The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-08-21
REDMOND FITZGERALD.

Although my father was a soldier, in the
military acceptation of the term, | don't
think there ever waS another man in this
world So badly cut out for the army.
Not that he was hy any means coward,
or given to turn the LEFT cheek when ~ntten
on the right; but SO ad,er WIS he 10 the
shedding of human bloud or to the entailing
OF misery on others. that very little wa.
expected Of him when his regiment was
ordered for duty to the County Wexford, on
the breaking out Of the Irish rebellion,
in 1873.
As if Fate would favor him. the company
to which he belonged was not engaged once
throughout the whole of that memorable
struggle, although often placed in positions
OF great danger, and the witness of scenes
OF the most heartrending character
But now that his humanity was so rre-
quently and lOrcibly appealed to by those
who were suspected Of dislOyalty, or found
in open arms, hi. comrni-crutiun and friend
ly Offices were such reproach to some of the
non-commiSsoned officers, that he might
not have escaped the charge Of treason, had
he not been i'll some way relsted to the col
onel of the regiment.
1t was, believe. in Fnniscorthy that his
company was quartcred shortly before the
battle Of Vinegar Hill, AID as billets were
the order Of the day. he and two others
were assigned to handsome white cottage
on the verge of the town, belonging to a re-
spectacle though suspected Catholic family
named O'Brien, and consisting Of still
hale and healthy couple with their only
twenty.
OF course such guests were far from well
come to the inmates but as my father s
name and kind acts had somehow already
reached their ears. when once satisfied of his
identity they began to bless their stars that
matters were no worse. Mary, in particu-
lar, seemed greatly relieved on this head
and having learned accidentally that his
"market was made''-tlat is, that he was
marricd-she began to show less reserve
toward him than she eyinced toward his two
companions, who were something less lib
eral and humane than he was.
1t is not to be supposed that a lovely and
well-educatcd girl like Mary OBrien could
have arrived at the age of maturity, or,
| rather, approached the threshold of woman
hood, without having more than one ad-
mircr.
Consequently, it was by no means sur
prising that young Redmond Fitzgerald, who
had recently come to reside near the town,
and Mr. Henry Armstrong of the Hill, as
he was called, should both have fallen iu
| love with her; although the two rivals had
never met, notwithstanding that Redmond
had seen Henry while Henry was utterly
| unacquainted with Redmond's appearance
II was. however, thought strange that Hen
nv. who was Protestant, should unite him.
self to a Catholic But, then. Armstrong
was far from being in love with Mary, anC
! only desired a union with her SO as to obtair
| the snug few acres that should fall to heI
as an only child, and that lay quite conyen
lent to his own small property, that he haC
so involved with his riotous and extravagan
living, as to have permitted it to slip on
of his grasp, his claim to it being nov
merely nominal. 90 Hh
h. But Mary was too thoroughly aware o
his beartlcssness and general character t
entertain. any idea OF linking her late