The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'TooleMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
General
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'Toole
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Great was the applause which the sergeant’s melody drew down, and, what
was probably even more satisfactory to the honest gentleman, a loud
demand arose for a fresh supply of “the raw material and the carouse was
vigorously resumed. Left to themselves, the young travellers had talked
over their meeting on the mountain, and spoke of their journey to
the neighbouring town next day where their road-companionship was to
terminate. The intended parting was not mentioned with indifference, for
the poor girl sighed heavily, her face became sad, and her eyes filled
fast. In a faction fight, where skulls were cracked like walnuts, Mark
Antony was every inch a hero--but his heart was true Milesian, and a
woman’s sorrow rendered it soft as a turnip. He took the wanderer’s hand
affectionately, kissed away the tear that trickled down her cheek, and
endeavoured to dispel her melancholy.
“Cheer up,” he said; “you have happier days before you, and youth enough
to wait for them. How can I serve you, Julia.-’ I know an empty pocket
makes a heavy heart--but we’ll share to the last shilling--” and quick
as lightning a green silk purse that I had given to the fosterer the
night we parted, was transferred from his pocket to the wanderer’s hand.
“Come. Julia,” he continued, “will I bring you home?”
The poor girl shook her head, and gratefully returned the purse.
“Take half, at least,” exclaimed Mark Antony; “there’s only five pounds
in notes, and three guineas and a half in gold. May’be it may carry ye
to your friends--and if it won’t--I’ll list, and that will make up the
difference.”
“Friends!” said the girl, bitterly; “I have no friends: I lost my mother
when an infant; and the cruel desertion of my father broke the old
soldier’s heart. Alas! I feel that I am left alone upon the earth,
without one being who would care for me.”
“A sister, by Heaven!” cried the fosterer. “Am I not also a soldier’s
orphan?”
“Why, ye thundering villain!” exclaimed Mrs. O’Leary, who had stolen
softly up stairs, and caught the Jew with his ear at the key-hole, “Off
wid ye, ye blackavised disciple. Bad luck attend ye, night an’ day,
you ugly thief! Off, I say--” and, suiting the action to the word, she
bestowed a heavy buffet upon the countenance of the Israelite that made
him in no way desirous of abiding another visitation from the widow’s
fist. “Well, dears!” said the jolly hostess as she bustled into the
room: “may’be ye were courtin’ a bit, as young people will at times--and
think of that black-muzzled ruffin lis’ning to every word ye sed! I wish
he was clane out of the house, for he has the gallows in his faee.”
“I wish, indeed,” observed the girl, “that he was gone--I dread that
man.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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