Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-24
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THE BiNSHGE.
AN IRISH TALE OF BY.GoNE TIMES.
WRITTEN BY NINNA.


CHAPTER /.
Near th3 beginning OF the present century
the Castle Of Kilkenny was inhabited by Ed
mund. ElrI Of Ormonde. lie had an only
daughter. Elnor was very fair; her eyes Were
of d14p grey, neither pensive nor moancho-
Iy. Her hair was of light brown; her forehead
noble;h n mouih small and delicate. The sym
m,try of her figure comp2n ,alad for its not BE-.
ing precisely OF the usual Insight. She was
usually calm and quiet, but when aroused, the
deep color manlling her check, the flash of her
habilual soft eyes, and the naughty curl of her
short upper lip, showed that she possessed Il sp-
rii worthy of her noble race. Her father was
proud of his daughter, and wished to sec her
form on honorable and suitable alliance before
he closed his eyes forever. lie had fixed upon
PcrcvaI q Neal, the eldest son of noble fam
lily. The Earl hal been personal and init
mate friend of PGrcival'S father. The only
impcdim INT was, that in other cases might have
been considered very serious one, the lady
EIinor herself did not wish to marry, and sill
lcssto marry P1rciva. lie had travelled for five
years on the continent, and though she had new
or seen him, she had formed very complete
mental portrait Of her intended.
The Earl was Il kind father. but his Kindness
was mingled with the pride Of his race, and that
again was slightly touched with the superstition
Of the age, which p0rvalcd every rank.
One day, after her father had suddenly an.
,nouncod that Pcrciyal would be at the Castle on
the morrow, having returned from his travels,
Enor sought her room. 1t was u small apart
mcnl in turrol. The windows were OF stain
cd glass. which threw crimson light ovor the
room. The walls were richly taposWie,l, and as
it was the ginning of September the weather
was slightly chilly, and large fire bazcd on
the ample hearth. An embroidery frame and
II guitar revealed the ordinary occupations Of
our heroine. Elinor's face had assumed its
usual genllcness. With smile she took up
her guitar, and after tuning it, murmercd, " If |
am TO receive him to morrow will endcayor TO
please him. Let us soer
She played Il few chords, and then began to
accompany herself upon the instrument. She
first sung an Italian s1renade. then Spanish
boat song, and finished by French chase.
"There!' she cried after that he will scarce
ly ask Tor my own native melodies; but if he is
50 gracious | have enough of those"
She then went TO her embroidery Frame
Fast few her slender fingers over the cmbroi-
d1ry. 1t was a piece of delicate work. kind
of rich lace, for so her ingenuity and industry
had made piece of fine white cashmere; 50
thickly was il woven with flowers that in many
places YOU could not have seen the cashmere
ground. These flowers, or rather sprigs OF
flowers, were not regularly worked, but ran
over and entangled each other without creating
,ony confusion, like waste OF fiowery exces-
ses; the colors were faint and undecided, pale
rose coors, mourning blue, lilac, and pale
green. She had worked at ii for nearly two
years, without particularly designing it for any
purpose. First il was to be Il mantle, then a
riding habit, I'LL az last i; goi too large to put to
any Of Ibcsc uses. Bp 4M cvoning she rcsol'