CHAPTER IV.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 9, 28 February 1901, Page 23

CHAPTER IV.

In tho priest's room of Carra Castle a little group was assembled on tho Eve of Christmas. Humphrey and Dame Honora were there, and Una, too, kneeling beside a stalwart youth whose dark he^d was bowed in prayer. Standing before the improvised altar was Father Donogh Heggerty — no longer a miserable mendicant — but the venerable minister of God, clad in his sacred vestments,

with hand uplifted to give the blessing of the Midnight Mass. When it was over, Una and the tall youth approached and knelt together at his feet. Then above the two young heads — the brown and the blacK — the old priest murmured slowly the words of the marriage service. Una's silvery response came like a whisper, but Con O'Hanlon's deep voice echoed through the room, while from her place beside the fair bride Dame Honora's sobs mingled with the wild soughing of the wind outside. ' 'Tis a wild night for your journey,' said Humphrey to the bridegroom, when their congratulations had been bestowed upon the wedded pair. • The wilder the better,' he replied. ' Few will care to be about, and though I flinch not at fightiner. T had rather not leave my bride for the battle on our wedding-day.' 1 How came you to be so late ? ' Humphrey queried. 'We had almost given up hope of a Midnight Mass when your whistle sounded.' 'It was a terrible journey through the snow,' answered O'Hanlon ; ' and our horses could hardly make their way. A terrible journey, indeed, and full of sad sights. Men, women, and children were lying in the fields and on the roadsides, starved and frozen to death. Death was with us everywhere, and when we came to the river the dead too were on its banks.' ' The curee of Cromwell is all over the land,' said the priest sorrowfully. ' And when we reached the crossing-place there was no ford to be seen,' continued O'Hanlon ; ' the water was frozen over. So we crossed on foot, and my men remain beyond at the entrance to the secret paisage, where I placed them lest there should be a surprise. Una I may thank for my knowledge of the place, since she first Bhowed it to me in our childhood' ' That is well,' said Humphrey. • And on the opposite bank my cousin Remy waits with a Btrong force of his men, so if this Piers who, it seems, you dread, should come a-hunting he may find himself the quarry instead of the hunter.' Just then through the storm the loud rattle of horses' feet was heard in the courtyard and the command to halt given in authoritative tones. All bent their heads to listen. I Piers !' cried Humphrey, straightening himself with a start. ' Piers,' murmured Dame Honora, making the Sign of the Cross. • He has tracked you here.' ' Have no fear, pulse of my heart,' whispered Con O'Hanlon, drawing Una into his arms and kissing her trembling lips. ' Remy is at hand and he can hold his own. We must slip down the secret stair, and I shall give him the call across the water.' He lifted her to bear her away but she stopped him, I 1 cannot leave my dear friends behind,' she said. 'My more than mother and my kind guardian. How could Igo in peace and they in danger ? They must come with us.' Dame Honora gazed at Humphrey with tears in her eyes. ' She is all we have,' she murmured. 'Then let us go, wife,' Humphrey replied. Down the passage they made their way cautiously, and at length felt the cold air blowing upon their faces as they neated the entrance. The snow had drifted in between the screening brambles until it made a white carpet under foot, Bidding them stay in a sheltered niche, Con crawled out into the open, first giving a low whistle which was only heard by his men crouched among the trees. They were around him in an instant, pointing towards the tower. When he looked in that direction h6 saw a sudden tongue of flame shoot up, then another. ' The hell-hounds,' he cried. ' They are setting it on fire.' Then clear, shrill, far-reaching through the night air went the cry of a plover. The Puritans at their congenial task heard ib not, but Remy the Rapparee on the further bank had keener ears and he knew his cousin Con had need of him. Over the ice-bound river he and his kerns stole noiselessly and unseen, for the Bky was dark without moon or stars. The crackling of the flames deadened their footfalls over the rough ground, and then — ' O'Hanlon abu ! abu !' That wijd shout made the enemy turn quickly, hand to sword. But it was easy to see they were outnumbered as the mountaia men swooped down on them with battleaxe and spear. One trooper fell, then another, and another, as if a blight had struck them, so Buddenly and surely did retaliation overtake their evil work. Then by the leaping glare Con saw one man who fought like a lion — a fair, ruddy man of middle height. 'This is my prey, the wolf -hunter,' he cried, as he dashed through the suooke and faced him. ' O'Hanlon abu 1' Piers turned, not unwilling to try issues with a fresh adversary. They hacked at each other with deadly skill, sHpping on the icy ground, now nearly in handH-grips, again drawing far apart to take fresh breath. At last O'llanlou'a sinewy hardiness and great height told, for, reaching over the guard of the other, he ran him through below the shoulder. A strangled sob broke in Piers's throat as he reeled and fell heavily. He lifted himself on his elbow, while the blood oozed forth from the wound, and gasped : ' Thin is my last— my last.' The words stuck. Then ' Who are you ?' h e whispered. ' One who was in time to save the innocent from your hellish plot.' ' Are you the other, my rival ? Mistress Una's lover ?' ' I am her husband.' 'Curse her — and you. She scornel me. . . . They all scorned me. And I tracked the priest. Curse you ! It had been a fine sport but for you. Curpe ' His head fell backwards, and Captain Piers had gone to his account.

Early in January a ship sailed from the Bay of Carlingford. It ,was a Spanish ship, bound for Lisbon, and on board were many poor fugitives from Irish plains and valleys, who crowded the decks to look their last upon the land of their love and sorrow. Una aud her husband stood together, hand in hand, and near by Humphrey Bedingfield and Dame Honora gazed Badly at the receding shore. When the blue peaks of Mourne were fading into the greyness of the wintry day, they knelt down and prayed fervently that God might lift her heavy burden of woe from poor Ireland, and grant her children once more peace and happiness on the soil that gave them birth.

Father Donogh Heggerty did not accompany the others to Spain. He remained to do his Master's bidding among the poor and needy of his Faith, and the State Papers of that day tell of his consequent imprisonment and execution in the Gaol of Clonmel.— Catholic Fireside.