The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-14
CASTLE DAILY:
Story of an Irish Home Thirty Years Ago.
(Continued.)
CHAPTER xxi.

CHAPTER XXI.
Tbs work of the day was over for Ellen
when her pensioners TOOK thelr tePHi. W -.
nassed in waiting. Very dreary wAitihH ~
ometimes was, for Mrs. Days nervous aPpre'
b hensions on Pelham's account always in6le; |
ed ns the afternoon drew In ana as sue n |
yariably began to expect bis retnrn iong 10
fore he could possibly appear, Eileh a;.t.o. |
exhaust her ingenuity in inventlh9 saS' S az
tory reasons to account for the supPoseu hsr
Law or to weary herself in efforts TO divert ner
mothers's attention, and persuade her Una, 1ne
hours would pass more quickly IL sue u'o h''
so often ask VIII lat O'Clock 1t Was.
Sna other event besides Pelhams return
might be expected to occur on alternate DAYS,
and that was the passing OF the oate.ooseu
runner who &c carried M 'ne ana who "s sso%etimts
nansed to drop package at the gate of Eagle
Edge Aha ,,,a after.
noon, or it might be at another,the cross.
road post-mnn was above being tied by hoats
lint when there WAS q reason able nope OF
letter from Connor, Ellen never da,Iea .H anS
begin her watch directly after iuncheon.
Even when the post carrier passed the mouse
without stopping he was an object OF intef9st 9st
to Ellen. and she would close her book, or iet
her work fall on her knee, and follow MS
movements with her eyes, from the noment
when she first deserted him, moving BLACK
TIL the dusty bare fest had eaten up all lts
lengths and turns, and ,the efguredisappeateo
again on the opposite horizon. he was tne
oopnecting link between the solitary NIUE
valley and the world beyond an evidence
that there actually was world beyond from
which news could come places where the sun
was shining while it rained mere, whele Peo-
pie had plenty to ent and lived free from tear
and gathered round cheerful fires in the even
ings to talk and laugh and make muoh Oh eaon
other with unauxious hearts. II not 10 her,
to eome people somewhere, words from that
happy distance, soundless but full OF life ana
hope were travelling in the movements ot the
dusty feet she watched and there was
great deal of comfort for Ellen In the tnoognG'
The April day when Ellen had had 30 much
talk with her pensioners broaght her snare
of the pleasure her liberal fancy bestowed
every day on other people. ,..;, ro;rt :,
When the runner came to certain poinb III
the road, which Ellen always saw MN ap-
proaoh with anxiety, his pace slaeSenea, ne
came to the halt 81 II Ss nere a9. ia
search of something. and then set on a.
swinging trot down the path that conneoteo
Eagles Edge with the main road through tns
valley. Ellen was Mt tho garden gate !one
before he reached it, in spite OF the great shoM y
of speed he put into his movements, ana neic
out Q cup of milk, in return for the packet ~
bribe to memory which in theee famine times
when every extrs step was painful labor, sh
thought 1t wise to administer
The man leaned, painting, against the stop
"The Lord reward you for that for ever en-
ever" no said. in hoarse whisper. as .
have given me, and the frat cup Of decer
food that has passed my lips since stooo net
last. May St. Peter hear me that says It,, an
be ready at the gate Of heaven with m 'ne
of your coming with that to meet me OF tn
gate to-day, for indeed don't know that !:
have lived to the end OF my journey "snon1, S6 r,
brought yon two today, thick letter and
bit Of . newspaper folded up" =,
Ellen eagerly examined the: writing on u
AZ rakn aNt MA
changes on her fsos with sympathy th
robbed his scrutiny Of all impertinence,
"And, indeed, he said at last, Pm thinkir
there. wish. with all my heart, he was
the fore instead of myself, to see the pow
they have Sure I'd give you every letter al
RSPDi PPoiv tnav zach M one % of them would give you
minutes pleasure like that see on your fRot
"The letter 10 from my brother. Tim, and
hope 1t bSings rs goSd news S .Ss Q, MN tn S .s %
Ellen. "You had better run on. l dare n
ask you to como in and rest, for you are We
late to-day. The people ct Maam will oompla
of you if You are too unpunctual, and it won
never do for you to lose your post this yeai
"And indeed 1t would not, when the farthii
fmoney get by running my heart out 10
that stands betwixt us and starvation.
Death I'm running away from, every step
the road and faith, it's such near shave th
I'd be glad to let him get hold of me and o
1t, if there was none but myself depending
me. He need not be in such a hurry. for
will have it all his own way in these parts so'
I'm thinking"
The man ended his sentence in sort
murmur, as he unfolded his arms from the I
of the wall, and prepared to set forth aga
with the look of quiet, scquiescing deepol
ENJOY on his face which Ellen was beginni
to notice as the prevailing expression on m
faoes that came across her now.
Mrs. Daily, who was rather more INV
than usual that day, had been doing in
chair when Ellen left the sitting room,
WAS still Asleep when she returned. 1t
quite as WE'LL Ellen thought, to have the
portunity of examining Connor's packs
without her mothers anxious eyes scam
her face as she read. Conuor was not pa
CulArly prudent OF thoughtful corresponds
and could never be made to reoollect that
amusing stories of scrSpes and adventures
Glided Rlibly of his pen were apt to produc
more serious impression at home and be Ion
remembered there than he intended
though he had not become moro pruden
less outepoken, Ellen gathered from his let
that the months of private sorrow and pm
calamity that had passed his head 81
they parted had not been without their ef
hia He WAS cerkAinlv cham