Page:Irish assassin, or, The misfortunes of the family of O'Donnel (2).pdf/15

15 of our hero, that happy, happy hour arrived when he pressed the object of his adoration to his beating heart as his partner through the cares and vicissitudes of life.

Maria, for whom Lady O’Donnel felt a parental affection became an almost constant visitant at the "great house," not unfrequently stopping there by the week together.

An event, however, too soon occured, which seemed as a sort of warning to the miseries which are to follow. One fine summer’s evening, as the gentle Maria was returning to her father’s cottage, she had scarely got out of sight of the wall of O’Donnel park, when she was met by McPherson, whose disorderly appearance evidently showed he had been drinking. He came up to her and in a brutal tone, asked whither she was going? "Home, Mr McPherson," said Maria. "Rest you here then, young lady," said he, "for I’ve got a few words to say to you." "It is getting late, Mr McPherson," returned Maria, "I must proceed home." "Ne’er you mind your hame, young lady," continued he, "we dinna part sae easily, you mon gie me a kiss." Having said this he rudely caught her round the neck, and with his impious lips imprinted an odious kiss on her cheek. She was extremely alarmed, and struggled to get from his grasp. In vain, however, did she exert herself; he threw her on the ground, and thrusting his hand into her bosom, began to take tho most indecent liberties. She now could scarcely speak from terror, and in a smothered voice she begged him to desist. She used her utmost strength to get from his hold; but all in vain. She shrieked with violence, but alas! her cries were not heard. At length the villain succeeded in stopping her cries by holding her petticoat, which he had brutally raised, over her mouth, and was about to accomplish his vile intentions, when he was alarmed by the lifeless manner in which his unfortunate victim lay; he uncovered her face, and he feared he had murdered the unfortunate innocent. Too soon, however, his fears were removed; the colour returned to the cheeks