The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-01-10
The O'Donohue


English to come and assist him in his
struggles with his Irish foes, thus Civ
ing the Britons a foothold in Ireland,
the Irish people were In constant
state Of rebellion. One rising after an
other took place, only to be suppressed
In 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 it's
sovereign, whose name was preceded
by the letter 60" 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
ODonohue, 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 I. 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.
The nuptials between Thomas O'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 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 Of
a suddenly developed energy laid plans
for her husbands rescue. She thought
out a 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
condemned 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'Donohue's cell
and were left alone with him. They
remained, half an hour When they
emerged 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
farewell to her husband, leaving him to
the dread ordeal of the morning The
two women entered "chair" and
were carried away.
Coming to wood, the door of the
chair flew open, and man. throwing
off woman's apparel, sprang out. An
nth cstn a n q
horse, which O'Donohue-for it 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 we'll for
the night the keeper went to his cell.
He found O'Donohue kneeling by his
cot, his face buried in it. Touched by
the sight, as we'll as the sad visit that
had so lately occurred, the jailer asked
in kindly tone:
''Is there anything can do for your
comfort?" ;
O'Donohue did not reply. Then the
jailer was struck with the diminutive
size Of the prisoner.
"Speak, man." he said sharply. els
there anything can do for your"
Nothing" came the reply in voice
which was manifestly disguised and
u. CD, Notwithstanding an effort to
IN K, it sound like mans. was evil
-!y ! woman's.
.lEe a fash the jailer unlocked the
-, entered and. Selling the prisoner,
>:...2I him up and looked into his face.
lie s;W Ail2en O'Donohue. He start
81 to leave the cell to give the alarm
when Ailecn 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 pris-
oner coming out Of Jail by personal
ing his wife had been that he was
much taller than she. To reduce his
HEIGHT he sank upon Kathleen in order
that by drawing up his knees under
his skirts his real height might not
appear, and he buried his face upon
her shoulder that his features might
NOT no coon