The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21
CASTLE DAILY:
Story of an Irish Home Thirty Years Ago.
(Continued.)

Thornley crossed his arms on the chimney
piece, and leaning his head on them and star
One by one the rapid chaDges in the face,
which he now aokno wledged to be the dearest
face in ell the world to him, rose up before his
eyes and photographed themselves In ms mem Ts.
ory 80 as never to be forgotten again. Inc
patient weariness that was now the prevaihpg
expression when the face was at rest me nad
not failed, when she was kneeling oy Lhe nte
and looking down, to observe the red lines
round the eyes that told of recent tears the
flicker of amusement that brought light ana
life back to the countenance ut once, the play
fol curl of defiance the smiling lips, the
glow of interest when speaking lights and
shades that followed each other as qaickly as
the shadow and sunshine on tho mountain
sides on o windy day, and had the self same
tried hard to fiod something to criticize, TO
satisfy his conscience as to his loyaly to his
old ideals. Bride would not have stood there
and talked, and shown her thoughts TO COM
psrative stranger, without any special reason
for doing 30 the little excitement OF an unex'
pected Influx of visitors would not have
tive one all at once. Could there be worth or
persistence in feelings that followed each other
90 ligbtlyi Was there not want OF dignity
in such easy communioativeness shown indif-
ferently to everyone; for IL was no special
mark of friendliness to himself he perfectly
understood. He tried to think he did not ike
it-that person Of such nature could have
no confidence to give that would be OF any
value /; nothing in her to make real intimacy
worth striving for-but it would not do, he
could not wish any change in her. She was
lust hersef-she had got into his heart and he
must worship her. Why should not the lily
open out it's leaves and show all it's golden
heart The sun and the wind that visited it
might be dszned by its white . sheen o5 ana n 1ns
head held itself uusullied and apart, however
many gszers came.
What nonsense comparisons are. John
caught himself up, ashamed and annoyed at
the extravagsnces into which his thoughts
were rising. He had schooled himself all his
life against exeggeraton, or excessive feeilng
of any kind. Heavy responsibilities laid on
him had sobered him early; he had been used
to say that in his 40 he had never had, and
hoped never to have, time for sentiment.
Sober duties, that had to be met with well:
regulated energies and sober Judgment, had
succeeded each other too rapidly to leave him
any interval for dreaming and of all kinds
of dreams he was most reSolute against love
dreams. If he ever fell in love, he had meant
it to be with euoh sober certainty of fitness
and possibility as would provide against the
waste of energy, thought, and life, that he held
to be the worst result of disappointment in
such o matter.
And now that it had come, in very differ
ent guise to any he had intended, was there
still time to turn it awayf HIS thoughts
few back through the events of the last eight
months, since the autumn evening when Ellen
aud Connor had appeared suddenly at Castle
DAILY, ooucen trating ell their joys and sorrows
into bitter sweet draught which his spirit
seemed to taste. His first amused distant ad-
miration, and Brides disdain of it, The pitt
fulness of that night in Denns's cabin, when
the playful girl he had half.ad dmired, half
an angel of consolation and strength. The
long dumb pain of seeing her grief through
the dreary weeks that followed, and having to
stand quite apart from il, feeling every tear
of hers he saw fall like weight on his heart,
and possessing no power 10 comfort. The
meetings since they had left Castle DAILY; the
senseless keen pApgs of modification at heed
laAa iffla vnrda and DhraRea that Derhana
were not meant to carry any pain with them
the equally senseless keen pleasure called up
by smiles or thanks, or sentences of acquies-
cenee in something he had said, which reason
ably could not be laid to bear the weight of
signiA cation attributed to them at the time.
The underlying satisfaction that through all
the winter had been the secret spring of his
content, arising from the fact that, unknown
to herself, he was protecting her and hers,
standing everyday between them and great
food of calamity, that would overwhelm them
bat for his unmeasured exertions and watch
fulness. Alb, yes and that was the consider
alton which must determine his course. The
question no longer was-whether or not this
being. He had made himself necessary to
them-to her and as long as abe bad no one
else to look after her interests and protect
her, he would not desert his post, let the pain
be what it would to himself. When his
thoughts reached this point, John raised his
head from his arms, drew long BREATH and
began to move about the room and get ready
for dinner. If Ellen had passed q Rubcon,
and taken q resolution that rainy afternoon,
60 had he he locked the future in the face,
and with his es es open accepted love which
he had very little hope wOuld ever bring joy
into his life. He did not say to himself That
there are some sorts of pain better than Joy,
or come sorts of giving that transcend taking
q millionfold, and that life is indeed more th an
meat for he had not come yet to give such
clear account to himself of " hat was working
within him but he felt the calm and strength
that deliberate putting away of selfse. king
always brings with it.
Ellen, mean W h.le, had really thrust aside all
sad thoughts, in the hustle and actual hard
work that under present circumstances an un-
expected inrond of visitors to such house en-.
tailed. When Lesbis had been taken to her
room, and furnished with change of dress-
the selection of which from Ellep's wardrobe
had given rise to q good deal of chatter and
reference 10 old times between the two girls-
Ellen returned to the kitchen, and found Pel-
ham standing by the fire, with an expression
of much anxiety, mingled with o certain tri-
umph, on his handsome face. She lifted up
her hands with pretended smazement and
horror at his doings.
~ would not have believed it of you, Pei
hami You to have been guilty of the indis.
~. -.