The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-23
CASTLE DAILY:
THE
Story of an Irish Home Thirty Years Ago.
(Continued.)

gay eslk and everyday occupations OF th
had mot the remotest Thought Of danger @
distress 20 herself and che waa not yer
much surprised, as she had often seen Ann
OFlahsrty hurried awsy with similsr persist
snce, to reoeiye some death-bed confidence o
have some last req nest urged upon her. Sh
had very little doubt that 1t was some favo
or promise Of protection from her father tha
was sought to be extorted from her by dyinl
lips and though compliance was painful, sh'
had not the heart 70 refuse even as startling
request as this on the second evening OF he
return.
"Is it far, Molly Is it quite ct the other
end Of the village :" she whispered anxiously
when they had passed the gate and the first
group of cottages on the roadside, and were
approaching more solitary spot, where by
lane leading downhill towards O tract of bog
land opened from the village street. In the
shadow of q wall q little distance down this
in loose friess coat, leaning against the
horse, his face hidden on bis arm. Molly
dropped Ellens hand and ran towards the car,
exchanged q wcrd with the man, and then
her. Ellen hestated an instant between fear
and kindness, and then turned down into the
darkness, Q little psrplexed and annoyed with
but not seriously alarmed yet. A minute more,
and sickening pang of fear, taking away all
power Of resistance, came. The cloak she
hand she did not see, and she felt herself lifted
mp from the ground in . strong grasp and
pashed on to the csr, to the seat of which
other hands held her firmly, while the car set
Of down the steep road at q rapid pace. By
tho time she had recovered herself go far to
be able to drag the cloak from over her mouth
and cali for help, they had Left the cabins
some yards behind, and were plugging into
the Wild bog-lsnd that lay to the west of the
Castle. Her cries were stopped by hand laid
ON her lips, and old Moliy's cracked voice
pisTssd psS,si.s the g singing I9. IL her ears; ,.
have to put You down, and the last words
that he's longing to speak to you will never
be said. It's our bare lives we're risking,
heart break that has to come upon you and
sure you'll not hinder what we are willing to
do for hips for want of courage Darling lady,
ts not your heart warm enough with love for
"My father p cried Ellen. "Oh, Molly, no.
hurt him. You would not dare to touch me
If they had, and you knew it,"
"We are rieking our lives for him and you
this minute Whist, then, its an accident
shat'e come to him, and the poor boys ran and
doing the best can for him. the best they
will let me who have the power to hinder. |
And you will not DO alone, avourneen I; I'll
stay with you, and his reverence will be there
before daylight, for once gone TO warn him,
bravipg all the danger that will follow. Bad
lnck TO IL all for II he'd come that was ex-
pected, neither priest nor friend would have
II don't understand-I don't understand"
gaeped Ellen. "Did you say papa wanted me, |
and that he was hurti Why do We go so
slowlyi dG. iyd w Why do you hold met Let me get
"Its flying at the top of speed We are, darl-
ing don't you hear the boy ohirri ping his
horse with all tho voice that Is not ohoked |
your heart ont, and then you will be ready TO
sit ont the hours with q still face and help
him."
Ellen had wept away tho irst binding rush |
nf tAaFR and tha favariah of iunn tiao ooaI
to DO doing something and to know the worst
hsd returned before the stopped then
Molly again drew the cloak foroibly over her
face, while the man who was driving jumped
down from his ssAt, threw tho reips on his
horse'e neck, and. lifting her from her place by
Molly, carried her few paces in his arms. She
scended step or two, there was the click of q
latch, aud she was placed on her feet within
D door that had been pushed open far enough
to admit her. The man had disappeared
before she had thrown the cloak from her
face, bat che had no Thought or observ alton to
give to him. Outside there had been the
faint light OF q clear, moonleas night, and the
same glimmer of stars ehone on the epot
where che stood, for though it was inolosed
between fonr walls, the roof was gone ; but
there was other light here as we'll as that of
the stare. A lantern placed on q projection in
the stone wall cast Q broad streak of light
along the mud floor, aud, lying in the light,
Ellen cav. and saw nothing else, her fathers
figure stretched out the white face, raised o
AeeAc Wy noop Vi rags GuAb uAu O00n thrust
under the head, looked ghas ily, and would
have been death-like bat for the frown of iu-
sense pain that contracted the brows. She
,onld not restrain . bitter cry of agony a. she
threw herself by his side.
"Oh, pApa, papa, what is it Cant you
ook at me Cans you speak to me I"
The frown of pain relaxed, the eyes opened
md were raiSod TO her face with the old look
II love, and there WAS Q movement of the lips
V II 20 speak (; but to Ellen's despair, instead
Il words thin stream Of blood oozed
rom them and ohoked utterauce.
whist, thin, svourneen, whist" whispered
Molly who now appeared ont of the darkness
'lose to Ellen's side don't make him spesk
word yet, it's bat few that there's left for
lin to speak let him keep the bit of breath
hate In him TO cave his soul when his rever-
moe comes: There, sit down on the ground,
md take his head in your lap. See, be likes
hat the breath comes easier now yon have
ne head mp. He's smiling on you, his own ]
Wees emile, sweeter than May flowers"
"a doctor" RAsped Ellen. "Oh, Molly,
cave me 10 cit with him aloue-I can-and
.Eing Doctor and help. Why did not you
hink OF that Rrst 7"
would you pot the body, that must any q
TAV hn aEih and CNnI2 hy >.