Furlong got very angry, while Dick and Murphy shouted with laughter at him." No, sir," said Furlong, "I don't welish the pwactice of such di'ty twicks."

"Do you apply the word 'dirty' to me, sir?" said Dick the Devil, ruffling up like a game-cock.—" I'll tell you what, sir, if you make use of the word 'dirty' again, I'd think very little of kicking you—ay, or eight like you—I'd kick eight Furlongs one mile." "Who's talking of kicking?" asked O'Grady. "I am," said Dick, "do you want any ?" "Gentlemen! gentlemen!" cried the sheriff,

do proceed with the business of the day."

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order! pray, order!

"I'll talk to you after about this!" said O'Grady, in a threatening

tone.

"Very well," said Dick, "we've time enough, the day's young yet." O'Grady then proceeded to find fault with Egan, censuring his politics, and endeavouring to justify his defection from the same cause he concluded thus, "Sir, I shall pursue my course of duty: I have chalked out my own line of conduct, sir, and I am convinced no other line is the right line. Our opponents are wrong, sir,— totally wrong—all wrong, and, as I have said, I have chalked out my own line, sir, and I propose the Honourable Sackville Scatterbrain as a fit and proper person to sit in parliament for the representation of this county."

The O'Gradyites shouted as their chief concluded; and the Merryvalians returned some groans, and a cry of " Go home, turncoat!"

Egan now presented himself, and was received with deafening and long-continued cheers, for he was really beloved by the people at large; his frank and easy nature, the amiable character he bore in all his social relations, the merciful and conciliatory tendency of his decisions and conduct as a magistrate, won him the solid respect as well as affection of the country.

He had been for some days in low spirits in consequence of Larry Hogan's visit and mysterious communication with him; but this, its cause, was unknown to all but himself, and therefore more difficult to support; for none but those whom sad experience has taught can tell the agony of enduring in secret and in silence the pang that gnaws a proud heart, which, Spartan like, will let the tooth destroy, without complaint or murmur.

His depression, however, was apparent, and Dick told Murphy he feared Nea would not be up to the mark at the election; but Murphy, with a better knowledge of human nature, and the excitement of such a cause, said, "Never fear him—ambition is a long spur, my boy, and will stir the blood of a thicker-skinned fellow than your brother-in-law. When he comes to stand up and assert his claims before the world, he'll be all right!"

Murphy was a true prophet, for Egan presented himself with confidence, brightness, and good-humour on his open countenance.

"The first thing I have to ask of you, boys," said Egan, addressing the assembled throng, "is a fair hearing for the other candidate." "Hear, hear!" followed from the gentlemen in the gallery.

"And as he is a stranger amongst us, let him have the privilege of first addressing you."

With these words he bowed courteously to Scatterbrain, who thanked him very much like a gentleman, and accepting his offer, advanced to address the electors. O'Grady waved his hand in signal to his bodyguard, and Scatterbrain had three cheers from the ragamuffins.

He was no great things of a speaker, but he was a good-humoured fellow, and this won on the Paddies; and although coming before them under the disadvantage of being proposed by O'Grady, they heard him with good temper:-to this, however, Egan's good word considerably contributed.

He went very much over the ground his proposer had taken, so that, bating the bad temper, the pith of his speech was much the same, quite as much deprecating the political views of his opponent, and harping on O'Grady's worn-out catch-word of "Having chalked out a line for himself," &c. &c. &c.

He

Egan now stood forward, and was greeted with fresh cheers. began in a very Irish fashion; for, being an unaffected, frank, and free- ́ hearted fellow himself, he knew how to touch the feelings of those who possess such qualities themselves. He waited till the last echo of the uproarious greeting died away, and the first simple words he uttered were— "Here I am, boys!"

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one cheer more."

Simple as the words were, they produced 'Here I am, boys,—the same I ever was.” "Loud huzzas," and "Long life to you!" answered the last pithy words, which were sore ones to O'Grady; who, as a renegade, felt the hit. "Fellow countrymen, I come forward to represent you, and, however I may be unequal to that task, at least, I will never misrepresent you." Another cheer followed.

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My past life is evidence enough on that point; God forbid I were of the mongrel breed of Irishmen, who speak ill of their own country. I never did it, boys, and I never will! Some think they get on by it, and so they do, indeed ;—they get on as sweeps and shoe-blacks get on,—they drive a dirty trade, and find employment;-but are they respected?" Shouts of "No-no."

"You're right!— No!—they are not respected,—even by their very employers. Your political sweep and shoe-black is no more respected than he who cleans our chimneys or cleans our shoes. The honour able gentleman who has addressed you last, confesses he is a stranger amongst you; and is a stranger to be your representative? You may be civil to a stranger-it is a pleasing duty; but he is not the man to whom you would give your confidence. You might share a hearty glass with a stranger, but you would not enter into a joint lease of a farm without knowing a little more of him; and if you would no trust a single farm with a stranger, will you give a whole county into his Lands? When a stranger comes to these parts, I'm sure he'll get a civil answer from every man I see here, he will get a civil yes,' or a civil no,' to his question,—and if he seeks his way, you will show him his road. And to the honourable gentleman, who has done you the favour to come and ask you civilly, will you give him the county, you as civilly

may answer 'no,' and show him his road home again. As for the gentleman who proposed him, he has chosen to make certain strictures upon my views, and opinions, and conduct. As for views-there was

a certain heathen God the Romans worshipped, called Janus; he was a fellow with two heads—and, by-the-by, boys, he would have been just the fellow to live amongst us; for when one of his heads was broken, he would have had the other for use. Well, this Janus was called 'double face,' and could see before and behind him. Now, I'm no double-face, boys; and as for seeing before and behind me, I can look back on the past, and forward to the future, and both the roads are straight ones. (Cheers.) I wish every one could say as much. As for my opinions, all I shall say is, I never changed mine; Mister O'Grady can't say as much.”

"Sure there's a weathercock in the family," said the voice in the crowd.

A loud laugh followed this sally, for the old dowager's eccentricity was not quite a secret.-O'Grady looked as if he could have eaten the whole crowd at a mouthful.

"Much has been said," continued Egan, "about gentlemen chalking out lines for themselves:-now, the plain English of this very determined chalking of their own line, is rubbing out every other man's line. Some of these chalking gentlemen have lines chalked up against them, and might find it difficult to pay the score if they were called to account. To such-rubbing out other men's lines, and their own, too, may be convenient; but I don't like the practice. Boys, I have no more to say than this, We know and can trust each other!"

Egan's address was received with acclamation, and when silence was restored, the sheriff demanded a show of hands; and a very fine show of hands there was, and every hand had a stick in it.

The show of hands was declared to be in favour of Egan, whereupon a poll was demanded on the part of Scatterbrain, after which every one began to move from the court-house.

O'Grady, in very ill-humour, was endeavouring to shove past a herculean fellow, rather ragged, and very saucy, who did not seem inclined to give place to the savage elbowing of the Squire.

"What brings such a ragged rascal as you here?" said O'Grady, bru"you're not an elector."

tally;

"Yis, I am!" replied the fellow, sturdily.

Why, you can't have a lease, you beggar."

No, but maybe I have an article.'

"What is your article ?"

"What is it?" retorted the fellow, with a fierce look at O'Grady "Faith, it's a fine brass blundherbuss: and I'd like to see the man would dispute the title."

O'Grady had met his master, and could not reply; the crowd shouted for the raggamuffin, and all parties separated, to gird up their loins for the next day's poll.

* A name given to a written engagement between land ord and tenant, promising to grant a lease, on which registration is allowed in Ireland.

CHAPTER XIX.

AFTER the angry words exchanged at the nomination, the most peaceable reader must have anticipated the probability of a duel ;—but when the inflammable stuff of which Irishmen are made is considered, together with the excitement and pugnacious spirit attendant upon elections in all places, the certainty of a hostile meeting must have been apparent. The sheriff might have put the gentlemen under arrest, it is true, but that officer was a weak, thoughtless, and irresolute person, and took no such precaution; though, to do the poor man justice, it is only fair to say, that such an intervention of authority at such a time and place would have been considered on all hands as a very impertinent, unjustifiable and discourteous interference with the private pleasures and privileges of gentlemen.

Dick Dawson had a message conveyed to him from O'Grady, requesting the honour of his company the next morning to "grass before breakfast;" to which, of course, Dick returned an answer expressive of the utmost readiness to oblige the squire with his presence; and, as the business of the election was of importance, it was agreed they should meet at a given spot on the way to the town, and so lose as little time as possible.

The next morning, accordingly, the parties met at the appointed place, Dick attended by Edward O'Connor and Egan-the former in capacity of his friend; and O'Grady, with Scatterbrain for his second, and Furlong a looker-or: there were some straggling spectators besides, to witness the affair.

"O'Grady looks savage, Dick,” said Edward.

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"Yes," answered Dick, with a smile of as much unconcern as if he were going to lead off a country dance. "He looks as pleasant as a bull in a pound."

"Take care of yourself, my dear Dick," said Edward, seriously.

"My dear boy, don't make yourself uneasy," replied Dick, laughing. "I'll bet you two to one he misses me.

Edward made no reply, but to his sensitive and more thoughtful nature, betting at such a moment savoured too much of levity, so, leaving his friend, he advanced to Scatterbrain, and they commenced making the preliminary preparations.

During the period which this required, O'Grady was looking down sulkily or looking up fiercely, and striking his heel with vehemence into the sod, while Dick Dawson was whistling a planxty and eyeing his

man..

The arrangements were soon made, the men placed on their ground, and Dick saw by the intent look with which O'Grady marked him, that he meant mischief; they were handed their pistols-the seconds retired -the word was given, and as O'Grady raised his pistol, Dick saw he was completely covered, and suddenly exclaimed, throwing up his arm, "I beg your pardon for a moment.

O'Grady involuntarily lowered his weapon, and seeing Dick standing. perfectly erect, and nothing following his sudden request for this suspension of hostilities, asked, in a very angry tone, why he had inter"Because I saw you had me covered," said Dick, " and rupted him. you'd have hit me if you had fired that time: now fire away as soon as you like!" added he, at the same moment rapidly bringing up his own pistol to the level.

O'Grady was taken by surprise, and fancying Dick was going to blaze at him, fired hastily and missed his adversary.

Dick made him a low bow, and fired in the air.

O'Grady wanted another shot, saying Dawson had tricked him, but Scatterbrain felt the propriety of Edward O'Connor's objection to further fighting, after Dawson receiving O'Grady's fire; so the gentlemen were removed from the ground, and the affair terminated.

O'Grady, having fully intended to pink Dick, was excessively savage at being overreached, and went off to the election with a temper by no means sweetened by the morning's adventure, while Dick roared with laughing, exclaiming at intervals to Edward O'Connor, as he was putting up the pistols, "Did not I do him neatly?"

Off they cantered gaily to the high road, exchanging merry and cheering salutations with the electors, who were thronging towards the town in great numbers and all variety of manner, group, and costume. Some on foot, some on horseback, and some on cars; the gayest attire of holiday costume, contrasting with the every-day rags of wretchedness ; the fresh cheek of health and beauty making gaunt misery look more appalling, and the elastic step of vigorous youth outstripping the tardy pace of feeble age. Pedestrians were hurrying on in detachments of five or six-the equestrians in companies less numerous; sometimes the cavalier who could boast a saddle carrying a woman on a pillion behind him.—But saddle or pillion were not an indispensable accompaniment to this equestrian duo, for many a "bare back" garran carried his couple, his only harness being a halter made of a hay-rope, which in time of need sometimes proves a substitute for rack and manger; for it is not uncommon in Ireland to see the garran nibbling the end of his bridle when opportunity offers.-The cars were in great variety: some bore small kishes,* in which a woman and some children might be seen—others had a shake down of clean straw to serve for cushions; while the better sort spread a feather-bed for greater comfort, covered by a patchwork quilt, the work of the " good woman" herself, whose own quilted petticoat vied in brightness with the calico roses on which she was sitting.-The most luxurious indulged still further in some arched branches of hazel, which, bent above the car in the fashion

A large basket of coarse wicker-work, used mostly for carrying turf, Anglice peat.