Star and Republican Banner Gettysburg, Pennsylvania June 19, 1832 A TALE OF GALWAY [Most of our readers have doubtless heard before of the tragic facts related in the following narrative: the sad story is however, so well and so affectingly told by a distinguished foreigner, Prince Puckler Muskan, (whose "Tour" thro the British Islands, translated from the German, has recently been given to the literary world,) that we cannot resist the temptation of inserting it entire for the gratification of our readers.] From a Dublin Paper. In an obscure corner of the town stands a house of extreme antiquity, over the door of which are still to be seen a cross and skull bones, remarkably well sculptured in black marble. The house is called the "cross-bones" and its tragical history, is as follows.- In the fifteenth century, James Linch, a man of old family and great wealth, was chosen mayor of Galway for life, an office which was then nearly equal to that of a sovereign in power and influence. He was reverenced for his inflexible rectitude, and loved for his condescension and mildness. But yet more beloved - the idol of the citizens and their fair wives - was his son, according to the chronicle, one of the most distinguished young men of his time. To perfect manly beauty and the most noble air, he united that cheerful temper, that considerate familiarity which subdues, while it seems to flatter, that attaching grace of manner, which conquers all hearts without an effort, by its mere mutual charm. On the other hand his often proved patriotism, his high-hearted generosity, his romantic courage, and complete mastery of all warlike exercises, forming part of an education singular in his age and country, securing to him the permanency of an esteem which his first aspect involuntary bespoke. So much light was not without shadow. - Deep and burning passions, a haughty temper, jealousy of all rival merit, rendered all his fine qualities so many resources of danger to himself and others. Often had his stern father, although proud of such a son, cause for bitter reproof, and for yet more anxious solicitude about the future. But even he could not resist the sweetness of youth, as quick to repent as err, and who never for a moment failed in love and in reverence to himself. After his first displeasure was past, the defects of his son appeared to him, as they did to all others, only spots on the sun. He was still further tranquilized by the vehement and tender attachment which the young man appeared to have conceived for Anna Blake, the daughter of his best friend, and a girl possessing every lovely and attaching quality. He looked forward to their union as the fulfillment of all his wishes. But fate had willed it otherwise. While young Lynch found more difficulty in conquering the heart of the present object of his love than he had ever experienced before, his father was called by business to Cadiz; for the great men of Galway, like the other inhabitants of considerable sea-ports in the middle ages, held trade on a large scale to be an employment nowise unworthy of noble birth. Galway was at that time so powerful, and so widely known, that, as the chronicle relates, an Arab merchant, who had long traded in these coasts from the East once inquired "in what part of Galway Ireland lay?" After James Lynch had delegated his authority into trusty hands, and prepared every thing for a distant journey, with an overflowing heart he blessed his son, wished him the best issue to his suit, and sailed for his destination. Wherever he went, success crowned his undertakings. For this he was much indebted to the friendly services of a Spanish merchant named Gomez, towards whom his noble heart conceived the liveliest gratitude. It happened that Gomez had an only son, who like Edward Lynch, was the idol of his family & the darling of his native city, tho' in character as well as in external experience, entirely different from him. Both were handsome; but Edward's was the beauty of the haughty and breathing Appollo, Gonsalvo's of the serene and mild St. John. The one appeared like a rock crowned with flowers; the other like a fragrant rose-covered knoll threatened by the storm. The pagan virtues adorned the one, Christian gentleness and humility the other. Gonsalvo's graceful person exhibited more softness than energy; his languid dark blue eyes more tenderness and love than boldness and pride; a soft melancholy over-shadowed his countenance, and an air of voluptuous suffering quivered about his swelling lips, around which a timid smile rarely played, like a gentle wave gliding over pearls and coral. His mind corresponded to such a person; loving and endearing, of a grave and melancholy serenity, of more internal than external activity, he preferred solitude to the business and tumult of society, but attached himself with the strongest affection to those who treated him with kindness and friendship. His inmost heart was thus warmed by a fire which, like that of a volcano buried too deep to break out at the surface, is only seen in the increased fertility of the soil above, which it clothes in the softest green, and decks with the brightest flowers. Thus captivating, and easily captivated, was it a wonder if he stole the palm even out of the hand of Edward Lynch? But Edward's father had no such anticipations. Full of gratitude to his friend, and of affection for his engaging son, he determined to propose to the old Gomez a marriage between Gonsalvo and his daughter. The offer was too flattering to be refused. The fathers were soon agreed; and it was resolved that Gonsalvo should accompany his future father-in-law to the coast of Ireland, and if the inclinations of the young people favored the project, their union should take place at the same time with Edward's, after which they should immediately return to Spain. Gonsalvo, who was just nineteen, accompanied the revered friend of his father with joy. His young romantic spirit enjoyed in silent and delighted anticipation, the varying scenes of strange lands which he was about to see; the wonders of the deep he would contemplate; the new sort of existence was unknown people with whom he was to be connected; and his warm heart already attached itself to the girl, of whose charms her father gave him, perhaps, a too partial description. Every moment of the long voyage, which at that time abounded with dangers, and required a much longer period than now, increased the intimacy and mutual attachment of the travellers; and when at length they descried the port of Galway, the old Lynch congratulated himself not only on the second son which God had sent him, but on the beneficial influence which the unvarying gentleness of the amiable youth would have on Edward's darker and more vehement character. This hope likely to be completely fulfilled: Edward, who found all in Gomez that was wanting in himself, felt his own nature as it were completed by his society; and as he had already learned from his father, that he was to regard him as a brother, their friendship soon ripened into the warmest and most sincere affection. But not many months had passed, before some uneasy feelings arose in Edward's mind to trouble this harmony. Gonsalvo has become the husband of his sister, but had deferred his return to Spain for an indefinite time. He was become the object of general admiration, attention and love. Edward felt that he was less happy than formerly. For the first time in his life neglected, he could not conceal from himself that he had found a successful rival of his former universal and uncontested popularity. But what shook him most fearfully, what wounded his heart no less than his pride, what prepared for him intolerable and restless torments, was the perception which every day confirmed that Anna, whom he looked upon as his- that his Anna had ever since the arrival of the handsome stranger, become colder and colder towards himself. Nay, he had even imagined that in unguarded moments he had seen her speaking eyes rest, as if weighed down with heavy thoughts on the soft and gentle features of Gomez and a faint blush then pass over her pale cheek, but if his eye met hers, this soft bloom suddenly became the burning glow of fever. Yes, he could not doubt it; her whole deportment was altered; capricious, humoursome, restless, sometimes sunk in deep melancholy, then suddenly breaking into fits of violent mirth, she seemed to retain only the outward form of the sensible, clear minded, serene, and equal tempered girl she had always appeared. Every thing betrayed to the quick eye of jealousy that she was the prey of some deep seated passion, and for whom? - for whom could it be but Gomez? for him, at whose every action it was evident the inmost chords of her heart gave out their altered tone. It has been wisely said, that love is more nearly akin to hate than to liking. What passed in Edward's bosom was a proof of this. Henceforth it seemed his sole enjoyment to give pain to the woman he passionately loved; and now, in the bitterness of his heart, held her guilty of all sufferings. Whenever occasion presented itself, he sought to humble and to embarrass her, to sting her by disdainful pride, or to overwhelm her with cutting reproaches; till, conscious of her secret crime, shame and anguish overpowered the wretched girl, and she burst into torrents of tears, which alone had power to allay the scorching fever of his heart. But no kindly reconciliation followed those scenes, and, as with lovers, resolved the dissonance with blessed harmony. The exasperation of each was only heightened to desperation; and when he at length saw enkindled in Gomez - so little capable of concealment- the same fire which burnt in the eyes of Anna; when he thought he saw his sister neglected, and himself betrayed by a serpent whom he had cherished in his bosom - he stood at that point of human infirmity, of which the All-seeing alone can decide whether it be madness or the condition of a still-accountable creature. ...to be continued... Cathy Joynt Labath Ireland Old News http://www.IrelandOldNews.com/