My Lords of Strogue, Vol. 1 (of 3): A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union — John Shaqi
My Lords of Strogue, Vol. 1 (of 3): A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the UnionWingfield, Lewis
History
My Lords of Strogue, Vol. 1 (of 3): A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union
Wingfield, Lewis
Historical fiction; Ireland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
person than the colonel of the regiment that, with quip and quirk, was
coaxing them homewards. At the sound of Mrs. Gillin's lamentations,
Lord Glandore waved his sword and thundered out 'Desist!' He might as
well have argued with the winds. The phosphorescent light of menace
which folks dreaded in the eye of a Glandore glimmered forth from his.
With a fierce oath he spurred his horse, and, beside himself with
passion, plunged blindly with his weapon into the heap of sable gowns.
A luckless youth with gold braid upon his vesture, who was bending
down to extricate the lady, received the sword-point in his back, and,
screaming, swooned away. A cry of enraged horror burst from all, and,
like a swarm of angry bees, the boys fixed, without thought of
consequences, on the aggressor. They were of his own class; their
blood as hot and blue as his, although so young. What! murder a
gownsman for a bit of folly? 'Twas but a frolic, which he had turned
to tragedy. A peasant would not have mattered--but one of noble
lineage! Vengeance should fall swift and terrible. They dared the
soldiery to interfere. A hundred hands dragged the colonel from his
horse, which, with a blow, was sent riderless down Sackville Street.
His clothes were in tatters in a twinkling. A dozen heavy keys flew
through the air with so sure an aim that he staggered and fell prone.
One youth picked up the weapon, which yet reeked with his comrade's
blood, and broke it on the backbone of his destroyer. In a trice the
tragedy was complete. Ere his men could reach him, Lord Glandore lay
motionless; and Gillin was rending the air with shrieks which were
re-echoed from the club-house.
And now the _mêlée_ became general, for some weavers who had lingered
in the rear gave the alarm; the Liberty-boys sallied forth again, and
the chairmen, hewing their staves in twain, belaboured all
impartially, adding to the general disturbance. This was no vulgar
riot now, for blood had been twice drawn--that of the privileged
class--and gentlemen, fearing for their sons who were only armed with
keys, rushed out from club and tavern to form a bulwark round the
gownsmen against the rage of the infuriated soldiery. Thus sons and
fathers were smiting right and left below, whilst mothers were
screaming from the windows; and the peeresses saw more than they came
out to see ere swords were sheathed and peace could be restored. They
had lingered, many of them, at Daly's till past the tea-hour, to
inspect the illuminations before adjourning to the Fishamble Street
Masquerade; and crowded in a bevy round the club-house door as the
dying earl and his distracted love were borne into the coffee-room;
while the collegians retired backwards in compact order, silent but
menacing, till the gates of Alma Mater opened and clanged to on them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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