The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-04-03
N 0 R E E N.

Ian, but before noon the tide Of war
swept through the valley. 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-
tives engaged In the deadly strife. The
distant moaning of cannon borne upon
the wind made every heart tremble
with fear. After awhile several strag-
glers from the fight appeared In view.
who. on approaching, occasioned gen.
leral commotion among the crowd who
were desirous of learning the result of
the battle. 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 flight, but this
also was contradcted, and the evening
closed In uncertainty and terror.
At mornings dawn the same uncer-
tainty and anxiety existed in the town
of Armagh. The walls were still
crowded with the anxious townspeople,
eager to obtain the first intelligence.
Some, tired and fatigued with watch
ing, had gone. and their places were
filed by others. but there was one, n
young woman. who from the first had
never left the walls, who sat patiently
and motionless. without uttering a
word. There was q sadness 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 safe
| ty of some dear friend. All night she
had remained sitting upon the spot,
which she had not quilted even for a
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
n young soldier in Marshal Bagnal's
army. He had been kind friend and
benefactor TO her poor, widowed moth
er and to her brother father, for
he had by kindness and affection sup
piled 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
service of the army, and, though only
private, he had reason to expect pro-
motion. Prudence made them post
pone their marriage, but love spoke In
more enforcing language, and they
at length determined that they would
hear the arguments Of prudence after
marriage. The lovers were therefore
to be united when Marshal Bagnal's
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 n 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
faculties.
A minute, however. had scarcely
elapsed when they were convinced Of
the soundness of her mind and the ac-
curacy of her eyes and ears. A man
mounted on black horse was seen in
the distance. and, as she had stated,
covered with foam and approaching at
full speed, followed by two other horse
men. Anxiety had sharpened her sight
and had given her. SO to speak, the in
stinct 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 leaned eagerly forward to catch
the sound that might fall from the
horsemans lips. but he answered them
| only by signs. which could be distinct
! ly interpreted. The multitude awaited
/ his. nearer approach, but the soldier,
turning his horses head In a south.
ward direction, passed the town and
continued his flight
The second horseman approached
and passed, as the other, to the south.
without speaking; the third. who was
wounded, slowly advanced. keeping
the anxious crowd In painful suspense.
But Noreen, whose anxiety was work.
ed up to the highest pitch. exclaimed
before the countenance of the traveller
| could be discerned by those around:
''It is lost! 1t is lost! And he will tell
you soF'
| She then wrung her hands in anguish
and set up the mournfu cry of the
Irish for the beloved of their hearts.
"All Is lost" the horseman at length
said. "The whole army is destroyed.
Few have escaped"
Noreen at this intelligence gave q
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 mis-.
fortune. 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 few the spirit
from its earthly tenement. The beau.
tlful Noreen was II corpse, For time
the bystanders forgot their own fate,
| and, gazing upon the once lovely No
| faa