The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-11
CASTLE DAILY:
Story of an Irish Home Thirty Years Ago
(Continued.i
THE

Lesbia was an early visitor to Mrs. Daly's
room the mex morning with bunch OF Violets
spoken demurely, bit with q little CLEAN of
conscious mutual understanding creeping out
from under her eyelasbes. Il have persnaded
John to consider this o sort OF holiday. They
are not going to ride to-day, or to look ait sr
anything. They are writing letters in Johns
study new, and reading newspapers, and soon
we are going TO walk. Ellen has promised to
o little lake where We shall get water.i!ies
ont of the way of the cabins and miserable
sights just for once. thought it would do
John good"
"And me-" Mrs. Daily said, drawing the
bright face down to her and kissing it "you
don't know how much good you are doing
me.".
Lssbis had managed to take Mrs. DAly's
heart by storm, and get nearer to 1t than any
body had been known to do for years the by
ISLANDERS noticed the friendship with wonder, /,
not having OWNED the secret sympathy that
"Do you remember this day Last year I" Les
bia asked Ellen. when the two girls were
standing In the hall equipped for their walk
and waiting till the library door at which they
had raped several times in vain should open.
SCAN You tell me what we were all doing this
day last year !"
6Of course l can, because it is Connor's
birthdsy," said Ellen 'but wonder you re-
member the day. think you did not spend it
with u.s."
"Eo, but can tell you exactly what was
doing. You had invited me TO ssi with you in
the afternoon and come back to dine. 1t was
the first invitation to dine out had ever had
in my life, and oh, bow proud was of it. /
dressed to GO aud just as l was leaving the
house one of Aunt Joseph's grand friends (the
people she called grand, l mean) came in a
carriage to ask her to drive, and my aunt
dered me to take my bonnet off and stay at
home, because, as she would be away, was
wanted TO look after the children. l spent the
whole afternoon in pctnring what you were
all doing, and made myself miserable. At night
j put litte cross in my almanac to mark the
day, and as wrote it wondered W whetaer
should be more or less unhappy when the same
date came round again-whether any hing par
ticular would have happened to me. Did you
ever do such q thpgf
"No, don't think ever did. ! used to bs
happy t } want to look forward."N
'WelI. 1t was seeing that little cross in my
pocket-book determined me to IN AXE an expe
dition with you to day. ! thought it wonld be
q charming answer to my last years question.
Nobody will order me TO take oil my bonnet
aud shut me mp in the house this year. De
Ellen, have i vexed you by talking of last
yearf wish had bsen more considerAt,."
Ellen passed her fug gers lightly over her eyes,
and then looked up smiling,
"No, am not vexeG; for moment thought
how glad should be if some one who used to
give me orders could come through that door,
or up those steps, rs he has often done " hon
have been standing here, and tell me to do
oh, any thing for him I! But Babstte, am de-
termined / will not spoil our walk by low
spirit. know you did not plan it jus. for tie
sake of making am snds to yourself for lost
years disappointment; you are rs clever "a
other members of your family in nj skiDg yonr-
s9lf out selfish when you are really kind. You
wanted to secure man nj an easy day by keep
ing Pelham with ns, and perhaps you thought
too Of gratifying me by honoring Connor's
birthday. l have kept it ever since can re-
member, by some pleasure expedition and
may tell the poor boy, mayn't l, that no was
not altogether forgotten tnis year at Castle
II don't know how it wonld be to tell him."
said Lesbia, demurely. Here, at last, come
John and your bret Now We may set
out"
Ellen's resolution to enjoy the walk was put
to . severe trial before taey had taken many
steps mp the steep road. Mr. Thornley,, who
was walking by her side, turned to her, aud
remarked in tone that was meant to be in.
different, but was really fnl of anxiety
''You hear frem your brother Connor fire.
quently, suppose ~
swered, as steadily aa she could, while an un-
easy vision of Connor detected in some impru.
dence. in their own neiGhborhoOd filed her
thoughts
He wrcts from Dubliu, of course 7"
''Yes, of course"
"Why don't you tnrn my qnestions back on
myself, by sekinG why askF
anything you will aud if you don't there's no
use in my asking"
"What an opinion OF my obstinrcy you must
hAve-qnite erroneous, let me tell you. /
hesitate to speak because l am afraid of alarm
ing you needlessly, though l think ought to
give you warning"
'Then please say anything you know of Con
nor at once"
sit is not important, though worth meu.
tiopipg, perhaps. Some meu were taken up by
the police l. o. night for being found olt ou
the hills at q later hour than ID allowed by the
new Vagrancy Act, which is very strictly ca
forced IN this district j1st now aud la the
course Of their examination this morning a
good dealN was brought out concerning NO
emissaries from the Dnbliu clubs, who have
bsen holding seoret meetings down here, aud
collecting the people on the hill sides for drill
at night One of the men, who was either
very stupid, or who wanted to boibribed TO toll
more, let drop Your brother Conuor's name.
The other prisoners united in swearing that
the two gentlemen they had gone ont 10 meet
were perfect strangers, who had never been
seen by any one in these parts before; and there
was an attempt at explanation mystifca-
tion by some of them volunteering the remark
that one of the strange gentlemen was go like
your father that may bs 1t was o spirit, and no
gentleman st all, that had hArAnRued them on
the hill side. The police Magistrate seemed
sAtisfed, and so in fact was l !; only when you
are writing to your brother you may as we'll
let him know how thorough the yigilanoe Ia in