The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-10-17


ond billet, felt his fears revive and his re-
morse returned more poignant than ever,
and the reproaches of his guilty conscience
began to persuade him that there was
something supernatural in this strange oc-
currence. He had informed no one of his
journey to Dublin, where he had arrived
only the evening before. What living be-
ing, then, could have OWNED his intentions
and discovered him so soon? A vague
but unceasing restlessness preyed upon
him, and appetite and sleep both aban-
doned him. He strove to drown his suf-
ferings by plunging into the whirlpool of
pleasure, but nothing could relieve his
gloomy thoughts. The mental disease
under which he found himself failing fol-
lowed him everywhere.
The first of December found him at a
table surrounded by numerous friends
He was on the point of drinking toast
when a servant handed him a letter bear
ing black seal. He turned pale on re-
ceiving it, and fell back into his chair
without uttering word. Pretending sud-
den irdisposition, he soon left the apart
ment The next day he quilted Dublin,
" ~, S1S uS Sdlu, OH d CApCOItlOu
among the mountains of Wicklow, sim
gle servant accompanying him.
1t was no idea of pleasure or amusement
that brought O'Gunnel among the noun
tains. He considered every kind of hap
piness or enjoyment as dream of the past
All that he hoped for was partial relief,
momentary forgetfulners of his ills, and he
sought it in bodily fatigue and the activity
of country life. But the recollection of
the island of the Virgin never forsook him.
Look which way he would a bloody phan
tom was necessarily by his side. Thus
passed the month of December.
One day O'Gunnel, returning from a
long mountain excursion, passed through
narrow path which followed the course
of rivulet. At turn in road, he
suddenly perceived a man, who standing
on little knoll, pointed to a huge rock
with his hands, near which he had to pass.
O'Gunnel attentively scrutinized this sin
gular being; it was O'Darcy his hair
stood erect, his blood curdled in his veins,
his hand mechanically grasped pistol
which he continually carried, and he fired.
| A smile of derision cleaned athwart the
| visage of O'Darcy, who, without moving
continued to point at the rock In few
moments he disappeared as if by enchant-
ment. Approaching the spot designated,
| O'Gunnel, found lettet-it announced
that he had but nine months to live.
After this appari;ion, O'Gunnel no
longer doubted that there was something
supernatural in his mysterious adventure
His fears, his suffering redoubled, and it
was with deadly terror that he saw the
dreaded day approach which should bring
him another warning.
The day at length arrived, but nothing
extraordinary happened to O'Gunnel, and
night approached without his having re-
ceived any letter; this excited in his breast
hope that the charm was broken. Fill
ed with JOY, he returned towards his
dwelling, when, wishing to cross a small
lonely bridge, he met a man who seemed
desirous to dispute the passage. Face to
face he recognized him as poor Catholic
gentleman, whose house he had burned
during nis last expedition against the in.
surectionists in Wexford. O'Gunnel re-
quested him to make way but the other,
without budging, stared him in the face
and said:
81 have waited for you"
"You wait for mel" replied O'Gunnel
81 have nothing to do with rebels an,
papists,"
''Scoundreli" exclaimed the old gen
tlemen, shave care what you say"
The blood rushed to O'Gunners face
'tNo man ever insulted me with impu
nity," he exclaimed, ''choose quickly on
of these two pistols, and defend yourself
All that once comprised my happines
has been rayished from me, ravished b.
you, and although death seems to me pre-
ferable to the existence now lead, vii
not profit by the advantage 1 have owe
you on this occasion. The hand Of a
assassin always trembles."
"Does my hand tremble :" shoute
OGunnel In paroxysm of rage.
The old man smiled disdainfully, DIRE,
apaper from his bosom, and presented
to OGunnel.
"Ha! does your hand tremble now ?
O'Gunnel had hardly taken the Papt
when his knees trembled and he fainteC
When he had recovered his consciousness
the old gentleman had disappeared, b,
he saw at some distance the sombre fgul
i of O'Darcy gazing fixedly at him.
It would take too much time to narrat
: all tie attempts O'Gunnel made to e
cape from his prosecutor, aud discard ii
forebodings which necessarily beset hin
g He travelled over nearly all England, q,
0 ing from one place TO an other, witho
e being able to evade those fatal lette
b which reached him regularly on the fir
d of every month, in spite of all the care
e took to conceal himself from every eye.
In this extremity, he received to exp
It triate himself and go over to Amsterdam
b on a visit to q relative who many yea
| r,.o.-;oun bod orta hiirhod n nn.-o.o: