All eyes were fixed with interest upon our hero, as he advanced to the platform, and, bowing composedly, commenced his declamation.  It was not long before that interest increased, as Harry proceeded in his recitation.  He lost all diffidence, forgot the audience, and entered thoroughly into the spirit of the piece.  Especially when, in the trial scene, Shamus is called upon to plead guilty or not guilty, Harry surpassed himself, and spoke with a spirit and fire which brought down the house.  This is the passage:—­

  “My lord, if you ask me, if in my life-time
  I thought any treason, or did any crime,
  That should call to my cheek, as I stand alone here,
  The hot blush of shame, or the coldness of fear,
  Though I stood by the grave to receive my death-blow,
  Before God and the world I would answer you, no! 
  But if you would ask me, as I think it like,
  If in the rebellion I carried a pike,
  An’ fought for ould Ireland from the first to the close,
  An’ shed the heart’s blood of her bitterest foes,
  I answer you, yes; and I tell you again,
  Though I stand here to perish, it’s my glory that then
  In her cause I was willing my veins should run dhry,
  An’ that now for her sake I am ready to die.”

After the applause had subsided, Harry proceeded, and at the conclusion of the declamation, when he bowed modestly and left the platform, the hall fairly shook with the stamping, in which all joined except Fletcher, who sat scowling with dissatisfaction at a result so different from his hopes.  He had expected to bring discomfiture to our hero.  Instead, he had given him an opportunity to achieve a memorable triumph.

“You did yourself credit, old boy!” said Oscar, seizing and wringing the hand of Harry, as the latter resumed his seat.  “Why, you ought to go on the stage!”

“Thank you,” said Harry; “I am glad I got through well.”

“Isn’t Fitz mad, though?  He thought you’d break down.  Look at him!”

Harry looked over to Fletcher, who, with a sour expression, was sitting upright, and looking straight before him.

“He don’t look happy, does he?” whispered Oscar, comically.

Harry came near laughing aloud, but luckily for Fletcher’s peace of mind, succeeded in restraining himself.

“He won’t call you up again in a hurry; see if he does,” continued Oscar.

“I am sure we have all been gratified by Mr. Walton’s spirited declamation,” said the President, rising.  “We congratulate ourselves upon adding so fine a speaker to our society, and hope often to have the pleasure of hearing him declaim.”

There was a fresh outbreak of applause, after which the other exercises followed.  When the meeting was over the members of the Society crowded around Harry, and congratulated him on his success.  These congratulations he received so modestly, as to confirm the favorable impression he had made by his declamation.