The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-16
CASTLE DAILY:
Story of an Irish Home Thirty Years Ago.
(Continued.)
The

tContinued)
All vas oonfusion and bustle In and about
the place for the rest of the evening bot
Bride was not In o mood to find fault. Hold
ing Lesbis's hand in hers, and refreshing
herself every now and then with q look into
her face, she could enjoy the odd little traits
with Q lighter heart than che had known for
She listened with less contempt than might
have been expected sS an soqssns a1 narsngSs ;Ss
crowd that followed him to the house /; and
hardly noticed the impatient shrugs OF the
shoulders With which John heard his wild
promises Of help and protection to every one
in the better times which. in spite of the
scarcity, he asserted were sure to come back
now his father was returned to live among
them.
The shouts of welcome, the fervent "Gcd
save yon's," the sight of all these hsggard,
hungry faces trsnsfEured with Joy and hope.
fsS her o%p s Sad She
did mot like to believe just then that the
millennium Of goodwill and good fortune
which the young orators lips pictured so
Giibly had NO reality to reet upon, and was
nothing but words. She did not even permit
herself to feel provoked by Ellen's surprise
when she was told that the resources OF the
60 supplement -CeaBesas- airy promises by
azfording o substantial meal to all the vooif-
eEous applauders Of his oratory; and she
At the assertions reiterated by eli the bystan.
ders that "that always used to be plenty
the bit and the sup were never wanting in the
old times on similar occasions, and were never
missed by those who had the heart 20 give
them." |
Her temper had q further trial when the in !
ceeasing darkness drove them all into the |
exact, careful house manager, and during the |
three years she had lived at Castle DAILY she |
had grown to have certain eense Of proprie- !
torship In the place. To End herself suddenly |
6AnnaAd n littlA krvin0. and thara vraa for |
. careful house-mistress, Considerable NORTH. |
cation In witnessing the joyful aleority with |
which the servents che had trained few in the
opportunity, In favor OF old habits.
"Sure and won't lay the table for supper
this evening 90 Mr.. Connor likes to zee It'll
the pratiss in thei. jsokets, and things handy,
"Hurry and do 1t, then, Kate avoorneen
Syns up p stairs u 10 snatch Of the % dS6s Of White
dimity covers and the bits of ohintz hapgingsf
and cnrtains that she put up for neatness and
cleanliness, she said, and that hide eway che
shat may be g trile frayed and dirty, bit
that win have the real kindly home look ID
Giss Ellen's eyes." Il
being Ut home again, and too eager to revisit
favorite haunts and hunt ont old treasures. to
perceive that her rapturee might give offence.
She and Coqnor hurried from room to room
lAmenting over changes and recognizing old
ink.stainS ON carpets and deplorable bumps
and dints In walls and furniture with inex.
while Leebia vaoillated between cliuging to
Bride and listening In absorbed interest to
Connor's stories of the childish exploits to
which thess diispidations were due.
The most comfortable part of the evening
for Bride was after the travellers had retired
to their rooms, when she went back into the
library and found her brother pacing up and
down between the windows with an excited
on his face that told of not being
ready fog rest for . long time yet. She slipped
her hand under his arm and paced with him.
had shared FeeponSibilities together, almost
Invariably ended every anxious or unusually
pleasurable day.
''she 10 . great deal prettier than we ex.
Q meditAtive turn or two.
II don't know that expected anything.
had not tbonght Of it; but she is oertainly
6ivlnely tall and most divinely fair.'"
my dear John tall fair Why, she is
shorter than am, and has one of those clear
think so much more beautiful than mere
pink and white"
"Ah, yes. LeibiA, has but when you began
thought you meant the other sO1Ds
"You think Miss Daily paettier than our
LesbiA ~
"I can't help having eyes"
"But, John, che is . lady oertainly-one
recognizes that through all the over.esgerness
and want of calm of manner: but how she
did talk and laugh and race about this even.
Ing, and how 1ntidily her hair kept. falling
over her shoulders. must say prefer more
dignity and retcence in . young lady, don't
youf"
"That depends. There's nothing in her TO
be reticent about. Pure, transparent uncon,
ociousness is hedGed around with something
quite beyond dignity"
"You are getting quite beyond me. don't
understand you in the least. 1 must say
tho0ght little Lssbias sweet, shy manner and
gentle little ways thousand times more be.
witchipR."
"BewitohiDg; yes ThAt's the right word
FOR Leskia. am ready to allow that che is
Ihe most dangerous little lady of the two, IL
hat 10 what You want me to say. suppose
L 10 the little ways that beWitoh. That other
manner has too much clear sunshine about it
Tor the working of spells. It makes one feel
Imall. somehow. Ones own Ridiculous, self.
oonsciOus dignity looks . wretohed pedestal
% DO porchod upon in the face of such gracious
loWn.D
"You seem to have seen great deal more
shRn kaG Ill |