Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-29

mae candle at his head
Nae priest beside his bed"
The awfulness of the partial storm had
struck others besides little Eileen. Three
or four people in the village street had
seen the Tough become dashed into fury
in moment, and had also watched the
boat being overturned; and as quickly
as possible another boat was launched,
and the bodies of Doolan and Devenny
were sought for.
Jack Devenny was brought to shore,
and after restoratives had been used, he
recovered consciousness.
Where's Tam?" where's Tam?"
were the first words he said.
eve Gamma get him." was the reply;
and TOMS widow wrung her hands and
sobbed bitterly.
"They'll no get him." chuckled Bet
ty, from her post of observation at the
cabin door on the hill overhanging
Tamney Lough:
"Nae winding-sheet. nae hearss,
Nae coffin for mis- corse.''
One or two of the searchers overheard
her, and they shook their fists in her
face with rage.
All that day and all the next day they
sought, but Tom Doolan's body could
not be found. It was, indeed, neve7
found, and the lake was regarded with
superslitious horror for years.
But to return to the witch. Little
Eileen was an intelligent child, and she
told her father how Betty had babe her
watch the dish in the tub of water, while
she had been muttering low to herself {;
how it had turned refund and round,
sinking at last to the bottom; and how
Betty had exclaimed: cay, that's yer
fathers boat, an Tom Doolan, the thief
an villain, ill be drownedp
Devenny was not quite so unnamed
by superstitious dread as his neighbors
besides which, he was sorry for the loss
of his comrade, and he determined that
his loss should be avenged. Feeling his
way very cautiously, he found q couple
of accomplices among the kneeling crowd
in the chapel-ya1d next Sunday, and he
settled with them what was to be the
witch's fate.
One night, when all was silent in the
village of Tamney, the three men stole
out of Devenny's cottage, and coasted
the reedy edge of the Tough, in whose
gloomy depths poor Doolan was lying
No candle, or priest, or wake, or burial
had the poor fellow had, end they shud-
dered as they passed his unknown grave,
crossing themselves piously, and think.
leg of his wandering soul. The water
hens were disturbed by their stealthy
tread, and a flock of plover flew over
head, uttering their wild, almost human
cries. On they went, cautiously mount.
ing the hill, and pausing several times tc
listen before they reached the witch's
door. The reason for this caution was
that, Donegal being in disturbed state,
parties Of yeomalry secured the country
every night, and apprehended every one
whom they found abroad after 9 o'clock
All the lights were to be extinguished
at that hour, SO Betty's dip candle had
long been out, and no glimmer appeared
at her single tiny window.
Where's the kale stalk?" asked one
of the men. They climbed upon the
root, stopped up the chimney, and then
putting the cabbage stalk into the key
hole blew in clouds of sulphur through
it into the cabin.
"We'u smoke her the way his rever
ence smoked the BEES" said the, station
ing themselves at the key-hole in turn
and they did not desist from their labor
until dawn appeared.
So they smothered the witch; she was
cold and dead next day when the door
was opened; and as there were no coro
ner's inquests in those days, her being
found dead excited but little attention
> Fpdeed, at the time of the Union Ireland
! dea,in SO disordered a state that the
but litfsone old women in her bed was
, end was aticed. The manner of bel
: around Tamna. to her old neighbors
o never spoken Of Tough; but it was
though years afterwafot in whispers
: to the ruined wallsteadssTents pointed
side, and told their litth chi11. the hill
t the witch's fate had beu The sXh&'
J. was told the story by an Nd man Who,
t mother had lived in Tamnes at the t; ;,oa .
On our venturing to doub( the ex;st
,r ence of witches at the preset dow y.
IL declared there was then (Augus. T217V
n to his certain knowledge, witch u;n :
,. close to his own farm; and he pos
. out pretty, fair-haired woman, moos7