The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-12-01

By DIR. SHELTON MACKENZIE.

/ III CouuCCtiOu Will Tic lcducTSnlD
. John Cussen, an incident occurred whicl
may be related here, as a sort of appendi,
to his own adventures. It is only a tri
fe in its way, but illustrates the name
in which, even after he had quilted tn,
country, he was regarded by his forme
adherents.
. About twelve months after the convic
: tion and transportation Of Capt Rock
which eventually led to the breaking VI
Of the White-boy organization-thougl
here and there, few branch Ribbon
lodges remained-I was on a visit to m,
uncle, the owner of Rossmore. Rossmort
house is situated within a short distance
of Castleton Conyers, and by taking
short cut across the fields, this distance
might be reduced to mile. Having
spent the day at Castleton, 1 was return
ing to Rossmore by the short cut, late in
the evenins-too late, indeed, as l had
been warned; from the chance of meeting
some of the prowiers who haunted the by
roads towards the small town. I had no
fear, however, and though it was after II
O'Clock, there was beautiful full moon,
which, as the old song says, "did shine as
bright as day" had gotten on mar
row by road which ran between two bogs,
and was speeding home with as little delay
as possible. All at once 1 heard the dull,
heavy tramp of feet, in measured tread,
and thought that it probably was the po-
lice patrol taking its rounds. AS some
of the police we're quartered at my uncle's
L entertained no apprehension on account
of being found out doors at an untimely
hour, as my person was known to these
peace -preservcrs. | walked on, therefore,
at my ease, lettering a little to allow my
self to be overtaken, in order that might
have an escort home.
The party came up. and when turned
round to recognize and speak with EN-,
was considerably alarmed to find that !
was in the midst of a large assemblage of
rough and ready countrymen, wrapped up
in large blue cootcens, every one Of them
with huge bludgeon in ais hand Know
ing the best plan was to put as bold afront on
it as | could, accosted theIl with the usual
Good evening boys" They did not con-
descend TO return the greeting but gath
clcd together in groups, conversing in
Irish, which | did not understandable
acquisition of that ancient and sonorous
language having been neglected branch
Of my education. From their vehement
action, their constant reference to myself
By gesture. and the repetition Of my name,
| proccivcd that they knew who | was.
and wele speaking about me. Uuder such
circumstances. ] thought, with Falstaff,
that the better part Of valor was discretion
and | prepared to effect my escape from
such unpleasant Fan;onship, by slip
ping of as quietly as | could.
The intention, however excellent. was
not TO be borne out in execution. Before
| had taken fifty steps, folt two or three
large rough, hairy, sinew hands on the
collar of my coat, and the cold muzzlc Of a
pistol under my left ear, with threat,
strengthened by tremendous oath. that.
if dared to move one inch further, the
contents of the pistol should be lodged in
my brain. | did not move, having
strong idea that the threat would be car
rled into execution; not remarkably
pleasant anticipation for any one, far less
for a lad offourtcen.
After some delay, a man. who appeared
to be kind of leader, asked me my name,
and whether | was not nephew of the
''old fellow at Rossmore ! said that |
was. Then" said he, you are the cous-
in Of that fine young lady whose swearing
was the means of our Captain being sent
across the sea-" l answered that he was
quite correct, and that certainly was the
lady's cousin. Then" said he, ''as we
cannot lay hands on her. for she cut away
to England when the trial was over, for
fear OF our just revenge, think We must
have yonr blood instead" As | had a
strong objection to suffering yicariously
even for a woman and cousin, | remon-
strated against til, design, allie dying truly
enough, that it was hard | should answer
for any ones sins but my own, that the
lady, a. was well known, had given evi-
dence against Captain Rock, under COM
pulsion; and that, after he was sentenced
to death, she never rested until she had
obtained remission of the sentence of
death passed upon him.
What said evidently made all impress
sion on my audience such, at least, as
knew English. To the rest il was duly
interpreted; after which, still leaving me
in charge of the hirsute giant with the
great pistol, the party retired :. little way
to hold consultation respecting me. This
| knew. because the rough gentleman who
held the pistol to my ear grew little
communicative, telling me that they had
all been to the fair of Bruree, where they
had INDUCED pretty freely in strong lia-
uors, and that he thought it likely as they
had made up their mind to take NV life,
that they were only then deliberating in
what manner to carry out their intention.
at isl easy death enough" said this
Jobs comforter, 'to be strangled bya
handkerchief, squeezed round the throat
to proper tightness; it's as good way
as any other to put man into a deep
boghole like that on the side of the road
there; but" he added, ''for doing the
thing genteelly, aud making sure of quick
work and little pain, l certainly would
prefer pistol like this, with a decent
charge Of canister powder, and brace
of bullets or couple OF slugs at the top to
make all right"