Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-18
NOREEN.
A Pathetic Story of an Irish
Girls Love.

The morning sun shone IN all its
grandeur on the beautiful valley of Cal
Ian. The sky was cloudlcss and there was
cool and gentle breeze stirring. The
verdure seemed dressed In natures
brightest green, and the buds were open
Ing on the trees; but before noon the tide
of war swept through the valley leav-
ing behind its usual horrors-the wound
ed, the dying and the dead. The inhab-
itants of Armagh were standing upon
the walls, men, women and children,
anxious to ascertain the result of the
battle, for many had friends and rela-
tiyes engaged in the deadly strife. The
distant moaning of cannon borne upon
the wind made every heart tremble with
fear. After awhile several straggers
from the fight appeared In view. who, on
approaching, occasioned a general COM
motion among the crowd who were de-
sirous OF learning the result of the bat.
tie. The accounts varied and only served
to torture the expectants. Late in the
day information arrived that the British
had been defeated and the whole army
put to fight; but this, also, was contra.
dicted, and the evening closed in un-
certainty and terror.
tainty and anxiety existed in the town OF
Armagh. The walls were still crowded
with the anxious townspeoplc, eager to
obtain the first intelligence. Some, tired
and fatigued with watching. had gone
and their places were filled by others;
but there was one. young woman, who
from the first had never left the walls
who sat patiently and motionless, with
out uttering a word. There was sad
ness in her fair face, and the quick and
successive changing of her countenance
as the various reports OF the combat met
her ear told how much she felt and how
deeply she was interested in the safety
Of some dear friend. All night she had
remained sitting upon the spot, which
she had not quilted even for moment,
Her face was pale and her eyes were dim
with intense watching 1t was whispered
among the crowd that she had formed an
attachment for young soldier In Mar
shal Bagnal's army. He had been kind
friend and benefactor to her poor, Wild
owed mother and to her brother and
father, for he had. by kindness and af-
fection, supplied the loss of both. They
loved each other tenderly, and the hand
of the lovely girl was to be his reward.
The young man was poor, but sought to
gain fortune In the then profitable sery-
ice of the army, and, though only a
private. he had reason to expect promo
ton. Prudence made them postpone
their marriage, but love spoke in more
enforcing language, and they at length
determined that they would hear the ar
guments of prudence after marriage. The
lovers were therefore to be united when
Marshal Bagnals corps entered the
town.
The patience of the multitude was
nearly exhausted when the young wo-
man, who had not before spoken, sud.
denly clapped her hands, crying:
"a horseman! A horseman"
All gazed, but none could discern him.
The young woman was positive, and
again cried out
"Look! He comes! His horse is of
dark color and covered with foam. See!
There is a second-now third"
All strained their eyes by looking to
the place to which she pointed, but no
one else could see or hear anything. 1t
was the opinion of those around that
grief and anxiety had impaired her fac
ulties.
A minute, however, had scarcely
elapsed when they were convinced of
tHe sOuuuuCSS Vi utI ulluu anu TIE uC-
curacy of her eyes and ears. A man
mounted on black horse was seen in
the distance, and. as she had stated, COW
cred with foam and approaching at full
speed, followed by two other horsemen.
Anxiety had sharpened her sight and
had given her, so to speak, the instinct
of an Indian.
When the first horseman was within
hearing, thousand tongues inquired the
fortune of the day. Noreen spoke not;
her bosom heaved heavily, and she lean
ed eagerly forward to catch the sound
that might fall from the horseman's lips,
but he answered them only by signs,
which could be distinctly interpreted
The multitude awaited his nearer ap.
proach, but the soldier, turning his
horses head In a southwark direction,
passed the town and continued his flight.
The second horseman approached and
passed, as the other, to the south, with
out speaking; the third. who was wound
ed, slowly advanced, keeping the anxious
crowd in painful suspense. But Noreen,
whose anxiety was worked up to the
highest pitch. exclaimed before the
countenapce of the traveller could be dis
cerned by those around:
at Is lost-it is lost! And he will tell
you so!"
She then wrung her. hands in anguish
and set up the mournful cry of the Irish
for the beloved of their hearts.
"All is lostw the horseman at length
said. "The whole army is destroyed: few
have escaped"
Noreen at this intelligence gave a loud
and fearful shrek and sank upon the
ground. The bystanders raised her. AS
sudden joy often destroys the vital spark,
so also does unlocked for misfortune.
The mind Of the young girl had been on
the rack for many hours; still there was
hope, but when this soft passion fed so
also flew the spirit from its earthly tenc-
ment. The beautiful Noreen was
corpse. For time the bystanders forgot