The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-12-31
The O'DOnOhUe
Ioriglnnll

we early kings OF Ireland. invited the
English to come and assist him in his
struggles with his Irish foes, thus Civ.
ing the Britnns foothold In Ireland,
the Irish people were In constant
state of rebellion. One rising after an
ether took place, only to be suppressed
b the end, when the leader or leaders
were, II apprehended. executed. The
counties into which Ireland Is divided
were each in those days ruled by Its
sovereign, whose name was preceded
hg the letter 90" From these sprang
the o'NeiIls, the o'Gradys. the o'Con-
nells and others.
1t was during the reign Of the pro-
tector, oliver Cromwell that Thomas
o'Donohue. a young patriot, wooed
and won Aileen Mavourneen, one of
those Irish girls celebrated for their
fair compilations, their blue eyes and
their musical voices. O'Donohue's ia
ther. ruler, had been beheaded dur
Ing the reign OF Charles l. At the
time Of his fathers death Thomas was
but seven years old, He then vowed
that when he grew to manhood he
would devote his life to driving out
the English. So revered was the name
Of the father that when the son came
Qs aee and succeeded to bis great land
- estates hls people, who were griev-
oasly oppressed. hooked 70 him to do
something for them.
a. The nuptials between Thomas o'DOn.
o6uS and Aileen Mavournesn had
scarcely been celebrated before the
young husband, joining forces with d
neighboring ruler, headed q rebellion
against the English. At first he was
Wuccessful, but owing to the treachery
Of his COLLEAGUES, who made peace with
the common enemy and turned against
him, o'Don0hue was defeated. Flee.
Ing with few followers, he lived a
wretched life, hiding in bog or forest,
and was at last captured In starving
condition.
He was tried and sentenced to be
boheaded. Az first his young wife
seemed ab0Gt to break down under the
tragedy to be enacted. but soon rallied
and with remarkable concentration Of
suddenly developed energy laid plans
Tor her husbands rescue. She thought
out a method OF getting him out OF his
yall and induced some OF his faithful
adherents to have ship ready ON the
coast to take him to France In case her
ruse was successful.
She sought permission OF the con.
Queror to spend a short time with the
condemned man In his cell on the night
preceding his execution. Captivated by
her youth, her beauty and her tears,
ha consented. On the evening in cues
ton she appeared at the prison door
attended by her sister Kathleen. The
two women entered O'Donohue's cell
and were left alone with him. They
remained hair an hour. When they
emerged KaINleen almost carried her
sister. who appeared to be eonvulsed
with grief, her face resting on Kath.
leen's shoulder. The jailers stood about
plying the young wife who had bid
farewell to her husband. leaving him to
the dread ordeal Of the morning. The
two women entered a "ehalr" and
were carried away.
Coming to wood, the door OF the
chair dew open. and a man. throwing
on woman's apparel, sprang out An.
other stepped from the wood leading q
horse. which 0'Don0hue--for Il was he
mounted and. with a wave Of his
hand to those he left. dashed away into
the forest.
At the usual hour for visiting the
prisoner to see that all was well for
the night the keeper went to his cep
He found o'Donohne kneeling by hla
cot his face buried In It. Touched by
the signt, as well as the sad visit that
had so lately occurred the jailer asked
In kindly tone:
Is there anything | can do for your
eomforty'
o'DonohIe did not reply. Then the
jaIler was struck with the dlmlnutive
size Of the prisoner,
''Speak. man." he said sharply. "Is
there anything can do for youY"
Nothing" came the reply In a voice
which was manlfestly disguised and
which. Notwithstanding an EFFORT to
make II sound like mans, was evil
IDENTITY woman's.
Like dash the TALLER unlocked the
cell. entered and, selElng the prisoner.
pulled him up and looked into his face,
He saw Aileen o'Donohue. He start,
ed TO leave the cell TO give the alarm
when AIleen attempted with her deli,
cate hands to hold him, but he broke
away, and soon horsemen were dash.
Ing in every direction to recapture the
escaped prisoner.
The difficulty IN the way Of the prls-
oner coming out OF jail by personal,
Ing his wife had been that he was
much taller than she, To reduce bis
height he sank upon Kathleen In order
that by drawing up his knees under
his skirts his real height might not
appear. and h0 buried hla face uD0n