New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-31
. From Household Words.
THE LAST HOWLEY OF KILL0WEN.

At the beginning of 1898, a respectable FAM
lily, named Howley, resided in the neighborhood
Of Wexford, in Ireland. They consisted Of the
father, two sons, Mark and Robert, and a daugh-
ter named Ellen. That was the year Of the
Great Rebellion, when the patriot volunteers,
United Irishmen and Defenders, openly declared
themselves in revolt against the government of
the sister country. The civil war ragged fercely
in the southern provinces, and the HoWleys
speedily became involved in it, The father,
whoHassumed the title of Colonel, and placed
himself at the head Of an armed band, chiefly
composed Of peasants on his own estate, fell,
fighting at the battle of Vinegar Hill. Both
the sons were taken prisoners with arms in their
hands by the kings troops, during the terrible
fight in the streets Of Ross and Mark, who was
the elder, was shot without trial, on the spot
where he was captured; Robert, being a slim
youth of fifteen, and of an appearance even
younger than his years, was spared and sent to
Dublin for trial. His sister Ellen, who was
then girl of seventeen, and of very remarka-
BILE beauty, set out without consulting any one !;
indeed, there were few who dared trust to the
advice of another in that terrible time; con-
trived to traverse country still swarning with
troops and insurgents, and arrived safely in
Dublin. i
There, with no friend or acquaintance in the
city, she remained from the month of june until
the February Of the following year. During
that time she was not allowed to see or commu-
nioate with her brother; but the misfortunes of
her family, and the loneliness Of her situation,
transformed the young girl into aelf-reliant
woman Every day Was methodically spent in
some endeayor, direct or indirect, to save her
brothers life, She sought for friends, and suo-
ceeded in interesting those who had been mere
strangers Day after day she haunted the
courts, listening to the speeches of tho various
counsel, in order herself to form judgment OF
their skill When she had fixed upon one to
undertake her brothers defense, she instructed
him herself, paying his fees out Of little trea-
sure she had brought with her, and which had
been kept by her father against a time Of need
The barrister whom she had chosen was
young man named Roche, then but little known
began to take an interest in his clients case
Every day, after visiting the prisoner, he
brought hergsome intelligence from him, and
succeeded in whispering to him, in return, q
word of consolation from his devoted sister
He also entered into her schemes for interesting
influential persons in her favor; but he was
young man, and, having risen by his own efforts
above the humble position Of his own family, he
had but little personal interest. The atrocities
the barn at Scullabogue, had produced strong
feeling against all prisoners from the South |;
and their applications to the Lord Lieutenant
were met by o cool official answer. @ ~.
Meanwhile, Roche directed all his energies
in preparing for the defence. The morning ap-
pointed for the trial came. 1t was sbowery
day. Gloom and sunshine changed and inter-
changed dozen times, as the young maiden
trod the quiet streets near the prison walls,
awaiting the hour when the court should open.
1t was an anxious moment when she stood in
the presence of the Judge, and heard her
brothers name called. and watched the door
through which she knew that he would come.
Many eyes beheld her--not all, alas eyes Of
ompassion-standing in the dusty bar Of sun.
L light that came through the high arched win-
dow Roche calmly arranged his papers with
out looking towards her, and the faint Shrek
that she uttered when her brother appeared
after all that long, dark winter, seemed to have
caught all ears save his. But the young bar.
lrister, though seeming to be rapt in thought
| lost nothing Of VII st passed-not even the i'm
preston that her beauty made upon some per
sons present. Though the evidence against tn,
youth was too clear to be doubted, Roche dwell
strongly upon his youth, and the misfortunel
his family had already suffered, and told, il
simple and affecting language, the story Of th,
sisters struggles. The effect Of the appea
upon an Irish jury was the aoqnittal Of thl
prisoner; who, after o solemn warning from th
Judge of the danger of being ever again &c
| cused, left the court with his sister, and tn
| friend to whom he owed his life, - ~
i The impression Of that trial, and Of his in
| teresting client, was, not easily to be effacet
| from the mind of Roche. Her frequent visits
her opportunities, which at times had almos
| yexed him, her fuctuating hopes and fears, b
| now began to miss, as pleasing e1ctements
| which had passed away in the attainment Q
their object. He correspended with Ellen How
+. - ! IL ~