Ellen Duncan; And The Proctor's Daughter: The Works of William Carleton, Volume TwoCarleton, William
General
Ellen Duncan; And The Proctor's Daughter: The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
Ere Duncan had concluded his sentence, the tramp of feet was heard
outside, and in a few seconds the cabin was full of armed men, who came
to take him prisoner. He had been seen entering his cabin; and they
immediately, as soon as they could muster a party, set out to make him
captive. As he was known to most of them, and did not make the slightest
attempt at resistance, they treated him gently, but bound his hands
firmly behind his back, and took every necessary precaution. Though
Ellen, while it seemed at a distance, had conversed calmly about his
surrender, she was violently agitated at the appearance of the armed
force. She clung to her husband's knees, and refused to part with him,
wildly screaming, “He's innocent! My husband's innocent!” and when
all was prepared, she walked by his side to the magistrate's house, (a
distance of three miles,) her choking sobs and burning tears attesting
the violence of her uncontrolled feelings. A short examination was gone
through there; and the circumstantial evidence that was adduced made
the case look very serious. One man positively swore, that he had seen
Duncan pass by in the morning, in the direction where the body was
found, and that he was armed with a gun. Another, that in about an
hour afterwards he had heard a shot, but supposed it was some person
coursing, and that the report was just where the body was found, and
where Owen had been seen proceeding to. His only cow having been seized
by Daly, a threat that he was heard uttering, and his absence from home,
was duly commented on; and finally, he was committed to prison to
abide his trial at the Ennis Assizes. While all this was going
forward, Ellen's emotions were most agonizing. She stared wildly at
the magistrate and the two witnesses; and as the evidence was proceeded
with, she sometimes hastily put back her hair, as if she thought she was
under the influence of a dream. But when his final committal was made
out, and her mind glanced rapidly at the concurrent testimony, and the
danger of Owen, she rushed forward, and flinging her arms round him,
wildly exclaimed--
“They shan't part us--they shan't tear us asunder! No, no, Owen, I will
go wid you to preson! Oh, is id come to this wid us?--You to be dhragged
from home, accused of murdher--and I--I--Father of marcies, keep me in
my sinses--I'm goin' mad--wild, wild mad!”
“Ellen!” said Owen, gently unwinding her arms, and kissing her forehead,
while a scalding tear fell from his eye on her cheek--“Ellen, asthore
machree! don't be overcome. There's a good girl, dhry yer eyes. That
God that knows I'm guiltless, 'ill bring me safe through all. May his
blessin' be on you, my poor colleen, till we meet agin! You know you
can come an' see me. Heaven purtect you, Ellen, alanna!--Heaven purtect
you!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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