me! Good-bye, mistress, dear. Ye'll tell the master I did my best, if so be as they catch me.” Before she passed through the outer door she turned to me and whispered : ‘f Don’t put too much trust in Mrs. O’Shea, ma’am; I wouldn't.” ‘What do you mean, Nelly?” I said. ‘‘ Why can’t she be trusted ?” ‘ T wouldn’t trust none who has a son among them moonlighters.” And then she passed into the darkness. Luckily she had on a dark dress, and was hardly visible in the gloom of the night. I fastened up the door and window securely, and went back into the house trembling with fear. Nelly’s last words had frightened me more than anything else. I had now absolutely no one to trust to for protection, or even counsel. The next half hour was a time of agony. Every moment I fancied the ruffians outside were about to break into the house. They might have done so at any minute, but fortunately for me I had friends even among that crowd. I overheard a few words which showed me that there was disagreement amongst them. CONMICOOOKS. ©