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I cannot describe。 There was no other
means of escape； so I advanced； with a
firm step and collected mind； to the
window。 I noiselessly withdrew the bars
and unclosed the shuttersI pushed open
the casement； and； without waiting to look
behind me； I ran with my utmost speed；
scarcely feeling the ground under me； down
the avenue； taking care to keep upon the
grass which bordered it。
I did not for a moment slack my speed；
and I had now gained the centre point
between the park…gate and the mansion…
house。 Here the avenue made a wider
circuit； and in order to avoid delay； I
directed my way across the smooth sward
round which the pathway wound； intending；
at the opposite side of the flat； at a
point which I distinguished by a group of
old birch…trees； to enter again upon the
beaten track； which was from thence
tolerably direct to the gate。
I had； with my utmost speed； got about
half way across this broad flat； when the
rapid treading of a horse's hoofs struck
upon my ear。 My heart swelled in my
bosom as though I would smother。 The
clattering of galloping hoofs approached
I was pursuedthey were now upon the
sward on which I was runningthere was
not a bush or a bramble to shelter me
and； as if to render escape altogether
desperate； the moon； which had hitherto
been obscured； at this moment shone forth
with a broad clear light； which made every
object distinctly visible。
The sounds were now close behind me。
I felt my knees bending under me； with
the sensation which torments one in
dreams。 I reeledI stumbledI fell
and at the same instant the cause of my
alarm wheeled past me at full gallop。 It
was one of the young fillies which
pastured loose about the park； whose
frolics had thus all but maddened me
with terror。 I scrambled to my feet； and
rushed on with weak but rapid steps； my
sportive companion still galloping round
and round me with many a frisk and fling；
until； at length； more dead than alive； I
reached the avenue…gate and crossed the
stile； I scarce knew how。
I ran through the village； in which all was
silent as the grave； until my progress was
arrested by the hoarse voice of a sentinel；
who cried： 'Who goes there？' I felt that
I was now safe。 I turned in the direction
of the voice； and fell fainting at the
soldier's feet。 When I came to myself； I
was sitting in a miserable hovel；
surrounded by strange faces； all bespeaking
curiosity and compassion。
Many soldiers were in it also： indeed；
as I afterwards found； it was employed as
a guard…room by a detachment of troops
quartered for that night in the town。 In
a few words I informed their officer of the
circumstances which had occurred； describing
also the appearance of the persons
engaged in the murder； and he； without
loss of time； proceeded to the mansion…
house of Carrickleigh； taking with him a
party of his men。 But the villains had
discovered their mistake； and had effected
their escape before the arrival of the
military。
The Frenchwoman was； however；
arrested in the neighbourhood upon the next
day。 She was tried and condemned upon
the ensuing assizes； and previous to her
execution； confessed that 'SHE HAD A
HAND IN MAKING HUGH TISDAL'S BED。' She
had been a housekeeper in the castle at
the time； and a kind of chere amie of my
uncle's。 She was； in reality； able to speak
English like a native； but had exclusively
used the French language； I suppose to
facilitate her disguise。 She died the same
hardened wretch which she had lived；
confessing her crimes only； as she alleged； that
her doing so might involve Sir Arthur
Tn； the great author of her guilt and
misery； and whom she now regarded with
unmitigated detestation。
With the particulars of Sir Arthur's and
his son's escape； as far as they are known；
you are acquainted。 You are also in
possession of their after fatethe terrible； the
tremendous retribution which； after long
delays of many years； finally overtook and
crushed them。 Wonderful and inscrutable
are the dealings of God with His creatures。
Deep and fervent as must always be my
gratitude to heaven for my deliverance；
effected by a chain of providential
occurrences； the failing of a single link of which
must have ensured my destruction； I was
long before I could look back upon it with
other feelings than those of bitterness；
almost of agony。
The only being that had ever really
loved me； my nearest and dearest friend；
ever ready to sympathise； to counsel； and
to assistthe gayest； the gentlest； the
warmest heartthe only creature on
earth that cared for meHER life had been
the price of my deliverance； and I then
uttered the wish； which no event of my
long and sorrowful life has taught me to
recall； that she had been spared； and that；
in her stead； _I_ were mouldering in the
grave； forgotten and at rest。
THE BRIDAL OF CARRIGVARAH。
Being a Sixth Extract from the Legacy of the late Francis
Purcell； P。 P。 of Drumcoolagh。
In a sequestered district of the
county of Limerick； there stood
my early life； some forty
years ago； one of those strong stone
buildings； half castle； half farm…house；
which are not unfrequent in the South of
Ireland； and whose solid masonry and
massive construction seem to prove at
once the insecurity and the caution of the
Cromwellite settlers who erected them。
At the time of which I speak； this
building was tenanted by an elderly man；
whose starch and puritanic mien and
manners might have become the morose
preaching parliamentarian captain； who
had raised the house and ruled the
household more than a hundred years
before； but this man； though Protestant
by descent as by name； was not so in
religion； he was a strict； and in outward
observances； an exemplary Catholic； his
father had returned in early youth to the
true faith； and died in the bosom of the
church。
Martin Heathcote was； at the time of
which I speak； a widower； but his house…
keeping was not on that account altogether
solitary； for he had a daughter； whose age
was now sufficiently advanced to warrant
her father in imposing upon her the
grave duties of domestic superintendence。
This little establishment was perfectly
isolated； and very little intruded upon by
acts of neighbourhood； for the rank of
its occupants was of that equivocal kind
which precludes all familiar association
with those of a decidedly inferior rank；
while it is not sufficient to entitle its
possessors to the society of established
gentility； among whom the nearest
residents were the O'Maras of Carrigvarah；
whose mansion…house； constructed
out of the ruins of an old abbey； whose
towers and cloisters had been levelled by
the shot of Cromwell's artillery； stood
not half a mile lower upon the river
banks。
Colonel O'Mara； the possessor of the
estates； was then in