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disguise and intriguea consummation which

would leave him totally at the mercy of

the favoured confidant who should possess

his secret。





Young O'Mara's reflections were more

agitating and less satisfactory than those

of his companion。 He resolved upon

leaving the country before two days had

passed。 He felt that he could not fairly

seek to involve Ellen Heathcote in his

fate by pledge or promise; until he had

extricated himself from those trammels

which constrained and embarrassed all his

actions。 His determination was so far

prudent; but; alas! he also resolved that

it was but right; but necessary; that he

should see her before his departure。 His

leaving the country without a look or a

word of parting kindness interchanged;

must to her appear an act of cold and

heartless caprice; he could not bear the

thought。



'No;' said he; 'I am not child enough

to say more than prudence tells me 

ought to say; this cowardly distrust of my

firmness I should and will contemn。

Besides; why should I commit myself? It is

possible the girl may not care for me。 No;

no; I need not shrink from this interview。

I have no reason to doubt my firmness

nonenone。 I must cease to be governed

by impulse。 I am involved in rocks

and quicksands; and a collected spirit;

a quick eye; and a steady hand; alone can

pilot me through。 God grant me a safe

voyage!'



The next day came; and young O'Mara

did not take his fishing…rod as usual; but

wrote two letters; the one to his father;

announcing his intention of departing

speedily for England; the other to Lady

Emily; containing a cold but courteous

apology for his apparent neglect。 Both

these were despatched to the post…office

that evening; and upon the next morning

he was to leave the country。



Upon the night of the momentous day

of which we have just spoken; Ellen Heathcote

glided silently and unperceived from

among the busy crowds who were engaged

in the gay dissipation furnished by what

is in Ireland commonly called a dance

(the expenses attendant upon which; music;

etc。; are defrayed by a subscription of one

halfpenny each); and having drawn her

mantle closely about her; was proceeding

with quick steps to traverse the small

field which separated her from her father's

abode。 She had not walked many yards

when she became aware that a solitary

figure; muffled in a cloak; stood in the

pathway。 It approached; a low voice

whispered:



'Ellen。'



'Is it you; Master Richard?' she replied。



He threw back the cloak which had

concealed his features。



'It is I; Ellen; he said; 'I have been

watching for you。 I will not delay you

long。'



He took her hand; and she did not

attempt to withdraw it; for she was too

artless to think any evil; too confiding to

dread it。



'Ellen;' he continued; even now unconsciously

departing from the rigid course

which prudence had marked out; 'Ellen;

I am going to leave the country; going

to…morrow。 I have had letters from

England。 I must go; and the sea will soon

be between us。'



He paused; and she was silent。



'There is one request; one entreaty I

have to make;' he continued; 'I would;

when I am far away; have something to

look at which belonged to you。 Will you

give medo not refuse itone little lock

of your beautiful hair?'



With artless alacrity; but with trembling

hand; she took the scissors; which in simple

fashion hung by her side; and detached one

of the long and beautiful locks which

parted over her forehead。 She placed it

in his hand。



Again he took her hand; and twice he

attempted to speak in vain; at length he

said:



'Ellen; when I am gonewhen I am

awaywill you sometimes remember;

sometimes think of me?'



Ellen Heathcote had as much; perhaps

more; of what is noble in pride than the

haughtiest beauty that ever trod a court;

but the effort was useless; the honest

struggle was in vain; and she burst into

floods of tears; bitterer than she had ever

shed before。



I cannot tell how passions rise and fall;

I cannot describe the impetuous words of

the young lover; as pressing again and

again to his lips the cold; passive hand;

which had been resigned to him; prudence;

caution; doubts; resolutions; all vanished

from his view; and melted into nothing。

'Tis for me to tell the simple fact; that

from that brief interview they both

departed promised and pledged to each other

for ever。



Through the rest of this story events

follow one another rapidly。



A few nights after that which I have

just mentioned; Ellen Heathcote disappeared;

but her father was not left long

in suspense as to her fate; for Dwyer;

accompanied by one of those mendicant

friars who traversed the country then even

more commonly than they now do; called

upon Heathcote before he had had time to

take any active measures for the recovery

of his child; and put him in possession of

a document which appeared to contain

satisfactory evidence of the marriage of

Ellen Heathcote with Richard O'Mara;

executed upon the evening previous; as the

date went to show; and signed by both

parties; as well as by Dwyer and a servant

of young O'Mara's; both these having acted

as witnesses; and further supported by

the signature of Peter Nicholls; a brother

of the order of St。 Francis; by whom the

ceremony had been performed; and whom

Heathcote had no difficulty in recognising

in the person of his visitant。



This document; and the prompt personal

visit of the two men; and above all; the

known identity of the Franciscan; satisfied

Heathcote as fully as anything short

of complete publicity could have done。

And his conviction was not a mistaken

one。



Dwyer; before he took his leave;

impressed upon Heathcote the necessity of

keeping the affair so secret as to render it

impossible that it should reach Colonel

O'Mara's ears; an event which would have

been attended with ruinous consequences to

all parties。 He refused; also; to permit

Heathcote to see his daughter; and even

to tell him where she was; until circumstances

rendered it safe for him to visit

her。



Heathcote was a harsh and sullen man;

and though his temper was anything but

tractable; there was so much to please;

almost to dazzle him; in the event; that he

accepted the terms which Dwyer imposed

upon him without any further token of

disapprobation than a shake of the head;

and a gruff wish that 'it might prove all

for the best。'



Nearly two months had passed; and

young O'Mara had not yet departed for

England。 His letters had been strangely

few and far between; and in short; his

conduct was such as to induce Colonel

O'Mara to hasten his return to Ireland;

and at the same time to press an engagement;

which Lord ; his son Captain

N; and Lady Emily had made to

spend some weeks with him at his

residence in Dublin。



A letter arrived for young O'Mara;

stating the arrangement; and requiring his

attendance in Dublin; which was accordingly

immediately afforded。



He arrived; with Dwyer; in time to

welcome his father and his distinguished

guests。 He resolved to break off his

embarrassing connection with Lady Emily;

without; however; stating the real motive;

which he felt would exasperate the resentment

which his father and Lord 

would no doubt feel at his conduct。



He strongly felt how dishonourably he

would act if; in obedience to Dwyer's

advice; he seemed tacitly to acquiesce in

an engagement which it was impossible for

him to fulfil。 He knew that Lady Emily

was not capable of anything like strong

attachment; and that even if she were;

he had no reason whatever to suppose that

she cared at all for him。



He had not at any time desired the

alliance; nor had he any reason to suppose

the young lady in any degree less

indifferent。 He regarded it now; and not

without some appearance of justice; as

nothing more than a kind of understood

stipulation; entered into by their parents;

and to be considered rather as a matter of

business and calculation than as involving

anything of mutual inclination on the part

of the parties most nearly interested in the

matter。



He anxiously; therefore; watched for an

opportunity of making known his feelings

to Lord ; as he could not with propriety

do so to Lady Emily; but what at

a distance appeared to be a matter of easy

accomplishment; now; upon a nearer

approach; and when the immediate impulse

which had prompted the act had subsided;

appeared so full of difficulty and almost

inextricable embarrassments; that he

involuntarily shrunk from the task day after

day。



Though it was a source of indescribable

anxiety to him; he did not venture to write

to Ellen; for he could not disguise from

himself the danger which the secrecy of

his connec

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