"I, Mary Gallagher, being at the point of death,"--that was as she then
supposed, but she lived many a year after, as the reader knows--"and as
I hope for mercy from God, into whose presence I am summoned, declare
that the girl-child who was buried beside my Mistress Gorman was not
hers but mine. My twins were the boy who lives and the girl who died.
My lady's child is the boy who passes as twin-brother to mine. It was
Maurice Gorman led me to this wrong. The night that Terence Gorman, my
master, was murdered and my lady died of the news, Maurice persuaded me
to change my dead girl for my lady's living boy, threatening that unless
I did so he would show that Mike, my husband, was his master's murderer.
To save my husband I consented. Had I been sure of him I would have
refused; but I feared Mike had a hand in that night's work, though I am
sure it was not he who fired the shot. Thus I helped Maurice Gorman to
become master of Kilgorman and all his brother's property. But they no
more belong to him than the boy belongs to me. And if this be the last
word I say on earth, it is all true, as Maurice knows himself, and Biddy
the nurse, who writes this from my lips. God forgive me, and send this
to the hands of them that will make the wrong right.
(Signed)
"Mary Gallagher."
"N.B.--The above is true, every word, to my knowledge.
(Signed)
"Biddy McQuilkin."