MEMOIR OF HENNESSEY. . 295 



the river but his enemy was close behind. Intending to 

 disable his pursuer, Hennessey picked up a stone, and unfor- 

 tunately threw it with such fatal precision, that the skull of 

 his opponent was beaten in, and he expired on the spot. 



" Well, this was an unfortunate affair, but it was homicide 

 in self-defence. My father accommodated matters with the 

 Sweenies, and my foster-brother was discharged without * 

 prosecution . 



"A year passed, but the Sweenies had not forgotten o? 

 forgiven the death of their kinsman. Hennessey's rambling 

 habits exposed him to frequent encounters with this clan : and 

 one night, when returning late from the fair of Newport, 

 with two or three companions, he came into unexpected colli- 

 sion with a party of his ancient enemies. A scuffle ensued 

 in the struggle he wrested a loaded whip from his antagonist, 

 and struck the unhappy wretch so heavily with his own 

 weapon, that after lingering nearly a month, he died from 

 the contusion. 



" This second mishap occasioned us a deal of trouble ; but 

 Hennessey surrendered, was tried, and acquitted, and we all 

 trusted that his misfortunes were at an end. He abjured the 

 use of spirits, avoided late hours, and such meetings as might- 

 expose him to any collision with that clan who had been so 

 unfortunate, and religiously determined to avoid every cause 

 of quarrelling ; but fate determined that it should be other- 

 wise. 



" Having been invited to a dragging home, as the bride- 

 groom was his near relative, Hennessey could not without 

 giving offence decline attending on the happy occasion. He 

 was then a remarkably handsome fellow and you would 

 vainly now seek in those gaunt and careworn features, the 

 manly beauty which then caused many a rustic heart to beat. 

 The bride's cousin accompanied her ; she was remarkably 

 pretty, and was, besides, reported to be the largest heiress in 

 the barony. With such advantages, no wonder ' of lovers 

 she'd plenty,' as the ballad says : my foster-brother met her, 

 danced with her, drank with her loved her, and was beloved 

 in turn. Every rival was double-distanced ; but she was un- 

 fortunately betrothed by her father to a wealthy Kcarne-* 

 and although I, in person, interposed, and used my power- 



* Anglice, a rich vulgar clown. 



