The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-09-25
OUR FAITHFUL IRISH GIRL,
BY MRS. +. v. BLAKE.

That was our Kathleen O'Morrill. She
was a " real jewel as housekeepers have
1t; steady, efficient, an excellent cook. 4
neat chambermaid, skillfull seamstress
tatneed), fertile of invention and quick OF
VIII As only genuine Hibernian can be.
Handsome, too; no lily-fingered, taper
wasted maid, but Il round, buxom. ROSY.
Jolly lass, with arms of good size and
god proportion, a waist of ample girth.
height five feet ten, and good. sound
hearty Irish strength in every joint and
muscle.
We had had her year and half. and
Mike Rusher, our gardener, four months
when the hot summer days burst upon us
out OF the warm May sunshine, and woke
IN our hearts the annual vision of tempt
ing salt waves and cool rocky caverns at
Leye Beach 1 think they started with
less than the usual preparation that year;
ut any rate, forget now the incident that
sent them off 50 suddenly at the last. |
mean father, mother, John and little Ada.
The dressmaker, distracted with work.
had not finished two dresses that / con-
sldered not essential to nv summer
makeup" at Leye Beach, and remained
To he sure she accomplished them by a
gwen time There were, then, ONLY nv
sell, kathieen and Mike Rusher in the
house.
Now we were rich enough. but lived in
SIMPLE ease and comfort i'm lovely. great
rambling, pleasant house in the suburbs.
caring little Ter outside show, but rather
taking rambling trips all over the ooun-
try, whenever the fit took us, into what
ever quiet nook or bustling CITY suited
best. And, for my, part, / much prefer
money spent in this way.
But In our quiet, unpretending home
were quantities of old family Jewels and
heavy family plate and the huge dining
room safe held besides. at certain times
large sums of money. Such a sum had
been there on the day of the family exodus.
but at my urgent entreaty father removed
1t to the bankers in town as they passed
through
It's bad enough, father, to have all
that plate, without two or three thousand
dollars to tempt burglars" said L, 90 and
here alone with Kathleen"
"Cowardly, Agnes ?" said my father.
laughing You forgot Nike
Yes, and what mortal use could Mike
DE TO ne, IN the event of burglar break
ing In When he's mile off in the upper
story, and sleeps sounder than the Sven
Sleepers"
Well, have him down in the little
corner room, then, and take Kathleen in
the next chamber. Or shall send Won a
special policeman ?'
wish you would. Mr.. Staeos far
instance Do have him patrol round the
house every night. He's smart and auick
ana ne II be real comfort. Do father y
Wen, upon my wordp' said father
laughing again; ''to think NV brave
Agnes should turn such a coward. WHY
child, it's thickly settled all around and
any cry would wake up somebody. TII
stay myself If you're 50 timid."
No you won't. | won't have Won
Mother will need you to look out for
everything Johns harum-scarum if
he Is eighteen. Only, / wish you'd send
Mr.. Staggs"
Well, anyway, I'll come back satur-
day night. The directors meeting il
Monday; and Wednesday you can 90
down with me. / suppose YOUR dresses
Will be ready by them
They went. But Mr. Stages did not
appear.
The first night passed off easily enough.
Mike slept downstairs, and Kathleen in
the room next to mine.
lhe second night | fancied a queer
taste III my chocolate at supper. and
l1id hathlecn to turn il out and buy some
new next dav. And took long draueht
of water
Kathleen looked at me intentIv as |
told her, and dropped her ewes slowly
upon the cup. | remembered il after
ward, but 1t passed with no thought at
the time.
When | went to bed I Law for n long
time restless, then sank AWAY to sIeep-or
partly. | think it was near twelve O'Clock
when hand on my mouth and a whisper
at my ear aroused me-
g Hush, miss, dear. not a word-not n
noiser'
"Oh, Kathleen, is It you? What's the
"Let me into the bed wild We, miss.
dear, for the love of Hiven, an I'll tell
We. Quick, now"
She pushed me along and slipped under
the clothes on the edge of the bed Then,
with her hands still on my mouth to stifle
any untimely ejaculation, she put her lips
to my ear. Miss Agnes, wo'd We behave
it?-but Mile Rushcr' : Il cowardly, wicked
thafe; an it's myself hur-rd him a bit
ago wlIistlin' under his breath out of the
windy, and whin the clocks on twelve
he'll open the dure to lotuv thaves an
cut-throats an what not, ar VIII be rob
robbed, an like enough murdered AM
it's near the time, sure-barrin' quarter
NV hour"
| can truly say I never before came
broad awake in 80 quick Il time. Iturned
slowly cold from head to foot. Wher
danger comes in the daytime we have tn,
comfort of likht and the use of our eyes
but in the.xsunt, when every nook ant