Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-17

20 him by our presence. that we are wit
him in our Irish hearts,
its no place for women, I tell ve,' ex
claimed Phelim with sudden violence
and then coaxingly, Indeed, you mus
not go. Stay a, home and think of wha
I'm telling ye, that I've got fifty colder
guineas, and we can be married mex
week. or as soon as you'll say the word
Fifty gnineas in real gold! who gav'
them To yc-was it the master,-or-'
Hush! Here's the masters own voic,
calling me now, 50 | must 60 Stay a
home. Mary dear, or III not forgive ye.
Il don't understand ye, Phelm. and
Fifty gnneas of bright and heavy gold
dies sings on the giver!'
In opening the case the prosecuting at
torney was observed to look anxously
around the court, as if in search Of some
particular face. Each time he was dsap
pointed, and at last was obliged TO an
nouncc, that in the absence of its princi.
pal witness. the Crown would first resor,
to other evidence. And meagre enough
was that evidence to all in the crowded
court. Everything manifestly depended
upon the principal witness. the Mformer,
and without his speedy appearance. the
prisoner would doubtless be entitled to an
acquital. At last, the Crown officer fin
ishcd his other evidence, and again peer
ed anxiously about the court. This time
his face lighted with satisfaction.
'Phelim Reeney.'
'Phclim' cried a faint, smothered voice
upon the opposite side Of the room.
Silence there in COURT shouted the
Sheriff angrily.
But there was no slece in Mary Dono-
vans heart.
II see it now-those fifty golden gum
cas-! All. they have made Phelim Rec
ney an Mformer. but they shall never
make me his wife
The informer felt the moist. yet flashing
eye OF Mary Donovan. burning into his
brain, and he shivered with terror, but
the voice of the prosecuting attorney soon
restored self-possession, and he coolly
testified ss follows:
lie had disguised himself, and Joined
the rebels in their great meeting on the
night ofthe first rising. lie had especial
|y marked the prisoner at the bar, as the
seeming leader, and the one under whose
direction the whole body acted. lie
beard this prisoner utter words and saw
him do acts of treason on that night
This was the substance of his testimony,
and so clear, full, and direct was il
that every one saw that the
prisoners life was hanging on the words
from this informer's lips. The Crown
lawyers ski!hully pumped him Of every
hing, and found that he had done full
asticc to his training
The first question on the cross exam- I
nation was in regard TO the time of this
affair. Phelm appeared somewhat un-
easy. and replied i'll a very low tone.
'Louder!' cried one Of the Judges.
1T was the night before the rising--IIal-
lowmas Eve
No! il was not on Hallowmas Eve!' ex- !
mary Donovan, rising with an
impulse. .Phelim! YOU
are not even an lnfOrmer-you are per-
ured!'
There was dead silence for one in
slant. and then the prisoners counsel
spoke sharply.
What's this!' Let that girl come to
the witness stand
Pale, but not trembling. she took the /
place where Phelim had just stood
You say il was not on IIallownas Eve
ell all YOU know
She fixed her eyes on her lover and
Kept them there steadily until she had
in>hcd. No one questioned or interrupt
ID her in the course Of her broken testi-
nonv.
Never would be standing in this
,lace. your honors, if the false oath and
lack ward hadn't come from the lips of
'helim Reeney. Never would | open
ny mouth to condemn the man | love
'est. if he himself had not compelled me
0 do it,
This man was once my lover. before
he sold his country, and me too with it
md the very night that he frs. spoke
us false words to me without check, was
his same Hallowmas Eve, when he
wears he was up in the mountains. dis.
,uised as one of the band of that prisoner
II the bar. We talked till two in the
'ight-do We deny it! Look then at this.
which take from my bosom for the last
lock of your hair. wrapped in
paper-and we've written on that paper,
lese words with yer own hand,
Pheim Reeney,
to
Mary Donoram.
II O'Clock. Hallowmas Eve.
AXE the paper and the hair. Sir,-'twill |
ever come into my hand again.
Isn't the shaking Of that guilty man as ,
,ood proof Of my oath! All. Phelim. l {
ee now where the fifty fold suneas came
rom, bur did We think at the time what We s
ave in exchange for that bride!
This is all that know. and oh! it is ,
90 much for me to say! for it strikes
own the man love. Phelim. WHY did
on do all this! An hour ago. and worlds |
'ould mt have tempted We to exchange pla- {
es with that man at the bar. but now
,ere's nothing We wouldn't give to be this {
risoner yourself. Ye'll be despised, and
Ut otffrom among men. but never can {
ven You feel more misery than shall {
nd all my weary life. for loved you,
helm. and we've broken my heart