Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-05-31
ALICE McMAHON.

| was sitting IN my office one even
ing in the month of December, 1851,
when an incident took place so char
acteristic of the people and the times
that it may be worth recording
1t had been "office day." and a
great variety of cases had come be-
fore me for adjudication. | was tired
and weary of my work; when just as
as darkness closed ina young woman
presented herself and requested a
private audience Her appearance
was not altogether that of an ordinary
peasant. She wore a neat, modern
bonnet, a veil so thick that | could
not see her features, and her dress in
other respects showed SYMPTOMS not
ONLY of comfort, but of taste.
No sooner had | taken her into my
private office, than to my utter aston
she dropped down on her
knees before me, and placing her
hands ia an attitude of agonized sup
plication, she exclaimed
ooh, Mr.. Trench, what shall | do,
what shall l do ?-you only can help
me!
| was shocked and distressed at the
attitude assumed toward me; and in
ssting upon her rising at once, which
she seemed somewhat unwilling to
do, l placed her on a chair, and re.
uuested her to let me know her name,
and what it was that distressed her.
She appeared very uneasy lest our
conversation should be overheard, and
went herself to the door to make sure
ii was closed and no one was listen
ing outside; then, having in some de
gree recovered her composure, she
said
sMy name is Alice McMahon-tho'
that does not matter much; but, Oh !!
tell me. sir, isn't it true that the police
have a warrant in their hands to ar
rest Ned Cunningham 2
Really replied |, 4 am not sure; |
don't recollect at present any man of
that name tor whose apprehension /
have issued a warrant.
'Mr. Trench, / may as well tell you
the real truth, and when you know
all, perhaps you will tell me what |
had best to do for God knows | am
fairly broken-hearted Ned and l
were to be married soon My people
were not satisfied with the match, for
they always held their heads high
among their neighbors; and Ned had
only few acres of land, and they
said he wasn't good enough for me.
God help me! If they knew what
poor, miserable, unhappy girl | am
pow, they would think anything good
enough for the like of me. Well, as |
was saying, my people weren't salts
fed at the match, and mother was
stiff and distant, and father swore he
would never consent; and at last they
made me promise to tell Ned | would
never see MIN any more
Was that Ned Cunningham a fine,
tall young man, with sandy hair, and
as active chap as any in the barony?'
The same said she; L knew well
YOU must have known him. for reasons
there is no use in telling now
4 know him WE'LL replied |, that
is, he was pointed out to me more
than once; but his character is none
of the best, and l fear he is in danger
of being arrested even now
i know it, said the girl, calmly, i
know it but too well. But let me tell
you my story-it won't keep you very
long; and then you can do what you
please.
Here she took off her bonnet quietly,
and laid it on the table beside her;
then for the first time, by the light OF
the lamp which was burning, | saw the
face of my visitor. She appeared to
be about twenty or twenty-one years
of age. Her countenance was deeid-
edly prepossessing, but OF cast which
is generally termed interesting rather
than strikingly handsome. Her fea-
lures were very regular, and she had
a quiet, composed manner, and a
clear, calm eye, which indicated q
mind not devoid of thoughtfulness as
we'll as courage. Her figure was
slight and feminine, rather below the
average height, but singularly well.
proportional. and-if | may use the
expresSion-lady-like. All her mo-
tons were graceful, and appeared to
be those of a girl who had been edu
Gated far beyond the ordinary average
of an Irish peasant.
Her manner was so CAIN that 1
couli scarcely believe it to be the