The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1886-12-11
Sui Dhuv
THE COINER.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN,
Author of 1.-THE Collegians.'' etc.
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.)
Author of 1.-THE CoIlegians." etc.

It came like thunderstroke upon the
mind of the elder brother. Dinny-as he
was still called-he thought it impos-
sible thattbe transactioncouldha have taken
place without his knowing it; he remon-
strated violently-but the civil officer
persisted in the course he was pursuing,
and the su]en silence Of the younger,
joined to the paleness and conscious
anxiety which overspread his features,
operated with more fearful influence
upon the incredulity Of the youth, than
all tue confident pc, tinacity of his accn-
sers. The prisoner was led away and
flung into the county goal, after wiring
ing the hand Of his relative with bit
terness Of feeling, which those only can
imagine who part for the last time with
good friend, and leave him no legacy
but shame and loneliness.
Neither has it fallen to the lot OF many
to know what the degree OF that 'onell-
ness was in the instance OF tue elder
Macnamara. Unacquainted with, from
the manner of his education, as we'll as
untitled. from the nature Of his DISPOSE
zion, for the exercise Of any OF those
noble resources by which more Guilt
yated minds are enabled to support
themselves beneath the pressure OF an
unforeseen affection, he abandoned him
self. without an effort at resistance, to
the spirit of desolation which came
upon him. he became spiritless, and
Responding, neglected his employments,
forsook the wake, the dance, the fair. the
hurting match, and the public house,
and awaited in hopeless anxiety the is
gne of his brothers trial, stalking like
one that is moped with SORROW, around
the precincts of the prison. stunning
sight ant, converse OF his old acquain-
tances, and pitied even by those whose
heads bore frequent testimony to his
prompti5ude ana ready spirit in earlier
and prouder days. Had the offense
wi h which his father was charged been
merely an Outrage, it would only have
affected his fortunes, or his personal
safety. and left some consolation to those
who bore his name; but tbeft--slleep-
stealing bud been superadded, AMI dis
grace was fixed upon his reputation; fer,
amoug the peasantry of ireland, their
proverbial honesty is not SO much &C.
casioned by their adherence Of the posi-
tive INJURY which the contrary practlce
inflicts on their neighbor, as by their
contempt for the Indication which the
latter affords Of low and mean spirit on
Che part of the perpetrator. Thus, for
instance, on one occasion, when the
elder brother overheard neighbor
wondering that any body wouldn't drop
down with The shame, to be caught tloen
such IL name thing" and retorted Gil the
bag. that she had herself hal son
hanged for murder, she replied, with
infinite composure and satisfaction, ooh,
the heavens be praised that il wasn't a.
cow or sheep he stoie!''
The compassion entertained for the
elder aud unsupported brother, was sui
fcient to procure him admission on the
day If Macnamaras trial, within the
precincts OF the bar, and at the foot OF
the table appointed for the accommoda-
tion of evidence and Of the crier, q
busting aud important parsonage, whose
duty 1t is III Irish courtR to be as noisy
az possible in procuring 'tsilence"-to
perform the part Of mouth-piece to the
clerk OF the crowu---marshal the spec
tators to their diff erent places-thrust
out the orange women--knock little boys
Oh the head with Il long white wand
and convey by means Of slit in the end
of said wand, epistles from all quarters
of the court. Under the patronage Of
this great man, poor young Mcnamara
was permitted to occupy one of the
steps leading to the witness table, while
his brother was called on before God
and his country, to answer to a charge
Of life and death.
It is needless to enter into any detail
either on the particulars of the case, or
she feelings of the friends, according as
every circumstance of confederation was
brought forward; until at length, the
deep aud deadly conviction of the guilt
of the accused became stamped upon the
mind of every spectator. and was mani
tested by the emphatic nod and COM
preston of the lips, which passed in
silence among the more intelligent Of
the listeners. Still, however, the eyes
Of the devoted wretch and his forlorn
relative were fixed. in all but utter hope
lessness, upon the door of the jury
room; the stake at issue being too aw-
fully great to permit them to yield up
their reliance upon the hope which they
knew to be unfonnded, until circnm-