Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-09
orr FAITHFUL IRISH GIRL.
nv Mrs. z. V. BLAKE.

Ave- fetf len. and good. sound, hearty Irish
Strength in every joint and muscle.
W. had had her year and hall, ana
NH. Kosher. our gardener, four months,
...,.en the hot summer days burst upon MS
c,,t ~ The warm May sunshine, and woke
- chr hearts the annual vision Of tempt
iao All, waves and cool rocky caverns at
+ eye Reach. / think they started with
- than the usual preparation that year
- anv rate. forget now the incident that
ssnt ;hem OF 30 suddenly at the last. l
r,san father. mother, John and little ADA.
The dressmaker, distracted with work,
| had NOT finished two dresses that consid.
| cred essential TO my summer : makeup
!. eve Beach, and remained to be sure
sbe accomplished them by given tiihe.
| There were. then, only myself, hathieen
and Mike Rusher in the house.
Sow we were rich enough, but lived In
s;mnIe ease and comfort In a lovely, great,
rambling. pleasant house IN the suDurps,
esring little for outside show, but rather
taking rambling trips all over the country,
| uheneyer The fit took us, into whatever
ouie, nook or busting city suited best
And. for my part, much prefer money
| spent in this way.
Rut in our quiet, unpretending home
,yeye Quantities of old family jewels and
beavy family plate; and the huge dining
room safe held besides at certain Tunes,
| large s1ms OF money Such sum had
been there ON the day of the family exodus
hut al nv urgent entreaty father removed
| II N the bankers in town as they passed.
through. =,
Ills bad enough, father, to have all
tina, nIate without two or three thousand
dollars 10 tempt burglars" said !, and
here alone with Kathleen"
"Cowardly, Agnes" said my father,
laughing. 1You forgot Mike"
| Eyes, and what mortal use could Nike
\ ne To me. in the event Of burglar break
| ING inY When he's mile offin the upper
story, and sleeps sounder than the Seven
| Sleepers." -,
We'll. have him down in the little
corner room, then, and take Kathleen In
the next chamber. Or shall i send you
special policeman Z"
Al 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 a real comfort. Do, father. F"
"Well, upon my word!" said father,
laughing again; to think my brave
| Agnes should turn such coward. Why,
child, it's thickly settled all around, and
any cry would wake up somebody. III
stay myself if you're 50 timid. ;"
4 No Won won't | won't have you.
Mother will need you to look out for
everything. Johns harum- scarum II he
is eighteen. Only, wish you'd send Mr..
Staggs."
"Well, anyway, III 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 APP
| pear.
The first night passed off easily enough.
Mike slept down stairs, and Kathleen In
! the room next to mine.
4 The second night fancied a queer
taste in my chocolate at supper, and
told Kathleen 10 turn II out and buy some
new next day. And took along draught
| of water
Kathleen looked at me intently az |
told her, and dropped her eyes slowly
upon the cup. j remembered 1t after
ward, but II passed with no thought at
the time.
When went 10 bed | lay for long
time restless, then sank away to sleeper
partly. think il was near twelve O'Clock
when a hand on my mouth and whisper
at my ear aroused me.
flush, miss, dear! not word-not a
noisep'
"Oh, Kathleenl is it your What's the
| -"
"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. Then,
with her hands still on my mouth to stiiie
any untimely ejaculation, she put her lips
10 my ear. Miss Agnes, VOID ye behave
| itg--but Mike Rusher's cowardly, wicked
thaie; am It's myself as hur-r-d him BIZ
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.
/ tiroats an what not an well be robbed,
an like enough murdered. An it's near
the time, sure-~barTin' quarter Nv a
| hour"
can truly say never before came broad
awake in so quick time. turned slow.
| ly cold from head 10 foot. When danger
comes in the daytime we have the comfort
of light and the use Of our eyes; but in
1 inc night, WHICH tNtTy HUM anu GDIutt IL
black, and familiar objects take strange
shapes and shadows, and there is grim
silence over the house, that may be broken
at any time by stealthy steps or pistol
shots, and you lie IN your bed and feel dan.
| ger drawing steadily nearer-nearer-u
/ won't think of IT, feel that same chill
now rs write.
| "Whatll we do, msss For it's a tear.
in shame, an they'll git all the nice
silver an things, an that wretch NV a
thafe, Mike Rusherl Wen have to be
| spryr'
The thought of making "a defense of her
masters property--the brave grill How
| she put me to shame, lying shivering
there, only considering how | might get
safely out of the house to the nearest
neighbours. Witha desperate resolution
sat up.
son with some clothes,n said to Kath-
leen.
"Jist yer dark wrapper over yer night
gown, miss, deari Where is ity" said she,
snatcbing IL from the chair that indicated
and thrusting in my arms. Now give
me yer long waterproof TO hide me white
clothes; an now some slippers IN yer
hand, miss no, not on yer feet yit. Hank,
nowW We listened; the door was aiar.