The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-04-14


With night We bsnish sorrow."-HETR3oD.
A bright, sunny spring morning after n night
Of rain. Heavy clouds, like @ dispersed bot
not beaten army, hung in threatening masses
ed mountains that shut in the landscape to the
west, while the sun climbing the summit Of q
lower range OF grass-olothed hills on the east
made the waters of Lake Corrib dance in ita
light, and turned the rain-drenohed trees that
surrounded Castle Daily into forest of diA-
monds. The house, q solid grey stone, many.
windowed mansion, with o turreted roof, and
four dilapidated towers ornamenting its sides.
stood on slope between two grassy hills and
fronted the head of the lake Just where its
waters, after narrowing into o river-like chan
mel through @ pass in the hills, spread out
again into second shimmeripg sheet Of silver
whore emerald slopes and purple heads saw
themselves reflected.
The front door stood wide open that morn
ing, as it generally did in oil but the very
worst weather, aud from the top of its high
stone steps q wide view was commanded.
Frowning mountain heads and delicate purple
distances, soft green level shading into the
blue of river and lake, the near ground be-
ing varlegated with every graduation Of tint,
and cultivated felds. Just in front lawn
sloped from the top of the little eminenoe ON
which the house stood to o white road skirt
windings the eye could follow till they wsre
lost among the hills. Bold outlines aud fair
coloring were to be seen at their very best
under the rsdience of the spring sunshine; bat
1t was not altogether to enjoy them that tho
Of the CAAtle Daily house
hold, as they left their rooms one by one, pass
ed the door of the breakfast parlor where the
meal waited for them, and sauntered. hatleas
and bonnetless, down the hall steps into the
rain-drenched garden.
1t was more or less q matter of course with
of doors than in, and II there was anything to
be done a. fixed time, even such o pleasant
thing as breakfast, an instinct against punc-
tuality gave zest to q little preliminary david
ling
Flrst, q boy of Rbout sixteen came ont with .
book in his hand, at which he gave o careless
ket and rushing across grass-plo aud flower
border to join group of eervants who eimul-
taneously left their work, in doors and ont, At
the sound Of o bugle, and focked to the yard
gate to meet the bearer Of the post bag, who
just then made his appearance blowing his bu-
gle and driving at an astonishing rate up the
road in 3 jaunting car.
dark silk handkerchief tied across her golden
haired head, tripped down the steps and stood
for minute or two quiet still ut the bottom,
with hsnds clasped behind her back, and her
face turned up with an intent, eager, pleased
look towards the slopipg hills at whose base
the sunny waters OF the lake glittered. Last,
hatless, with his hands in the pockets of his
loose morning coat, appeared the master him
self, Squire Daily, "his honor" as the people
around universally called him. He stopped his
not quite sure that even it's high arch left him
room enough to pass under, and then stretch
ing his unusual length OF limb against the
door-post, crossed his arms en- his breast and
looked forth lazily. large, well-made, good
patared giant style of man was "his hon0F,n
with 8 sunburnt handsome face on which 1t
was difficult to say whether an expression of
acuteness or of lazy enjoyment predominAted.
His eyes glanced slowly, first with an amused
twinkle in them towards bis young aon, the
centre of q group of gssticulatipR servants.
then over the landscape, half closing now and
then, and peerinR iptently a. IL to make out
some object in the distance, Frightening 0t
last with 8 peculiar loving light Rs they rested
on his daughter who kept her motionless posi-
tion ct the foot OF the steps, too closely wrapt
in her own thoughts TO be aware Of his neigh
borhood. He watched her for q second or two
and then called out.
are you weaving this morning for our andoineF
are you summoninR your kindred from the
lake TO help in your incantations Como, leave
the Good People, and pay q little attention to
your father, you undutiful Princess Of the Col
den Locks"
The dreamy look vanished, the young girl
sprapg up the steps, and it was q brilliantly
happy face, all sparkling with dimplsB and
smiles, which received her fRther'a morning
kiss. 81 bnd no id6s JcG =ere dcgn," chs ez-
claimed: II came out to gather your flower
caut think how came to forget it."
"I can. Your relations in the lake called
you, and all the concerns Of the upper world
went clean out of your head, &c your mother
complains they usually do, you Impractical,
yello haired OFlaherty witch y
By this time ehe had drawn him down tho
gteps towards q flower border, and as she fast
ened poWdery purple auricnla in his button
hole she said, az don't believe she was witch
that old Castle Hen heroine, only true pat
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