Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-11
DAILY. STORY
THE O'DoNoHUE.
lOriginal.1

! the early kings of Ireland, invited the
English to cone and assist him in his
struggles with his Irish foes, thus Civ
| ing the Britons a foothold in Ireland
the Irish people were in a constant
state of rebellion. One rising after an
other took place. only to be suppressed
in the end, when the leader or leaders
were, if apprehended, executed. The
counties into which Ireland is divided
were each in those days ruled by its
sovereign, whose name was preceded
by the letter 90" From these sprang
the O'Neills, the O'Gradys, the O'Con-
nells and others.
1t was during the reign of the pro-
tector, Oliver Cromwell, that Thomas
O'Donohue, 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
Their, a ruler, had been beheaded dur
Ing the reign of Charles 1. 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
Of age and succeeded to his great land
ed estates his people, who were griev'
ously oppressed. looked to him to do
something for them.
Tho l- ThO,,,oc n'Don
ohue and Aileen Mavourneen had
scarcely been celebrated before the
young husband, joining forces with a
neighboring ruler, headed a rebellion
against the English. At first he was
successful, but owing to the treachery
of his colleague, who made peace with
the common enemy and turned against
him, O'Donohue was defeated. Flee
ing with few followers, he lived a
wretched life, hiding in bog or forest,
and was at last captured in a starving
condition.
He was tried and sentenced to be
beheaded. At first his young wife
seemed about to break down under the
tragedy to be enacted, but soon rallied
and with remarkable concentration Gf
a suddenly developed energy laid plans
for her husbands rescue. She thought
out method of getting him out of his
Jail and induced some of his faithful
adherents to have a 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 short time with the
man in his cell on the night
preceding his execution. Captivated by
her youth, her beauty and her tears,
he consented. On the evening in ques-
ton she appeared at the prison door
attended by her sister Kathleen. The
two women entered O'Donohues cell
and were left alone with him. They
remained half an hour. When they
Kathleen almost carried her
sister, who appeared to be convulsed
with grief, her face resting on Kath-
leen's shoulder. The jailers stood about
plying the young wife who had bid
to her husband, leaving him to
the dread ordeal of the morning. The
two women entered a chair" and
were carried away.
Coming to a wood, the door of the
chair flew open, and n man, throwing
OFF woman's apparel, sprang out. An
other stepped from the wood leading a
horse, which O'Donohue-for it was he
and, with q wave of his
hand to those he left, dashed away into |
he forest.
At the usual hour for visiting the |
prisoner to see that all was well for
he night the keeper went to his cell. |
he found O'Donohue kneeling by his |
.ot. his face buried in it. Touched by |
he sight. as we'll as the sad visit that |
lad so lately occurred, the jailer asked |
n kindly tone:
us there anything 1 can do for your |
.omfort?'
O'Donohue did not reply. Then the |
aller was struck with the diminutive |
izc of the prisoner.
Speak. man." he said sharply. els |
here anything L can do for you?"
Nothing" came the reply in a voice
which was manlfestly disguised and
which, Notwithstanding an effort to
make it sound like a mans, was evil
Iently woman's.
Like q fash the jailer unlocked the
ell, entered and, Selling the prisoner.
'ulled him up and looked into his face.
lie saw Aileen O'Donohue. He start
d to leave the cell to give the alarm
vhen Aileen attempted with her deli
ate hands to hold him, but he broke
way, and soon horsemen were dash
ng in every direction to recapture the
scaped prisoner.
The difficulty in the way of the pris-
ner coming out of Jail by personal
ng his wife had been that he was
nuch taller than she. To reduce his
eight he sank upon Kathleen in order
hat by drawing up his knees under
is skirts his real height might not
ppear, and he buried his face upon
er shoulder that his features might
OF be seen.