Another Fenian Outrage:

ANOTHER FENIAN OUTRAGE :

§> 8 wilt of lljc hnus . { Reprinted from the South Durham & Cleveland Mercury . ) BY BKO . giSjtg EMRA HOLMES , 31 ° , ., ETC ., Autlwrof "Mabel , " " Ernest Wake , " " Hopelessly , " "ThePatli of Life : an Allegory , " ' •Waiting for Iter , " . be . ; and SUB-EDITOR "U NIVERSAL MASONIC C ALENDAR . "

CHAPTER IV . —CONTINUED . THE LOVERS . —" ANOTHER FENIAN OUTRAGE . " Poor fellow ! he did not speak , perhaps , so well as your fine novelist would wish ; but yet he touched fair Maggie ' s heart , and that was enough ; and as

there fell bright , happy tears from her kind eyes , he knew he was accepted . They walked arm-in-arm to the station , and there waited for the up mail , which was to take him back to Staffordshire . The trains usually meet at Barton station , by some happy arrangement ,

all but the down express from London , which was due at half-past eight , and which had not come in when they found their way upon the platform . There is no bridge connecting the up and dowu platforms at this station , and passengers have to cross the line to get into the train on the up side .

" Make haste across , please , the station-master is heard to say sharply ; "the up mail is coming . " Our hero and heroine hurry oyer , only just iu time , as the train conies up . A hurried adieu , and Mayduke just raises her hand to his lips as any old cavalier might have

done ; a ringing of bells , a shrill whistle , aud the train moves slowly off . Marmaduke leaus out of thewindow for a moment , to have one more yearning gaze , and Maggie , seeing him , pauses ou the line for one more look at her departing lover . A rush of wind , a shout , a

blinding glare of lights , a . thunder as of the trampling of a thousand steeds , a whirling by of a weird black form , a horrid shriek as from some lost soul , and the express goes by . Mr . Forester got home in perfect safety . He was now quite happy in the assurance that . he was loved

by so noble nnd good a girl as Maggie Robertson . He know she must be a noble girl , since she hesitated not a moment in accepting , when all men had forsaken him , and everything seemed going wrong ; and he felt she must be a good girl from all he had seen and known of hor for these three months past ,

and that was not a little . He did not justify himself for his wild , reckless life as others might have done . No one thought more evil of himself thau did Marmaduke , and every one said he was his own worst enemy . I am sure that true love must be ennobling , for as he meditated upon all that had

passed—as he thought of all Maggie s goodness to him , he resolved to turn over a new leaf , and to lead a new life ; and when he retired that night he dropped upon his knees by his bedside , for the first time for a long long while , and prayed God to strengthen him in his good resolutions , and to

protect him from ail temptations , and from the commission of those sins to which he was most prone . And then ho fell asleep and dreamed of long ago , when he was yet a child and murmured prayers at his mother ' s knee . He was to go on the 7 th of May to Dublin , there

to transact some business for his uncle , which would delay him probably a day or two , and he was expected at Kilmalloek not later than the 12 th . his uncle ' s letter said , as they wero going t . ) have a little party on that da )' , and Frank Ash burn was . with them . When Frank went to Killarney on the 20 th

of April . Marmaduke wrote to his uncle , speaking very warmly of his friend ' s kindness , aud the consequence was that Mr . Merton wrote and asked Frank there . Frank had gone over after having spent a week at Killarney attending to Sir Eustace de la Wray ' s

affairs , and coming nominally for two or three days ended by spending a fortnight there , to his own and his host ' s satisfaction . Sweet Fanny Merton soon formed a penchant for our friend , which promised to ripen into a warm attachment , on one side at least . Frank had written to Marmaduke in Mr . Morton ' s

name , to urge his using no delay in coming over , as the business matters at Dublin required his presence . Not knowing where to address the letter , as he had heard young Fores ' . er had left the bank , he thought it better to enclose it to Madge Raymond , who he knew would take the trouble of delivering it .

Accordingly , Madge walkedup to our hero's rooms , * nd asked if Mr . Forester were in . " Yes , sir , " was the reply , and the maid , formerly Madge ' s Marchioness , now grown into a buxom girl , admitted him . " You needn't announce me , Mary , " Madge said pleasantly , as ho strode past her , and into his friend ' s

rooms . " Why , maii , what ' s up ? " he shouted as he hastily raised the apparently lifeless body of young Forester from the floor . " The fellow ' s fainted ! Alary , get anc some water , quick ! " And whilst the servant

Another Fenian Outrage:

with a look of horror hurried to obey him , he unloosed his necktie and vest , dragged him to the window , which he flung open , and let the cool evening air play upon the pallid brow of poor Marmaduke . In a few minutes he revived , and after taking a wine-glass full of brandy , which Madge had sent for , opened his eyes and looked languidly

around . " What is the matter , my boy ? " said Madge kindly . Marmaduke pointed to a newspaper , which was lying open upon the table , and attempted to speak , but utterly broke down , and finally burst into a flood of tears .

Thinking from his present excited state it were best to leave him alone for a few minutes to compose himself , and seeing how thoroughly hopeless it appeared to g ' ean any information from him in his then condition , Madge turned to the newspaper , a copy of that day ' s Daily Telegraph , in hopes of gaining something there . He read the following : —

ANOTHER FENIAN OUTRAGE . —A shocking accident occurred at Barton-le-Bar , a watering place on the northeast coast , on the 4 th inst . Wo have not full particulars , but it appears that a young lady of considerable personal attractions , who accidentally strayed across the line , was cut down by the express from London , which reaches Hartsea at S . 55 p . m . The guard of the train felt an unusual jolting as

the train passed the Barton station , and immediately stopped the train . The mangled remains were found in a state almost preventing identification , but n letter was found upon deceased signed "Marmaduke Forester , " . and in her pocket , which contained a green velvet rosette with the letters H . C . I . It . embroidered on it . and the name "Asteroid" inside ; a

handkerchief was also found , with the name " JI . Robertson " in one corner . It appears that a gentleman of American aspect , with a light brown moustache and imperial , was last seen with her ; and , from certain circumstances which have come to our knowledge , there is too much reason to fear that tho deceased was the victim of another Fenian outrage .

CHAPTER V . THE HEAD-CENTRE OF KERRY . " All's well that ends well . " Two days afterwards , the Dail y Telegraph gave the account of the coroner ' s inquest , from which , however , it appeared , as it was obliged to own , " There was no evidence to show that the Fenians

had anything to do with the matter . " The Irish Times copied the first paragraph , but not the second . Madge wrote to his friend Frank Ashburn , detailing the melancholy circumstances in which poor Forester was placed , and speaking very freely of the poignant grief from which he was evidently suffering . He

said that , after walking listlessly about Mnrton for a day or two , he had gone to him , urged him to show more manliness and strength of mind , and begged of him to go off to Dublin without delay , as be knew Mr . Merton ' s business was pressing . "' I know what you think , ' the poor fellow

said , " wrote Madge . " ' I know what you thinkyou think me foolish because I feel her death so much . You remember that she was only a barmaid , and you are surprised that I should make sucii a fool of myself for her . You think she wasn't a lady ; but sho was in heart , nt all events , and you don't

know how good and trustful she was to me . I loved her as much as anyone could love . She would have been a better wife to me than such a poor fellow as I deserve . ' Here the poor fellow broke down again , " Madge wrote , "and ' pon my word I was very nearly

making a fool of myself too . However , I got him off on the morning of the 10 th , and I suppose by this time he is with you . " Air . Alerton asked Frank if he had any news of Marmaduke 1

"No , sir ; I can't make it out , " he said . "I don ' t wish you to alarm the ladies ; but the fact is , Mr . Forester should have been here by the 13 th , as he left Afarton on the 10 th , and it is now the Kith , and wc have no tidings . By the way , I am afraid we going to bave some trouble down here . I telegraphed

a day or two since to Sir Ku * i < u-e < Iu Ut "Wi . v , it , come over . He is very popular amongst the tenantry , and his presence may quell any attempt at an outbreak . . 1 hear they have captured a fellow who they say is the Head Centre of Kerry , and thev are

bringing him down to Killarney to-morrow to have him identified by some of the people there . I expect Sir Eustace will be down to-ni ght , and I must go and meet him . " " I should rather like to go with you , " Mr . Merlon remarked .

" Delighted with your company , I am sure , sir , " replied Frank . The Town Hall at Killarney is crowded to excess . All thc magistrates of tho district are there ( including Lord Castle Hosse , Air . Herbert and Sir Fustnee de la Wrny ) and the rest of the landed proprietors .

Some evidence is gone into . It appears thc prisoner was seized at Dublin ; he refused to givo his name ; his description answered that of a Colonel in the American Army , who was tho Head Centre of Kerry , and ns a sword was found with his luggage , a green sash in his portmanteau , and other suspicions

Another Fenian Outrage:

articles in his possession , he was detained , and forwarded with a strong escort to Killarney , for the purpose of identification , as there were several people there who had seen Colonel Burke . Great was the astonishment of the court when Frank Ashburn , who had rushed in frantically .

asked to speak with Sir Eustace de la Wray , and informed him that the prisoner , whom he had just caught a glimpse of , was none other than Marmaduke Forester ! A mutual explanation ensued ; Forester gave his real name to the magistrates on oath ; there was Mr . Marten present to identity him ,

together with Frank Ashburn and Sir Eustace , who was bad at remembering faces , ' rut who at length recollected our friend . There was a very hearty shaking of hands all round , and the friends left the court followed by a crowd of people , who cheered them as lustily as if they really had been Fenians ,

and their best friends . " How the deuce did you . get into that scrape , Mayduke ? " hisfriend asked , as they walked arm-inarm to the Railway Hotel , where Frank was staying . "Oh , I don't know ; some fools got hold of me as

I got out of the boat at Dublin , and insisted upon knowing my name and all about me . I wasn't goiiig to satisfy their curiosity , and I knocked one of the fellows down , but they were too many for me . Well , they found my sword and my Freemason ' s sash upon me , and this made them suspect me .

Then they found a letter on me , from—you know who ( Mayduke said rather sadly)—and this made them more suspicious , so they put me in quod . However , it is all over now , and I'd rather not talk any more about it . " The party returned in the evening to Kilmallock

and , you may be sure , the Merton ' s welcomed their cousin very warmly . He was very sad and gloomy for a few weeks , but as the summer wore on poor Marmaduke came to the conclusion that life was worth living for still . His cousin Mary found out by cleverly devised questions , which never roused

Marmaduke ' s suspicion the least , that his friend Frank was engaged to a Aliss Birch , but he didn't know when they would be married . Last summer I heard a rumour , which proved to be correct , that Alayduke had become engaged to his charming cousin , who had discovered his hidden worth .

"Mayduke , my boy . " Frank Ashburn says to our hero one evening last autumn , " I ' ve often puzzled over in my mind why you would not give up your name at Dublin when they took you for a Fenian ?" " Because I thought they had no right to extort

it from me , in the first place ; and , secondly , because I had sworn , when I was made a Freemason , that 1 would acknowledge no name to a stranger for two months but that of Asteroid , " he added proudly , Frank replied with a burst of laughter , in which he was joined by Madge . The three were smoking

in Mayduke ' a rooms . Frank and Madge often dropped in now to cheer him up . " I say , yon won't be angry if I tell you something ! " Frank adds presently . " No ; what is it r " Whj \ you are not a Freemason at all . " And

then Frank proceeded to let his friend into the elaborate joke which had been played upon him . Alayduke ' s countenance wore a very rueful aspect as Frank told the tale ; but it bri ghtened up considerably when its author added : " Never mind , Alayduke , old fellow ; our Lodge

meets to-morrow , and I will propose you in truth . " Tt is on ly n ecessary to add that Al armadu ke Forester has just come into a little property of £ 400 a year , and he is going to be married to his cousin next Afny . He took his Afaster Afason ' s degree last lodge night , tit the Silent Temple Lodge , Rnrnley .

The Vicar of Alarton died hist month . The poor old gentleman had had an attack of paralysis , followed shortly bv a . second ; and Minna felt her otity was by her father ' s side , and , know-in ? that the end conld not be long , delayed to name the day ; ami Frank was far too honourable to press her . So

by a tacit agreement they had waited till now . On his death-bed , the venerable clergyman , as he hail got to be called , desired that the wedding which had been put off so long should no longer he postponed ; and it was at his express wish that it was determined they should be married early in the new

year . Airs . Madge Raymond presented her husband with . a fine boy on the 1 st of this month . Both mother and child are doing well . Baby is to be christened on Christmas Eve , nnd AInilgo ( whose opinion of Alayduke has altered very much of late ) has asked that young gentleman to stand with Frank

and Airs . Wrnyton , as the chilli's sponsors . Marmaduke Forester has been an altered man since the death of poor Alaggie . Alary Alorton knows all about that sad story , but docs not love him one whit the less because he wanted to marry i , barmaid . FlS 18 .