The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-14

hand vaguely towards the wv, tnL tha
spoken greeting. John Thornley, TOOK inc
hand in his, and felt how cold and trembling
it was; ,.,.,n ri. borse
while Patssy puts ours into the stables, and
nothing whatever is the matter he salo: ~
you never mean to see me oil the rest OF your
life, Miss DAILY, without suspscting me OF being
must hate the sight oe me-"
Ellen did not suppose that it mattered much
to him or anybody else whether she aio tH nase
greeting LesbiaSto have an answer ready for
this remark.
"Dsar Babotte. how kind Of you to fod ;nS;. yEI;t
must be soated shrough. Come in quickly, to |
the kitchen 6re frst II you don't mind, while |
prepare mamna to see you, and tell her that
vous, know, but believe fear is catching, |
and you can't be surprised that mamma should
have dread of sudden news"
~ did not say was surprised" put IN Son1
blankly, wondering what unlucky spirit OF mat
a propos always made him say something to
Ellen DAILY tEas sounded like oensure.
forward uninvited into the circle of freight
in the kitchen towards which Ellen dragged
Lesbia, but stood leaning against the door
post, dripping little pools of water from his
mackintosh on to the floor, and Watching what
went on within, while Ellen thrust Lesbia
down into the three cornered chair by the
hearth, and proceeded to lift off the heavy
cape Of her habit, and deal with the wet knots
and tangles of her hat strings and veil. He
was so absol bed in looking, that when she
DATED into o dark corner, and reappearea WIZ
| q heavy wooden pail of peat-sods in her hands,
LIE let her drag it across the Kitchen and land
| it safely in front of the FIRE before he bad
presence of mind to come forward with otters
of help, When he did make his way to the
| hearth, he stood looking at the at-pail with
such an expression Of horror that Ellen could
not help Laughing in his face, os she rubbed
| away the red ridges the iron handle hao lett
"You carried that great heavy thing ell that
distance yourselfi" be said.
| "Yes, / did; don't remember that you
helped me, Mr.. Thornley," she ans swered gaiiy,
| "You might have asked me; was there.
eyes, you were there, bat to tell you the
| truth did not want your help. IF you mean
to go on wearing your wet coat had rather
you stood in the passage and let 1t drip thele
| instead of Just in front of the fire, where
shall have to kneel soon to make the teast."
John, 1 do believe you are half asleep >
said Lesbia; '.you have no idea how stupid
\ you look standing up in your dripping over
I coat"
Jahn took off his overcoat. and planted him
self ~ front of the peat.pail, but was not
quick eSough to secure the peat tongs, with
which Ellen proceeded to pile op the fire.
"Show me the place where this has to be
carried baok,' he demanded, when she had
finished her task.
! "It is not going to be put back in its place
, lust yet; there must be fire lighted in the
room where Lesbia will have to sleep to- night;
. and as Kathleen has evidently quite lost her
wits at the sight of visitors, and Patsey 10 10
| BGAOi69,
, the dining room, think the shortest way will
be to do IL myself"
; mo, shall do 1t,
'.Youi-the notion of an Englishman know
ing how to lay o peat lire
"You must really let me-"
"pu be much obliged to you, Mr.. Thornley,
If yoo, casTy the pail across the passage S 1d 6u
sit by the fire with Lesbia till your rooms are
o ready"
}. She took up q lamp and the t-tongs, anG
| Cd tho a n bedroom
d and he followed but when he had deposited
his burden and received her smile Of thanks
and little nod OF dismissal, he could not mag,
% up his mind to leave her. She thought hin
It somewhat stupid and tiresome for standing
Y upright by the chimney piece while the hre
t lighting business progressed, his helpless hand
g hanging down, or making vague dashes tt
= reach her things che did not want, or to draf
the peat pail into corners where it was no
required to be.
art of piling peat sods scientifically ao'
thought he need not have chosen to do it IL
wet clothes in q cold room and that ther
| was no occasion to look 60 profoundly melan
eholy over the lesson.
'.There," she said. arising from her knee
when che had applied the match, and the llttl'
d tongues of flame were shooting gally fron
a. fibre to hbre of the carefully arranged cone o
g. sods, "do you think you shall know how to d.
r, that another timeW
ID how to do it," be answered, rs his eye fell oil
1s the white taper fingers that had been so busy
ns aud then Travelled upwsrds to the fair, soft
er delicately tinted face.
d. az will explain the mystery if you like
" though it involves q revelation which Pelham
y, and my English cousins consider very humil
" atipg to Connor and me. We, both CT ui
re- passed the first years of our lives in mouu
~ tain cabin. Mamma had always very delicst
q health, the country did not agree with he
re aud papa insisted on our being sent ont
It's nurse, as used to be the fashion for every bod
ct in onr rank of life in this part of the worl
sr, when papa was yousg. Iwas left long enoug
! q with my foster mother to remem ber the cabi
he life perfectly; and know two or three thing
he besides how to build up peat fires, that yo
b, will never know if you live to be . hundre
ht and study all the books in the world. One
ga exactly how it feels to run about barefoot c
I'M q turfy mountain side on q spring morni1
Oh early, and how delicious potatoes dipped
he egg noggin taste when you come in afterwar'
ad and sit on the cabin step, with the sweet pea
be smoke curling round you, and brood
ds downy little goslnGs stumbling over yo
he fee5. You would not think the peasants suC
nd savages for living in the way they do, if "
ads happened to know how pleasant all that is