General John Regan

und in it long ago. The farmers brought it from the country round about after the threshing was over, and the stream which now flows idly into the sea was then kept busy turnin

attractive to tourists than ruins, and the country which possesses an abundance of them is in a fair way to grow rich easily. But it is necessary that the ruins should be properly matured. No man with an educated taste for food will eat Stilton cheese which is only half decayed. No educated tourist will take long journey

buildings do not eat, and so long as they remain empty are not liable for rates, the mill did not cost Doyle anything. He tried several times to organise schemes by means of which he might be able to secure a rent for the mill. When it became fashionable, eight or ten years ago, to start what are tailed "industries" in Irish provincial towns, Doyle suggested that his mill should be turned into a bacon factory.

l. A petition was signed by almost everyone in Ballymoy setting forth the hungry desire of the people for instruction in the arts of life. Several Members of Parliament asked the Chief Secretary searching questions on the subject of the Ballymoy Technical School. But the Chief Secretary declared himself quite unable to wring the money out of the Treasury. Thady Gallagher wrote articles and made speeches which ought to have caused acute discomfort to the Prime Minister. But Doyle found himself obliged to give up the idea of a Technical School. He waited hopefully. In the end, he felt sure, some way of utilising the old mill would be found. In

sed to spend an hour or two morning and evening looking at the fishermen who spent the day in contemplating their boats. There is nothing in the world more soothing than the study of a fisherman's life on shore. When he is at sea it is probably strenuous enough. But then he very seldom is at sea, and when

ned with a prayer, p

AVE IR

L JOHN

rish language, which Mr. Billing could not read. Next t

LIC ME

quite sma

ON TUESDAY N

ARE, OPPOSITE THE

ess the meeting, that Mr. T. Gallagher, Chairman U. D. C., would also speak, and that-here the letters became immense-Mr. Horace P. Bil

e hotel. He found Doyle and Thady Gallagher seated together

seems to have got a move on this locality. The an

ld be better for him if he'd pay what he owes. I'm t

ity at heart, and whatever it might be that he takes in

tue fund. He felt, it right to do all in his power to encourage Mr. Billing. Doyle, on the other hand, was becoming despondent. He did not like to see money whi

ling, "that these Congr

, "the doctor told me this morning that they said t

llagher hopefully, "th

l not," s

out them," sai

he, 'so long as we have Mr. Billing and Father McCormack and yourself,' meaning me, 'we'll

eetings and statues and the like it would be better. Not that I'd say a word against the statu

t is to carry the half-fed Connacht beasts to the fattening pastures of Meath and Kildare, assemble in large numbers and haggle over prices from early dawn till noon. No better occasion for the exploitation of a cause could possibly be chosen. And three o'clock was a very good hour. By that time the business of the fair

It was taken for granted that he had been in some way associated with the cause of Irish Nationality, and one or two people professed to recollect that he had fought on the side of the Boers during the South African War. Whoever he was, the people were inclined to support the movement for erecting a statue to him b

respectful attention. Everybody expected to find out by reading it who the General was. Everyone felt, as he read it, or listened to it read aloud, that he was learning all

husiasm of all patriotic people. He began by praising Thomas Emmet. He passed from him to Daniel O'Connell. He recommended everyone to read John Mitchell's "Jail Journal." He described the great work done for Ireland by Charles Stewart Parnell. Then he said that General John Regan was,

was a practised orator and could make a very small amount of information go a long way in a speech, but he did want something, if it was only a date to which he might attach the General's birth or death. Doyle and the priest steadily referred him to Dr. O'Grady. From Sergeant Colgan he got nothing except a guess that t

or not. What annoyed him was the publication, in the advertisement columns of the paper, of a preliminary list of subscribers. In the first place such an advertisement cost money and could only be paid for out of Mr. Billing's subscription, thus further diminishing the small balance on which he was calcu

noon he called

t I was to be the treasurer of th

Didn't you see your name printed in the Connacht Eagle

well speak plain when I'm at it-I'm not satisfied. I've had some correspondence with a nephew of mine who's in that line of business himself up in Du

ant, Doyle, whether

elf would have to pay it if there was, and that's what I'd not be inclined to do. The way you're spending money on poste

int all right,

u are; but, sure, I might have known that you wouldn't care how much y

doing the very best I can to make money for you, taking no end of trouble, and all you do i

going to make a penny out of it

the Government was to build a pier, a new pier, in Ballym

le, "for there'd be no other m

you suppose you'd

e. "Hasn't the Government built us two piers al

pposing they did build another and you got the co

nd if the engineer they sent down to inspect the w

"that you were able to sell the

od stones,

m. Now suppose you succeeded in selling them to

"Whoever was to use those stones for building the pie

be considered in fixing

ould have to be, for I wouldn

," said Dr. O'Grady, "what

tidy penny,"

t and it seems to me that it would pay you to lose a couple of pounds-

ht Doyle back from a pleasant d

" he said. "The Government w

you know, Doyle, and the town band, and somebody with a bouquet of flowers for his wife, and somebody else-all respectable people, Doyle-with an illuminated addres

could have all the rest of what you say; but what good would they be? The

suppose now that we had him and did all the things I say, do

Government built two piers here alrea

The present Lord-Lieutenant has probably never so much as heard of them. We shouldn't go out of our way to remind him of their existence. Nobody else in Ireland will rem

by the glorious pos

y-Lieutenant with him, and more of the lords and ladie

hat sort," said Dr. O'Grady. "T

be a luncheon for

got about the luncheon. There'll be a

p conviction. "There would. The like of the

tipple for anybody high up in the Government ser

," said Doyle. "Wh

ue will b

to be looking at statues for? Won't he have as many as he wants

what's more, the idea will appeal to his better nature. I needn't tell you, Doyle, that the earnest desire of every Lord-Lieutenant is to assist the material and intellectual advancement of Ireland. He's always getting opportunities of opening technical schools and industrial shows of one sort or another. They've quite ceased to attract him. But we're display

n," said Doyle, "I'd say th

h finer feeling. Besides he'll see that we've been studying up our past history. The name o

is always asking," said D

ow," said Dr. O'Grady,

. Not that it would trouble me if there never was a General, only that you have Mary Ellen

ng her work?" s

ood over her and drove her into it. But what has annoyed me is the way Constable Moriarty is never out of the kitchen or the back yard. He was after her before, but he'

have more sense,"

es round the house would drive you demented if so be that y

n't be for very long, and you needn't mind what Mary Elle

r she got the notion that he was going to make a lady of

bother your head a