The Dead Boxer / The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two

ion, produced in his mind a vague apprehension which he could not shake off. To meet a red-haired woman, when going on any business of importance, was considered at all times a bad omen, as it is in

a human or tangible enemy. They constituted an important part of the popular belief! for the history of ghosts and fairies, and om

rriving behind the orchard, he found, as the progress of the evening told him, that he had anticipated the hour at which it had been agreed to meet. He accordingly descended the Grassy Quarry, and sat on a mossy ledge of rock, over which the bro

Laudher," she exclaimed, "but it

what's the commission,

ou war here. Miss Ellen sent me to tell you that she's

not to wai

; but she bid me take your stick from you, for a rason

un, what can she want with my stick? Is

ourself for stalin' her heart from her. Why thin, the month's mether

Nanse; but the family's

in, you see, this faction-work will keep yees asundher for ever. Now gi'

's ordhers you

ne o' me knows what she means by it, any

ldn't refuse her my heart's bloo

this is a quare kippeen! Wh

ste, an' for God's sake not to disappoint me.

' the mether o' honey to you, soon an' sudden! Faix, if any body

words, she brandished th

certainly true some misgivings shot lightly across his imagination, on reflecting that he had parted with the very weapon which he usually brought with him to repel the violence of Ellen's friends, should he be detected in an interview with her. He remembered, too, that he h

th animation, and her eyes sparkled with a brilliancy indicative of a warm heart and a quick apprehension. Flaxen hair, long and luxuriant, decided, even at a distant glance, the loveliness o

called, she peered under the little beetling cliff that

, on seeing him, "I thought

g her by the hand, and placing her beside him; "and

life was lavin' me, for f

you, at all events. However, puttin' that aside, have

orse; ay, a thousand times worse. They have all joined

ut I know where it comes from. I think your father might be softene

is. It was only on Tuesday evenin' last that they told me, one an' all they would ra

over at last. That will be the end of it: but if you choose to br

n. I suffer enough for your sake, as it is. For nearly two years, a day has hardly passed that my family hasn't wrung the burnin' te

ffer at home. No, no, Ellen dear, I never doubted you for one minute. All I wondher at is, that such a girl a

' to prefer you, John?"

a high enough spirit, to try to turn you against me, if it was only that you might marry a man that 'ud have it

d made a man an' wife love one another yet, if they didn't do i

s, it would be a comfort. But not to know what became of her-whether she was drowned or kidnapped-that was what crushed their hearts. I must say that since I grew up, we're improvin'; an' I hope, God willin', now that my father laves the management of the farm to myself, we'll still improve more an' more.

y sorrow with which he spoke. His last words, however, startled he

out of your lips. No-never, for the sake of heaven above us, breathe it, or think of i

's fair an' manly, I'll b

t you musn't have any quarrel with him, if he me

' I, a Lamh Laudher, am to take a blow from a Ne

up and stoo

I cannot tell no more than I can cover the truth. My brother has threatened

fe, an' I'll give it: but to ask a Lamh Laudher to bear a blow from a Neil-never. What! how could I rise my face afther such a disgrace? How could I ke

ay you lov

n ever man l

ieve, Lamh Laudher, that if I was a poor portionless girl, it wouldn't be hard to put me out of your thoughts. If it was only for my own sake you love

ward? Would you want my father to turn me out of the house? Would you wan

who would you do it for? Before heaven, John, I dread a meetin' between you an' my brother, afther what he tould me; an' the only way of preventin' danger is for you not

aven but what you w

ehaul wouldn't strike an unresistin' man. I won't lave you till you promise; an' if that won't do

country to avoid him,

h, John, give me your promise. Here on my two knees I ask it from you, for my own, for your own, and for the sake o

s chased each other like rain down her cheeks. The solemnity with whic

lied, "that makes you set your heart on it so

er that I'm a woman, an' on my knees before you. A blow from you would make him take you

heart refuse you any thing. I

, that no provocation wi

it. Now, get up, dear, get up. You have got me to do what no mortal livin' could bring

M'Collu

er no story at all, only that you couldn't come, an' you coul

John. I know nothing

e so much. Her unlucky aunt met me comin' here this evenin', and threatened both our family and yours. I know she would sink us into the earth if she could. Either

en you and Meehaul; for I often heard him say, when speakin' about his faction fights, that no one but a coward would, strike an unresistin' man

rn, which was so called from a heap of stones that had been loosely piled together, to mark the spot as the scene of a murder, whose history,

overtaken and arrested by his bitter and determined foe, Meehaul Neil. The connection betwixt the promise that Ellen had extorted from him and this rencounter with her brother flashed upon him forcibly: he resolved, however, to be guided by her wishes, and with this purpose on his part, the following dialogue took

enever a Neil spakes to you, you

without hearin' it from you.

ere enemies only because our cleaveens were enemies but n

have no ill-will against either you or yours, all you know

; "don't make them that hates y

d his eye gleamed with passion; but he immed

ess with me this ni

than you wish. I now ask you to tell me, if

d the name of Neil upon him, an' yet I won't tell you

brother: now, Lamh Laudher, as her brother

by he

e I say

heart, and declare as an honest man, that-tut, man-this is nonsens

en, this night in

u sure

you left her beyond the Pedlar's Cai

know is as pure as the light from heaven. You ought to blush for dou

at you'd rather there was

od knows, from

be so. Give up Ellen; you'll find

that, M

say, an' then

good-night

ight about their doors, were not a little surprised at seeing them in close conference. When Lamh Laudher wished him good night, he had reached an off street which led towards his father's house, a circumstanc

ng him by the collar, "'till this business is set

eehaul, as long as we live-

give her

Meehaul: you are rich now, an' I'm poor now; but any old friend can

m this spot you won't go till you swear it, or this s

n' I suppose I may

t want it. There-to the divil with it;" and as he sp

sister or take t

avoid a quarrel with you. Do you think, in the mean time, that even if I didn't care a straw for your sister, I could be mane

and manly beauty as ever was created; his arms, in particular, were of terrific strength, a physical advantage so peculiar to his family as to occasion the epithet by which it was known. He had scarcely uttered the reply we have I written, when Meehaul, with his whole! strength, aimed a blow at his stomach, which the other so far turned aside, as to bring it I higher up on his chest. He staggered back, after receivi

rike, but I won't return your blows: I have

aid Meehaul, with mi

he other, "I wo

was heard from those who had been

"but Lamh Laudher's afeard of him!-the garran ban

er, will you take a blow from a Neil?

m they spoke, and the uncertainty of h

es, I give you the coward, that you may car

, and then upon each other with amazement. The high-minded young man had but one course to pursue. Let the consequence be what it might, he could not think for a moment of compromising the character of Ellen, nor of violating his promise, so solemnly given; with a flushed cheek, th

im, equally struck with surprise and c

the life within me, if all the parish had sworn that

they replied; "devil the likes of it ever we seen! The

t him. You see when he did, how he has turned out. One thing any how