New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-11

/ Y
pitch you into the Tough"
"Mrs. O'Hara entreated her husband 3
a take no notice, as he might see that Hue,
s was not himself, and she was really afrai,
/ | of an accident. The least movement Nigh
, | upset the boat SO she began to talk to Ned
in hopes Of diverting Mr.. O'Hara's atten
ton.
II dare say you have heard that Mis-
Alice is about to leave US, Ned, and this i
: probably the last time you will row he
over the Tough; she is going to be married
to Mr. Young, of Dimrath"
God bless her, wherever she goes! 1
Wad be a nice gentleman, indeed, that waC
be deserving o. we'er ain Miss Alice. What
kind is Mr.. Young, maaml'
well, Ned, he Is greatly liked in his OWL
country, believe, and"
''Hoot, hOot man !" interrupted Huev.
with a provoking laugh, "never mind the
mistress. I'll tell ye What sort he is. He's
a little bit O. man, an unsignifed wee era.
thure, that's just what he is"
"Take that you impudent rascal I" cried
Mr.. OHara, goaded to fury, raising the
whip TO strike him. The blow fell short OF
Huey, and struck the horse instead.
The animal began to kick and plunge,
and almost before they had time to per.
ceiVe their danger the boat was overturned
and the whole party was struggling in the
water.
! IL Was q uOIIlUlo uOHGUL. OQe WIi0
shrek of terror, and all was still The old
ferryman had fallen under the boat; his
son, a young lad unable to swim, was
clinging to the oars; Huey was making his
way to the shore, from which they were
about 300 yards distant, and Mr. O'Hara
was waiting Ia dread waiting) until his
wife and daughter should rise.
He was good swimmer. Could he save
them both
They rose to the surface at the same mo-
ment. Mrs. O'Hara's green dress foated
| near him; he was almost touching it. He
! had already caught her in one arm. when
! he saw his daughters white face turning
| toward him, her hands stretched out to
| him. His beautiful Alice, the pride and
| joy of his declining years, the hope of
another ancient line. Must she perish! But
| his dear wife, the faithful sharer of all his
joys and cares2 Could he save both? No,nOi
he well knew it would be impossible. Only
an instant to choose between them; but in
that feetihg instant the unfortunate old
man suffered anguish such as thousands
live and die without experiencing.
The awful choice was made He drew
the slender figure Of his daughter toward
him, and swan with her to the shore
Alice was safe upon the bank, and her
father, faint and exhausted, was breasting
the treacherOus waves,
In vain, in vain, was the search ! No
u hCO VI bl6 DUUE lduy WAS 10 Do QISCOVere0s
she had sunk to rise no more. Mrs. OHara
swan round and round the spot where he
had seen her last; but at length the instinct
OF self preservation made him turn towards
the shore.
Huey, the cause of all, had by this time
called assistance. Alice was carried to the
nearest cabin, and al the poor people could
do was done for her. Her restoration to
consciousness was terrible
'EMamma ~ she cried. Gwhara vvbara IL
mamma ~
my Alice" replied the wretched old man,
"there was no help but mine and l could
not save you both"
"You should have saved her, papa. Oh, |
why did not you let me sink | wish [ |
were dead Mamma, mamma, mamma :" |
and she was almost chOked by frantic |
burst of tears.
The great kitchen at TullYmore was |
crowded with poor people, come to show |
their respect to the dead lady, and their |
sympathy with the sorrOwing family. A |
barrel of whisky was on, the tap for the re-
freshment of all corners, bundles of pipes |
and heaped up plates of cut tobacco were |
provided, and the wide, old-fashiOned |
kitchen CRATE was piled with turf.
A motley assembly gathered round it
men in long frieze coats and brOgues and |
gray wOrsted stockings, and women in their
hOmespun pettiCOats aud scarlet cloaks.
~ NO Iu6Ll JuSJlC5y JuOF6 was muCR KIND, |
and even delicate feeling shown. No loud
voice reached that part of the house where
the master and Miss Alice were Frustrated
by their terrible grief.
Of course the tragedy was well dis
cussed. Alice's inquiry for her mother, on
recovering from her swOoL, and Mr..
O'Hara's answer were commented uDOn in
awe-stricken whispers.
The general opinion was that Mr.. OHara
had been right in saving his daughter, who
had, in all human probability, a long and
prosperous life. before her, rather than the !
mother, whose course was nearly run, but
they pitied him exceedingly, and prophe-
sled that he would never get over it, as the
servants, who went up stairs from time to
time, brought them accounts of how he was
taking on" He and his daughters ltor
Mrs. Humphries had arrived) were trying
to comfort one another in the room next
that in which Mrs. O'Hara lay so quiet;
and thus the days wore round to that be-
fore the funeral.
The daughters had seen their mother laid
in her coffin, and were alone with her, gaz-
ing their last at her calm face, when Mr.
Young entered. There were no facilities
for communication with those at a distance,
such as we have in these days, and he had
not been able to reach his poor bride any
sooner. He was rushing toward her, when
the remembrance of her dream, thus fear
fully fulfilled, struck a chill through him
and he stood still, staring at the coffin.
with the two mOtiOnless figures at either
end.
40 Robert, Robert" cried Alice, throw
ing herself into his arms, " it is my dream
come true"
No more revels took place in the old
house at TullymOre. Soon after the fune-
raj, Mr.. O'Hara and his daughter turned
their backs upon it forever The old man
lived with Alice and her husband at Drim-
rath, and, dying alta very advanced age,
was buried with the Youngs.
He is described by the few old people
who now remember him as having been ga
CHEEKY, pleasant old gentleman, very fond
OF Mr. and Mrs. YOungs children" So we
may hope he forgot his grief in a great
measure. One thing is certain-neither he
nor Alice ever saw Tullymore again.
Alice led long and useful life at Dim.
rath. Her tombstone tells how she fed the
hungry, and clothed the naked, and died
by all / read the inscription
some years ago; it is now hardly legible:
but, if If spoke truth, her name is inscribed
in certain imperishable records, of which
time is powerless to obliterate a letter.
Robert presented his Alice, soon after
their marriage, with lOcket or medallion,
containing her mothers hair at one side,
and on the other a painting representing
the coffin on a table, with Alice and her
sister Ann standing at either end. Round
the edge are the words, ''ThOugh lost to
sight, to memory dear"
This quaint old relic often graees the
neck OF a greatgreat granddaughter of
A party of the old Iady's descendants
went to visit the property at TuIlymore |
asst year, and were rOwed across Moross