The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-25

THE BLIND EYE.

her neighbors from this troublous life,
but still more with their entrance into
It; in short, she was the sage feme of the
entire district. Her duties, therefore,
took her to every wake and christening
In the country, after she had attended
the death-bed and dressed the dead, or
received and welcomed the newborn.
She spent few nights at home in her
lonely cabin by the roadside, where
there were none to bear her company, for
she was childless widow.
The townland was very extensive; it
embraced tract of well-cultivated coun-
try, as well as wild region stretching
up into the Donegal Mountain. Crohan-
roe took its name from rocky piece Of
land where furze bushes and blocks Of
granite abounded. The high road lay
between this picturesque wilderness and
Mrs. McPherson's cottage, and no other
human habitation was in sight. Some
what lonely felt the good woman one
afterroon,s after returning from Matt
O'Donoghue7s funeral, where out of res
pect for the family, she had keened her
uelf hoarse.
She was having recourse to her short,
black pipe for comfort, when steps were
heard at the door. and, glad to welcome
q neighbor in her solitude, she looked
around briskly.
A stranger entered-a man apparent
iy between forty and fifty years of age,
dressed in the long-tailed coat, knee
breeches, and blue stockings then worn
by the peasantry.
Mrs. Mcpherson bade him kindly well
come, and prayed him to be seated.
"My good woman" said he. "will you
be pleased to give me drink of waterT'
"With all the pleasure in life" replied
she, going over to her water can and
handing him drink.
can where do you get your water,
ma'amw he asked when he had thank
fully returned the cup.
"Why, sir, l go little piece for that
water-down to the well at the foot O
DonnelPs potato field"
"Why do you go that far, an spring
at the foot O your ain gardenT
"There's nae spring ava in my garden,
MR."
"Troth there is; just fine spring bub-
bling up beside the ash tree"
Mrs. Mcpherson knew that there was
no we'll in her garden, but being too
polite to contradict the stranger she re-
mained silent. ...
At length he got up, and said he must
be going.
"How far have you to 60, sir?" asked
his hostess.
"Not far, ma'am; Pm a neighbor Of
yours; l live in Crohanroe."
"Orohanroe, good man? There's nae
house on Crohanroe, an I never seer
you before to my knowledge" replied
she, in extreme bewilderment.
"But ken you we'll; Pm living or
Crohanroe these hundred years."
Mrs. Mcpherson stood at her door and
watched the visitor, who crossed the high
road, and went up to Crohanroe; but
there she lost sight O him there were SO
many furze bushes and great stones that
he might easily be hidden.
Slowly she turned into her little gar
den, and walked over to the ash tree
There sure enough, was a clear spring
bubbling up at the root of the tree, ant
wearing reservoir for itself in the gravel
ly soil. She rubbed her eyes; she pinchec
herself; at last she faltered out: 81 didn
TAX drop but one wee glass o poteen
Just for company and civility like, a
Shame Doyne's, on my way frae the fur
eral"
No, she could not understand it in tn
least. She knit her bfows and puzzle,
all day, and was still musing upon tn
oung-looking man who declared he ha
lived on Crohanroe for the last hundre
years. when she heard the trot of a hors
on the road, and presently knock a
the door. 1t was then night, and til
moon had lately risen.
Mrs. Mcpherson, well accustomed
be summoned in the night, was nc
much surprised to see man holding
horse at the door.
"You're wanted, ma'am, to attend
lady, friend O mine," said the mai
"Can you come wi me at wanst?"
"Where do you come from, sir?
dinna know you,an' know all the peop
in this country far an near"
"Not very far" replied he evasivel,
and he pulled out purse and shove
half a sovereign and several shillings.
was bid to offer you all that money
you'd come wi me-"
The old woman had never earned sue
wages in her life, and could scarcel
turn her eyes away from the attracti,
sight of so much money. Her scrupl
were at once overcome, and, wrappir
herself in her shawl, she locked up tt
house, and let the stranger assist her
mount the horse.
For short time they kept to IL
high-road, but then, turning into Il
fields, they passed bitches and he'd
rows, and other landmarks well-knov
by the good woman.
"Why, surely this is Squire VHars
feldsT' demonstrated she at la'
"There's nae house that / know an
where hereabouts."
"Make your mind easy; we'll be at t
place in a minute" replied the guide.
A hlaza of wsrm yellow 1i0bt presey