The Irish standard., 1914-07-25

IT'S my music so wild,
I'm liberty's child.
And love, I love liberty.
;:
Helen ceased to sing, but her
fingers still wandered among the
strings of her little harp. when Regi-
maid stopped short and listened.
"Helen, did you hear a noise
among the brushwood yonder?"
Scarce were the words spoken. how
ever. when from the spot rushed
Shane O'Neill and four of his clans
men. Reginald Mcguire threw aside
the harp, and drew his sword; clasp
ing the lifeless form of Helen with
his left arm, he defended himself gal
lantly; but she was torn from him
in an instant. He rushed on O'Neill,
but the contest was of short dura-
ton; the powerful Tyrone soon laid
him dead at his feet, and followed
his vassals, who, at some little dis
lance. had their horses in readiness
for instant flight. The inamimate
form of Helen O'Donnell was placed
on the horse, in front of Tyrone,
and all being ready, they proceeded
at full speed out of Donegal, and
were not long in reaching their own
border, where, for the present. they
might have no fear of pursuit.
AS soon as the barbarous ingrati-
tude of Shane O'Neill was made
known to O'Donnell. he instantly
summoned his chiefs, and, aided by
those of Fermanagh, marched to at
tack Shane's castle, which stood on
the banks of Lough Neagh. O'Neill
drew out to give them battle, and,
after a desperate fight which lasted
three hours, he beat them complete
ly over his border with immense
loss. O'Donnell was defeated, but
not satisfied; he, without delay,
sought aid from the English, who did
not let so favorable an opportunity
pass of working their own Interior
schemes. Both English and Irish
armies combined, proceeded to his
country. Shane O'Neill met and en-
tirely defeated them. He now
marched towards Dundalk; and, af-
ter gaining another signal victory at
Ravensdale, laid siege to the town;
but the clans of Hy Mai (for such
was their ancient name), although
irresistible in the field, were not at
all fitted for defending or attacking
fortresses. He was, therefore. forced
to break up the siege and fly into
the mountains of Ravensdale.
The Scotch who occupied Carrick-
fergus, Immediately in his rear, now
attacked him; he twice defeated
them. In the first action he killed
with his own hand their chief, James
M'Donnell; and in the second, took
his brother, surly Boy, prisoner; but
all the bravery of the men, and spirit
of the chief, could not resist the in
creasing enemy. Shane O'Neill
therefore decided to throw himself
on the mercy of his Scotch enemy,
in preference to any other. For this
purpose he took with him his pris-
oner, M'Donnell, and, with two of
his chiefs, set out for northern Clan
neboy, where the Scotch, to the num-
Der of six hundred, were encamped,
under the command of Alexander
M'Donnell, called the younger, broth
er to Surly Boy, Shane's prisoner,
who had now received his liberty.
When Shane O'Neill entered the
camp of Alexander M'Donnell, he
was received with much courtesy;
but, whilst in the act of making con-
ditions, he and his chiefs were
stabbed to death by the Scotch from
behind.
Shane's head was now severed
from his body and sent as present
to the deputy in Dublin, where it was
stuck on a pole over the gates of
the castle.
The two sons of O'Neill who were
left to guard the castle thought it
prudent to restore Helen O'Donnell
to her father, and beg peace. This
young and beautiful lady. shocked
at the dreadful scenes she had wit
messed, shortly retired forever from
the busy scenes of life; and no en-
treaties of the young and ardent
could ever tempt her to mix with
them.-The Hibernian.
AGES OF THE FLAG
Curiously enough. the United