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happy to him at least; but her attentions were usually received with coldness it not with rudeness; and sometimes she was even repelled with insult.

Meara had been associated with a party during the insurrection of the previous winter who had committed a robbery on a rich and respectable resident on the lands of lonistymon in the Comty of Clare. One of the party had been seized and was commit ted to goal to stand his trial in the ensuing assizes. To prevent his turning King's evidence and thus betraying his party, it was necessary to hold up to his view the prospect of support from his friends; at the same time that should he be convicted or turn traitor, both Meara and Shave Buie should fly without delay. To accom. plish these purposes, money was necessary, and after many and deep councils between the two villains, a plan was laid for robbing Norah's father. To this however there were many difficulties. He always kept his money concealed in a place known only to Norah and himself. Her assistance was therefore indispensable. Meara knew that to attempt to force or terrify her would be useless and he had acted with too much unkindness lately to rely much upon her affection for him.

However his deep and depraved mind soen found a means. It was agreed on between him and Sullivan that if he could prevail on ber to assist in the robbery, the latter should take her in a boat across the river and disposing of her in the best way he could, meet his accomplice at Crattoe wood where he should receive his share of the spoil. To this Sullivan consented for two reasons; one was the opportunity which it afforded him of being revenged on Norah, and the other was the possession of the money be so long coveted. As for Meara, provided that he was delivered from her and obtained the means of escape out of the country, he telt fully satisfied.

He accordingly changed his manner towards his Mistress cantiously yet quickly; returning home punctually at night and appear ing to enjoy in her society the pleasure which he formerly prolessed, he soon perceived its cheering effects upon her. She was now decidedly pregnant, and she hoped that this returning kindness on his part foreboded days of happiness.

One evening in September he returned home earlier than usual and appeared thoughtful. After tea he returned to Norah and put ting his arm round her neck as she sat beside him, he said,

Norah, darling, I am afraid that your old father is likely to get into trouble about that money of his."

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Why so, Ned?" said she, truly alarmed for her parent.

Why, the fact is, that I have been planning m my mind these three weeks how I could manage to have our wedding. But the fact of my want of money to pay for it has been a sad hindrance to me. If we do not manage the matter well and directly, it will

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do us more harm than good, for it will only set their tongues going. Now, Mr. McMahon of Bunratty has promised to let us have it at his house, seeing I have no place of my own to bring you to, out of this, but I must not let him stand at a loss so I must have the money. Shane Buie and I have been planning to get the money out of the old man by foul means, as we cannot by fair, aud we had fixed on to-night for the robbery, never telling you any thing about it. But I have been thinking since that Luck is such a devil when his blood is up, that if the old man should make any noise, he would think nothing of giving him a tap on the head; so Norah what shall we do ?"

"Oh Ned, Ned, save my poor old father! kill me, do any thing with me, sooner than let blood be on bis grey hairs! I will do any thing-whisht may be I could get the money! How much do you want, Ned ?"

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Oh, as to that, Norah; it is not reckoning the money we could be at the time, we can restore him the difference afterwards!" "But how can I get at it?"

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Why, we have arranged already to make our entrance; the only thing was the risk of disturbing the old man; if you come we can avoid that; I will be back again in an hour and do you be ready when I call!"--and saying this the cold-blooded villain left her before she had time well to collect her thoughts.

Left to herself, the current of her thoughts nearly overwhelmed her. The conflict between duty to a parent whose cold-hearted neglect had wounded her feelings to the quick, yet whom she tenderly loved, and the longing desire which she naturally felt to be lawfully married, was desperate in the extreme. Then she recurred to her lover; to his returning kindness; and to the joy of being the mo ther of Lis child in lawful wedlock. The money will be taken by force if not by quietness, and is it not my duty to save his life if I can said she to herself as she pictured to her mind the proceeding betore her; besides Ned says that he will give back the difference if he'll say nothing about it! Oh father dear, it is not this way I'd be now if you had been the father to me you ought! hush! said she drying up her tears, and preparing herself for her companion's arrival. He arrived at the appointed time and met her, altho' in silence, yet with greater tenderness than he had shewn for some time.

"Thank you Edmund, and thank you galore for marrying your own fond Norab;" said the simple bearted girl, throwing her arms round his neck and kissing him with such tenderness and simpli city that the heart even of her seducer was for the moment shaken "Yes! Norah you shall be more happy after to-day than ever you were! But come, 'tis late already.

The night was dark and fine, and warm for the time of the year, There was not a breath stirring and nothing was audible beyond

their own footsteps except the distant barking of some watchdog. Norah having collected such little articles as she conceived proper to bring with her, she wrapped them closely under her arm in her cloak and followed Meara in silence. Leaving the village to the right, they proceeded cautiously up the Glen until they met Shane Buse about fitty yards from the door.

"The top of the morning to you, Mrs. Meara, said he approaching them; is right proud I an to see you so light and carly, I hope you aren't afraid ma'm; there's no danger in life; not a taste, he repeated as she shrunk involuntarily from his side, "we'll do it quiet and easy and no harm to any que breathing !”

In the meantime Meara was carefully reconnoitering the premises; and having whispered to Sullivan he turned to Norah and asked in what part of the house the money lay.

"He keeps it in a particular spot under the inside thatch just beyond the cup-board; but none of you could find it but myself!"

"Is he inside Jack ?" said Meara.

"Aye is he! wait till I try if he's awake!"-He then went over to a particular part of the door and gave three distinct taps with an iron nail, which were returned in less than as many seconds trom inside with equal distinctness.

"In the name of Heaven, who's inside ?" cried the terrified Norah. ""Tis only Jemmy ma'm!" said Sullivan. "Sorra bit of harm he'll do the old boy any how;" then in a loud whisper he cried “Jem! Jem !"

Another gentle tap from within told that the natural was well up to his lesson."Jin your sow!!-How 'cute he is Mr. Ned!-Jim, lift the top latch! easy now-easy boys! there! that's a good child! No matter, if I don't give you the money for the marvels!" By aegrees they heard bolt after bolt slide, and the door quietly opening shewed the poor hali-witted boy grinning with delight at his

success.

"Ould Daddy is as fasht ashleep as a shrout in a well! won't you give me a half-penny Captain ?"

"Now Norah! be quick!" said Meara to the poor girl who had almost fallen between fear and a sense of guilt. Suddenly collecting her energies at the sound of his voice she rushed into the room, seized the stocking, brought it to him, and fainted on the spot.

Leave her to me!-Leave her to me!" cried Meara seizing her in his arms, "mind the child and the door and follow me!" While Sullivan was fixing the door and directing the boy where to go for the night, Meara hurried onward with his burden in bis arms and reached a spot where lay a boat moored to the shore. It was his intention to have left her in the boat and retired, but she awakened just as he arrived at the spot.

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Oh, Ned jewel, what have I done! I have robbed my poor Fa ther of all he has on the living earth! Blessed Virgin, why did I ever live to see this night at all, at all! Ob forgive me and help me, for it's I that am to be pitied this night!"

“Hush Norah! sure we will give him back some of it after we're married!” replied Meara-“ come make haste and get into the boat;"-he continued handing her into it.

Well, Ned, and are not you coming too?" said she with a voice tremendous with doubt and fear, as she saw her cousin who had arrived by this time shoving off the boat from its moorings.

"Ned, jewel; sure you are not going to leave me? Ned, Edmund, Mr. Meara!-For the love of God-for the love of the blessed Virgin, don't leave me in this way! Sure, did I not đỡ every thing you asked me, for you! I will live and die for you and don't leave me! Your own Norah; your own faithful Norah! -Put me ashore Mr. Sullivan-put те ashore I say again;"screamed the girl. "Put me ashore I tell you, or I'll throw myself into the sea!"

"I will, sure enough!" said Sullivan! "but not awhile, avick!" and so saying he pulled the boat into deep water, Meara had by this time retired out of sight, and Norah perceived that her Cousin was acting according to some preconcerted plan. More than ever uncertain of her seducer's intentions, she trembled violently as she found herself deserted by him, and left to the mercy of the man whom she hated and dreaded most. The morning was just beginning to distribute its grey hght thro' the heavens; and the black bird and thrush were awakening the grove of Beechmount with their song. Sullivan was silent and dark, sullenly and lazily pulling bis oals, ever and aon looking around him as he could discover among the unruffled waters a spot suited to his purpose. He Lad now reached the middle of the river and was slowly stretching to his oats, watched with an intentness bordering on maduess by his terrified companion. He stopped for a moment, and then the notes of a Kent Bugle from the shore broke the stillness of the morning. Having waited for a moment the sound was repeated, when slipping his oars, he stripp'd off his coat as if he expected some resistance in his work.

"What are you going to do, Jack?" said Norah, scarcely daring to speak above her breath, and yet with the gentleness that would have softened any heart but that of a wicked man.

"You

'I may as well tell you at once!" said be, rousing himself. see, Mr. Ned is tired of you all out so he sent you here to let me have my share of you before you go where you'll see neither of us any more; so the less you say about it, the better!"

“Oh mercy! mercy for the love of Heaven!" screamed the gir. at the very pitch of her voice, which at the same moment was mi gled with the sounds of a bugle tron the shore. "Jack — dear Jack-won't you shew me merey!-won't you--sure you would'nt kill me, and I here alone with you! Shane, darling shew mercy to your own poor Cousin! remember my child Jack! For the love of the Virgin shew rey to my child at all events! You daren't —you shan't I tell!" She screained struggling with all the energ gies of desperation and terror. A violent contest took place, in which more than once the bat was nearly upset, and daring which the cries of the wretched girl for mercy were heard confused with the sound of the bugle as before. But it was not of long dura tion; finding that the struggle might be protracted to a dangerous length, Sullivan by a single blow broke her left arm; and 4 second on her forehead stretched her almost senseless in the bottom the boat, a resistiess prey to his brutal lust.

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While Norah Lay overwhelmed with horror, shame and alarm, the villain, retiring from her dies from his pocket a rope on which was a running noose, and having fastened one end of it to a large stone which he had brought with him for the purpose, be dragged it towards her, and deliberately ran the knot over the girl's head. She gave a start and slight shudder, as her returning energies to.d her of her fate; then closing her eyes, she allowed herself unresist ingly to be lifted up and plunged headlong into her watery grave. A slight boiling of the water as it settled over her, and a few bubbles which ascended from the depths beneath told that a feeble struggle had ushered her soul into eternity. The wave rolled on

and in another minute all traces of Norah Sullivan had vanished from the earth!

Original Correspondence,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CEYLON MAGAZINE.

Sie,-I send you herewith an extract from a small Pamphlet published in London about ten years since, on the valuable properties possessed by that sendid palm the Cocoa-nut tree-written by a member of the Linnacen and Horticultural Societies, many years a resident in the Island of Ceylon, but no name given. It purports to be an interesting traditional account of its original discovery by a Prince of the interior of their Island.

B. P. C.

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