Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-12-20
POOR urrLE MISS EOONSHEE.


lace cap and collar, and black mittens;
small elderly lady Ei,b mild wandering blue
eyes, and a trsmulOus mouth, whose IN
certain glance aud shrinking manner spoke
Of some terrible shock sustained By the
nervous system in days gone by. Such
was Miss Moorshee when / 6rst made her
acquaintance.
l was the daughter Of Melbourne mer-
chant and born and brought up in that city,
but at the date of my story (l5f2) We had
removed to Richmond, suburb Of the
Victorian capital. A strong active girl Of
seventeen, I wss daily in the habit OF walk
ing up to town TO attend classes at q school
in street: Daring my walk to and from
Melbourne / was more than once struck
oy the appearance Of one Of the cottages
which passed. It was neat little place,
painted white With green Verands posts,
The windows which faced the road were
full Of rare geraniums and ferns and the
trinity kept garden plot was planted with
all manner OF fragrant old-fashioned flow
ers and herbs. Il was the lady Of the cot.
tsge, however, who, even more than her
pleasant surrounding, interested me. When
the sun shone she was always to be seen
dressed in the fashion have already de-
scribed, seated under the versndsh in low
chair busily engaged in netting. Like Pen
loee's web, her task seemed endless, and
she seldome raised her eyes from her work,
which engrOsssd sll her attention. An old
Irishwomau, who was continually lowering
about, either wedding or watering the gar
den, appeared to be her only domestic
But was soon to become better acquainted
with both lady and servant
One no. January afternoon l wac plod.
ding slowly homeWArd, my mind full OF
8 certain stiff German exercise required 6Y
Herr n on the morrow. In my preoecu'
patton was in the act Of passing the white
cottage with the green yersnds posts with
ont looking, as | usually did, to see if the
old LADY was in her accustomed place,
when q cry OF unmistskabls anguish ICON
the interior arrested my steps. 10 uAlstch
the garden gate and hurry up to the front
door was the work of moment. There,
however, paused. undecided whether to
knock and offer my services or retrsce my
steps. While hesitsted the door was
opened from within aud the old lrlshWom'
an presented herself bsckoning me to en-
ter. Silently followed her into prettily
furnished sitting room, bright with pictures
books and flowers. This much / took In at
the first glance; my second rested on the
evident cause of the lrishwom8n's distress
the insnimate form Of her mistress,
which lay stretched on 8 couch near the win
dow. The poor lady was in q dead faint,
a phase of inispositiou sufficiently alarm
ing 10 her faithful domestic, who, in the
agony of tears, asked II il was any nse to
send for doctor.
Now, had bad considerable experience
IN the treatment OF fainting TITS, my mother
being unhappily subject to frequent lspses
into unconciousuess from which, acting
under the doctors orders, | had generally
been successful in recovering her. there
fore spoke resssuriugly TO old Mslly-she
she had told me her name-snd at once
set about applying the restoratiyes to the
invalid that had found 80 useful on for
ner occasions In short time We had
the satisfaction of seeing the poor lady
open her eyes and tx beUildsred look on
her maid, who was on her knees by the
couch. Her glance then rested on me with
puzzled expression.
You have been i'll, | explained gently,
and Mally and | have been trying 10
make you better.
1T is very good OF you to take 80 much
trouble with foolish old woman, my dear"
abe replied in a weak voice, and the ghost
of q smile fitted over her pallid face,
"Ould and foolish" indignantly repeat
ed Mally. furtively drying her eyes on her
apron and turning bsaming face toward
her mistress. Sure it's joking you are,
Miss kathleen. And what would Mssther
Shane say did he hear you INSTALLING his
sweet Kerry rose
The old Irishwomsns words had Won
derful feet on the invalid. A faint pink
fash sufused her cheeks her eyes shons
so that for the moment she looked almost
pretty. The change, however, was but
heeting The color quickly faded, her eyes
resumed their usual expression; aud muir
muring something to the effect that one is
always fair TO those who love one, she
closed her eyes, as if to shut out some dis.
agreeable recollection. Presently she said,
in low, entrestipg voice oh, Shane,
darling why do you huger? Old age is
creeping on, and an weary of waiting
oh, 80 weary sAnd as she spoke the
tears triekled slowly down her thin cheeks.
was glad when the entrance Of the
maid with the tea things reused her. De-
string Mally to place the tray on q small
table beside her. the little lady sat up and
insisted on pouring out q cup of tea for
me, spologizing while handing me the
bread and butter for what she called her
rudsness Il was overcome with old mem
ories, nv dear, so hope you will excuse
The tea was strong and under Its stimu-
lating influence my hostess became quite
laxative She told me her name was
Eathsleen Moonshee; that she was by birth
q native Of County Merry, Ireland, but had
been for more than 80 years resident in
Victoria. But have never quite liked
the colony, my dear" she said in her gen.
tie way; land Mslly and / would have left
it long ago but for a reason of our own.
There is friend, very dear friend, who
has promised to Join Us some day soon, it
may be today" and her eyes frightened.
IL cannot tell for certain, however. But
whea he does come We shall all 60 home
together to the cool, green Kerry meadows
and its beautiful lakes. Ysu have heard,
/ dare say, of the lakes Of Killarney
/ admitted / had read of them, but
begged her TO describe them, which she did
in a rather rambling fashion, stopping fire.
quietly to inquire if she were wearying me.
At last the olOck warned me that it was
getting late, and / rose to 90.
Am / TO have the pleasure Of seeing
you AGAIN. asked Miss Moonshee, as she
took my p5oFered hand "Mslly and l
are not very entertaining, bus We should
be delighted to see you, if you care TO
come"