“On the day before yesterday,” she proceeded, “two gentlemen came to our house to canvass votes, and they stated plainly that you had promised to vote for them—­that is for Vanston.”

“Well, Kathleen, all I can say is, that the statement is not true.  I didn’t promise for Vanston, and they did not even ask me.  Are you satisfied now? or whether will you believe them or me?”

“I am satisfied, dear Bryan; I am more than satisfied; for my heart is easy.  Misfortune! what signifies mere misfortune, or the loss of a beggarly farm?”

“But, my darling Kathleen, it is anything but a beggarly farm.”

Kathleen, however, heard him not, but proceeded.  “What signifies poverty, Bryan, or struggle, so long as the heart is right, and the conscience clear and without a spot?  Nothing—­oh, nothing!  As God is to judge me, I would rather beg my bread with you as an honest man, true, as I said awhile ago, to your God and your religion, than have an estate by your side, if you could prove false to either.”

The vehemence with which she uttered these sentiments, and the fire which animated her whole mind and manner, caused them to pause again, and Bryan, to whom this high enthusiasm was perfectly new, now saw with something like wonder, that the tears were flowing down her cheeks.

He caught her hand and said “My own darling Kathleen, the longer I know you the more I see your value; but make your mind easy; when I become a traitor to either God or my religion, you may renounce me!”

“Don’t be surprised at these tears, Bryan; don’t, my dear Bryan; for you may look upon them as a proof of how much I love you, and what I would feel if the man I love should do anything unworthy, or treacherous, to his religion or his suffering country.”

“How could I,” he replied, “with my own dear Kathleen, that will be a guardian angel to me, to advise and guide me?  Well, now that your mind is aisy, Kathleen, mine I think is brighter, too.  I have no doubt but we’ll be happy yet—­at least I trust in God we will.  Who knows but everything may prove betther than our expectations; and as you say, they may make a poor man of me, and ruin me, but so long as I can keep my good name, and am true to my country, and my God, I can never complain.”

CHAPTER XVII.—­Interview between Hycy and Finigan

—­The Former Propones for Miss Clinton—­A love Scene

Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M’Mahon, felt satisfied that he had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to Bryan.  The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience he knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, in excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy Phats, was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would inform upon him.  After