CHANGELING
AND OTHER STORIES
BY
DONN BYRNE
Author of "The Wind Bloweth," "Messer Marco Polo," etc.
New York & London
THE CENTURY CO.
Copyright, 1923, by
The Century Co.
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
DEDICATION
So you are going to bring out a book of your stories, said the Old Poet.
I think I am, sir, said I.
I'm sorry for it, said the Old Poet, for it won't have a friend in theworld.
When it comes to the publishing of books, people are alwayspessimistic, and, in my case, always right. Success, I am sufficientof a heretic to believe, matters little, but friendship a great deal.And I could as little think of sending a story friendless into theworld as I would of sending a child, or horse, or dog. So "Changeling"itself I will put under the friendly hand of the Right Honorable theLord Justice O'Connor, who will find law treated in it in a dégagémanner that will surprise even him. And "The Parliament at Thebes" Idedicate to Addison and Josephine Hanan.
For Bulmer and Clare Hobson, near Three-Rock Mountain, is "Delilah, NowIt Was Dusk," and for Brinsley MacNamara, that splendid Irish novelist,"Wisdom Buildeth Her House." And "In Praise of Lady Margery Kyteler"for Arthur Somers Roche, in memory of a chivalrous kindness.
"Reynardine" for Miss OEnone Somerville and in memory of MartinRoss—their pens were one of the lost Irish glories. "Irish" forJeffrey Farnol—none more than he loves and understands the Ring. AndI am sorry there is not a story of war and its intricacies in thecollection to dedicate to my friend Lieutenant-General J. J. O'Connell.
I have not by hundreds come to the end of those whom I love to think myfriends; but so many of them are sportsmen that to dedicate stories tothem would be like giving a two-year-old racer to a maiden andchurch-going lady, loading her with responsibility and embarrassment,so that—
So that the rest of the stories can go out and make friends forthemselves, and if they can't, 't was surely a poor hand that wrotethem.
Donn Byrne.
By the Cinque Ports,
England. 1923.
Contents
Changeling
The Barnacle Goose
Belfasters
The Keeper of the Bridge
In Praise of Lady Margery Kyteler
Reynardine
Dramatis Personæ
Wisdom Buildeth Her House
The Parliament at Thebes
Delilah, Now It Was Dusk
A Quatrain Of Ling Tai Fu's
"Irish"
By Ordeal of Justice