360 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



necessary preliminaries. The cabin of the heiress was 

 crowded, and all within was noisy revelry. Hennessey, 

 with one companion, stole to the back of the house. 



" He knew the chamber of the bride elect, for he had 

 more than once * when all the world were dreaming,' 

 visited his pretty mistress. He looked through the 

 little casement, and, sight of horror ! there she was, 

 seated on the side of the bed, and the Kearneys arm 

 around her waist, with all the familiarity of a privileged 

 lover ! There, too, was the priest of Inniskea, and 

 divers elders of * both the houses ' — while the remainder 

 of the company, for whose accommodation this grand 

 chamber was insufficient, were indulging in the kitchen 

 or dancing in the barn. 



" Since the days of Lochinvar, there never was a 

 more daring suitor than my foster-brother ; yet he did 

 not consider it a prudent measure to enter the state 

 apartment ' 'mong bridesmen, and kinsmen, and clans- 

 men, and all,' — but waited patiently at the window 

 to see what some lucky chance might do. Nor did he 

 wait in vain. Kathleein turned her pretty eyes on 

 the moonlit casement, and thought, poor girl ! how 

 often her young lover had stolen there in secret, and told 

 his tale of passion. A tap, too Hght for any but the ear 

 of love to detect, arrested her attention, and she saw the 

 indistinct form of a human face outside ; and whose 

 could it be but her favoured youth ? Seizing an early 

 opportunity, she stole from the apartment ; she soon 

 was in her lover's arms ; a few words, and a few kisses, 

 — and all was settled : — and while the Kearne, the 

 Priest, and the father were regulating the exact quan- 

 tities of cattle and plenishing* that were to dower the 



♦ Plenishing means household furniture, beds, blankets, etc. 



