Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-08-27
OUR FAITHFUL IRISH GIRL.
BY MRS. e. ". BLAKE.

THAT was our Kathleen O'Morrill Sht
was "real jewel" as houseaeepers have
it; steady, efficient, an excellent cook, {
neat chambermaid, skillful seamstress
lat need), fertile of invention and quick Of
wit as only genuine Hibernian can be
Handsome, too; no lily fingered, taper
wasted maid, but round, buXom, rosy
iollv lass, with arms of good size and good
proportion, 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 lis
out of the warm May sunshine, and woke
in our hearts the annual vision of tempt
ing salt waves and cool rocky caverns al
Leye Beach. / think they started with
less than the usual preparation that year
at any rate, forget now the incident thai
sent them off so suddenly at the last.
mean father, mother, John and little Ada
The dressmaker, distracted with work
had not finished two dresses that cOnsid
cred essential to my summer " makeup
at Leye Beach, and I remained to be sure
she accomplished them by given time
There were, then, only myself, Kathleen
and Mike Rusher in the house.
Now we were rich enough but lived in
simple ease and comfort in a lovely, great,
rambling, pleasant house in the suburbs,
caring little for outside show, but rather
taking rambling trips all over the country
whenever the fit took us, into whatever
quiet nook or busting 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 sum had
been there on the day Of the family exodus
but at my urgent entreaty father removed
it 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 /, " and ]
here alone with Kathleen"
"Cowardly, Agnes?'' said my father,
eyes, and what mortal use could Mike
be to me, in the event of a burglar break
ing in? When he's mile offin the upper
story, and sleeps sounder than the Seven
Sleepers."
Well, have him down in the little
corner room, then, and take Kathleen in
the next chamber. Or shall send you a
special policeman ?"
!" 1 wish you would. Mr.. Stages, for in
stance. Do have him patrol round the
house every night. He's smartand quick,
and he'll be real comfort. Do, father''
Well, upon my wordp' said father,
laughing again; ito think my brave
Agnes should turn such coward. Why,
child, it's thickly settled all around, and
any cry would wake up somebody. I'll
stay myself if you're so timid." aI.a
" No you won't. / won't have you.
Mother will need you to look out for
everything Johns harum- scarum ifhe
as eighteen. Only, wish you'd send Mr..
Stages"
"Well, anyway, I'll come back Satur-
day night. The directors meeting is
Monday; and Wednesday you can go
down with me. | suppose your dresses
will be ready by then"
They went. But Mr.. Stages did not ap-
pear.
The first night passed off easily enough.
Mike slept down stairs, and Kathleen in
the room next to mine
The second night / fancied a queer
taste in my chocolate at supper, and /
told Kathleen to turn it out and buy some
new next day. And took along draught
of water.
Kathleen looked at me intently as /
told her, and dropped her eyes slowly
upon the cup. / remembered it after
ward, but it passed with no thought at
the time.
When went to bed I lay for long
time restless, then sank away to sleeper
partly. [ think it was near twelve O'clock
when a hand on my mouth and whisper
at my ear aroused me.
sHush, miss, dearl not a word-not a
noiser'
sOh, Kathleenl is it you? What's the
g Let me int the bed wild We, miss, dear,
for the love of Hiven, an I'll tell ye
Quick, now.'
She pushed me along and slipped under
the clothes on the edge of the bed. linen,
with her hands still on my mouth to stlfle
any untimely ejaculation, she put her lips
to nv ear. Miss Agnes, wo'd We behave
it?-but Mike Rusher's acowardly, wicked
thafe: an, it's myself as hur-r-d him a bit
ago whistlin' under his breath out of the
windy. and whin the clocks on twelve he'll
open the dure TO a lot Nv thaves an cut
Threats an what not, an we'll be robbed,
an like enough murdered. An it's near
the time, sure-barrin' quarter nv
bour.n
/ can truly say / never before came broad
awake in SO quick time. | turned slow
" cold from head to foot When danger
comes in the daytime we have the comfort
of light and the use of our eyes; but in
tha NIGHT when every nook and corner is