The Irish standard., 1894-07-07
MINNEAPOLIS, MINI. SATURDAY., JULY 2, 1894.

ls in all our thoughts. We canvass th'
chances of his escape; and every nov
and then one of us approaches window
which overlooks the street and communi
Gates with secret sentinel, who brings
news from the court house. How eagerl,
we speculate on every report that reaches
ue-on the character, position, and, alas
religion of each juryman-on the delay
in the finding Of the verdict. The table
and it's stores are deserted. O'Donohoe
who, with O'Brien and McManus had
been already convicted, lies on his bed
in an agony Of suspense for the issue OF
the night. He idolized-he absolutely
lived but to think of Meagher. Nc
Manus, erect as rit]eman on parade,
strides vehemently up and down the
apartment, muttering now and again
some impetuous aspiration or trying to
inspire others with the confidence be
feigns to feel. Anthony Organ and
Leyne sit with folded arms, side by side,
in remote corner speaking not word.
The o hers are vario, sly disposed some
reading Madden's United Irishmen, y
others transcrib4ng ballads from the
Library of ireland, Others sketching por-
traits of Meagher, Mitchell, O'Brien and
Duffy, and one or two drawing pixies of
formidable proportions on the whitened
walls with the original crayon, charred
stick.
1t was solemn hour. The fate of the
most beloved of brothers trembled in
the scale; the fate of him for whose res
toration We would haye died with bound
ing joy. Suddenly the preconcerted
signal is given from below, and the mes
sage delivered to us that 1.-The jury had
disagreed" Not sound for moment,
and then such a thrilling uproarious
shout OF JOY arose as never issued from
mortal voices since the angels sang the
worlds birth hymn. Alas, our deliriun
was but short lived. Another sigma
from below, and this the message of
doc om-"The report was false! He is con-
victed. They are bringing him from the
court!" I shall not seek to paint the
change that. fell like the announcement
of eternal woe to us poor disenehanted
mourners. Then came bursts Of sorrow
and imprecations Of rage. We had borne
up against every reverse and discomtit-
ure. We had seen three others torn from
us and doomed by the law. But while
Meagher remained we scarcely knew a
regret certainly had not utterly des-
paired. But, now-now!
!. They did bring him from the court.
We received him at the end Of the corri.
dor, and through the iron gateway
grasped his hand. We had not the usual
welcome for him this night. He laughed
gayly when he met US: "Good night,
boys! Here am, and found guilty; and
glad, too, that they did convict me, for if
I had been acquitted the people might
say had not done my duty! lam guilty
and condemned for the old country = *
Come in, come into the cell and lot me
have my dinner" We accompanied
him to the cell. Some of us could not
remain. Leyne stood .on the corridor,
weeping bitterly. O'Donohoe was spell
bound at the doorway. McManus, shak-
ing with agitation, held Meagher in his
arms. The young convict was deeply
affected by these evidences Of grief and
affection. But he soon recovered COM
posure, and, coming into the passage,
rev us into the ROOM Come income
starved. Let us have one hours
fun His spirit infected us as by magic
We sat around him and heard the details
of his trial given with inlmitable humor
and mimicry. He had us all Laughing
at his drollery in few minutes. [ shall
never forget the merriment McManus
evoked by asking, in his fiercest tone,
when Meagher had finished his recital,
II say, Meagher, did you say anything
to the d scouLdrels when the verdict
was read?" Meagher shrieked with de.
light.
We had an hours fun. As Davis has
sung of another gathering,
"With bumpers and cheers we did as he bade,
For Tom Meagher was loved by the Irish Bri-
gade!'
We drank to O'Brien and Butt. We
toasted "The Convicted Traitors; Gavan
d uffy and the prisoners in Newgate and
Kilmainham,' 2 and we pledged briming
glass to s'The Irish Republic" Meagher,
O'D onohoe and Leyne spoke speech af-
ter speech, and the last sang Duffy's no
ble song, "Watch and WaitT to chorus
that made the old walls reel again. How
rapturou ely we thnndered the conclud-
ing key verse:
.Brothers, If this day should set,
Another yet must crown our freedom,
That will come with roll of drum,
And trampling files, with men to lesd them.
Who can save
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