New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-11
THE LAST MISTRESS OF FULLY.
MORE.


l.
Tt was almost nine o'clock on a gray
stormy morning toward the end Of June
I767, and the great house at TullymOre, the
second best house in the county Donegal
seemed as though it were never going to
wake up for the day, for the blinds were
down, and hush rested on the place.
Not 80 the humble dwellings near it. The
clusters of mud cabins grandly denOmin-
ated Gowns" which were dotted here and
there over the mountain sides, had been
scenes of activity since very early hour.
Very unsummer-like was the cold, dark
morning, and the dress in which Miss Alice
O'Hara at last appeared might have been
called unreasonable. But the wearer look
ed charming enough, as she glided down
the steep, narrow staircase, to be above
criticism.
She wore her visiting costume, gown of
sky-blue silk, made with the long waist so
much in vogue at that period it was cut
low in the neck, and u handkerchief of
white net covered her snowy shoulders.
Her hair was powdered, and drawn up
from her forehead over high cushion,
whereOn was pinned a couture of black
lace, something between a cap and q man
tilla, making her look like the ladies in the
pictures of Sir Thomas MOTe's family.
Her necklace, an heirloom, was formed
by triple row of magnificent pearls.
So much for Miss Alice's attire. In person
she was a little slender lady, with far,
gentle face, and pensive expression, but
very stately withal. There was much
thoughtfuness in her deep blue eyes, as
well as in her rosy, but somewhat thin lips.
She opened the drawingrOom door on
coming down stairs, and went over to her
own especial corner of the room, where the
deep WindOW commanded a view of Tough
BarTa, laid at the feet of giant mountains,
with all the green islands on its breast.
Her new spinning wheel from London
was in that corner, and so was her library
her copies of Shakespeare and Spenser, and
Rasselas her Lives of the Poets and her
JOhnsOn's Dictionary, besides innumerable
heaVy-lOOkiDg tones of theology, which
last were much her favOrite study, and had
probably something to do with making her
80 thoughtful.
She was more than thoughtful She was
sad that June morning, and looked as
though her tiny hands were spinning the
web of fate Yet there was nothing in her
external circumstances to make her sad-a
beauty and an heiress, and engaged to be
married to Mr.. Young, Of Dimrath, one of
the best matches in the county and, best of
all, the man of her choice.
She had not been many minutes alone be-
fore her lover. entered. He went up to her
briskly, exclaiming:
Good morning, Alice. You rise IN early
to spin, and your hands hold the distaff like
old SOlOmon's virtuous woman. | wish l
had yOu at Dimrath, to elOthe my household
with SCARLET"
lie spoke nervOusly, as if not quite sure
of his welcome. Alice spoke grayely, and
suffered him TO kiss her cheek
"Why were you 80 severe 10 me last
night, Alice y proceeded he: mo kiss, no
kind word IL was hard upon poor fellow
who loves yOU so we'll"
He was close to her chair, with his hand
on her shoulder, and his bright dark eyes
fixed implOringly upon her face. He could
hardly fail to please, with his gay smile,
good features and horid complexion, soft
en6d and set of by his powdered hair. his
short, hut beautifully formed figure dis
played to such advantage in the green and
gold uniform which he wore as colonel of
che yeOmanry.
'Why were You so cruel TO me, Alice ?"
continued he, COaxingly.
You know the reason, Robert replied
she, smiling in spite of herself, as she met
his laughing eyes.
"Well, confess was little merry when
i came up stairs; but l might have been
much worse. l refused TO taste Mickev's
whisky, or your fathers old port, all on
purpose to please you. Your mother told
, ~ N-Ae-t ~ WeNo W. A4eAAN VA AAp w LOWn
as you did"
"YOu only do as others do, Robert. Obi
now hate reYelB such as papa had here last
aight; and they are not considered any dis
credit to gentleman's house in this eigh-
teenth century, Did you hear of our drive
home from great dinner at the PattOn's
the other nlghtr We hold orgies every
moonlight night, you know; INIT o5 fills ns+.
ticular occasion the Saunderses. Hills and
We left together; and masters and servants
being in the usual state of hilaritv. tool- ~
trying races, and it wGs only OF Gods sne-
cial mercy we reached home alive. tia
Elm and shame TO set our dependents tie
example we do"
a swear you're little Puritan, Alice"
laughed Mr.. Young. "A short life but
merry one, say l, both for. Jack and his
+" 1t leads to every kind Of mischief"
said she {" to this, for example :" and she
opened the window that looked into the
garden, where her father, TALL fne-loOking
old man., was talking to Pat Ryan, the gar
oener, who was pointing out q small keg,
carefully slowed away under gOOseberry
bush, the contents of which were well
known both to Alice and Mr.. Young.
Illicit disullatlon was briskly carried on |
upon Mr.. OHara's estate, and on the lands |
OF many another magistrate besides, The |
loved good whisky as we'll az !
the rest of the world, and a present of the |
best pOteen sometimes found its way into |
their cellars unknOwnst to them, or was |
discovered in some nook convenient" to |
the big house, just as if it had fallen from |
the sky.
Tine consequence was that when party |
9f soldiers out still-hunting made a seizure, /
and brought the owners Of the spoil before /
The magistrate, he, mindful of his own par |
lCipatiOn, was apt to let them OFF easily.
Look here, Miss Alicew cried Ryan, |
SerCeiving his young mistress at the win
Syw. Look, if We plsse, at the laundering |
~ g0Oseberry his hOnOr's after finding. 1
icy Gallagher's the boy that knows