The Northwestern standard., 1886-04-03

spoke in earnest, / tell ye never to say
the word again in my hearin' for if ye
do, by the blessed Calrn above there,
III be revenged for it, dead d alive.
sPheugh!'' exclaimed Lanty, wher
the old woman had finished. s.by the
powers OF war, but you'd frighten I
body out Of their wits this evening
What's the matter, woman? or are yor
SO easy yexed as that with an oule
friend?' and he shook her Familiarity BY
the arm as he spoke, and pushed her OF
towards the cabin to which she had just
invited him. eff you want to auarre
with me, Else, he continued, ''yos
must take another day for it, as at pre-
sent I am engaged on particular busi
ness. So up with you to the house
there, and bring me out a coal to ligh
my pipe
Though Lanty spoke in banter, there
was still something in the expression O
of his face and tone Of his voice that In
dieated misgivings Of Else Curley afte1
such show Of Indignation. Not thai
he suspected her, for g moment, OF any
secret connection with the neither world
nor of keeping Mamie for any unholy
purpose; but nevertheless be was accus'
toned to hear strange reports about her
ever since he remembered to hear any
thing, and was taught to regard her as
a woman above the common, and one
whose anger was to be propitiated at any
sacrifice Hence, if Lanty had his
doubts Of Else, they were doubts rather
of the woman than OF her acts. or her
capacity to work mischief rather than OF
her actual guilt. In a word, he never
heard or saw aught OF her but what was
right and proper, and yet somehow he
always fancied she was uncanny, and
could be dangerousif if she pleased. Per-
haps the sharp, thin features and large
gray eyes of the, tall, shriyelled old
creature, as she gazed steadily into Lam
ty's face, helped at that moment to ag-
gravate his suspicious. But be that as
it may, he lost no time in trying to con-
ciliate her, and his experience had al
ready taught him, that his usual rollick-
ing familiarity Of manner would accom-
plish that end more etfectually than any
formal apology he could offer.
The house or cabin to which Lanty
and his companion now directed their
steps {Nannie still following her mis-
tress at respectful distance) was built
on the southern side OF a little green hill, |,
called the Cairn, named after pile OF
Of stones upon its summit, which tradi-
ton says were thrown there to mark the
spot where a priest had been murdered
in the tronblous times of Cromwell or
From the top Of the hill, which rises
only a few rods above the roof Of the
cabin. a full view is had Of the light
house, and Lough Ely from it's eastern
to it's western extremity. The lake, in
fact, at one Of its bend touches the base
Of the hill, and thence stretches to the
lighthouse, distance Of little more than
half q mile
And now, Else, avourneen," began
Lanty, taking his seat on a flag outside
The cabin door, (for the evening was
warm, now that we have settled that
little difference, how is Bait himself,
and how does the world use him?1
well, indeed, we can't complain much
IS the times go, responded Else, draw
ng her stocking from her pocket, and
to knit in her usual slow,
luiet way; for she was old, and her
lands trembled as she piled the needles.
AS for Bait, poor ould man, he's to the
,hore there of an evenin to ketch trout
'r SO for the supper, it's little else he
las to thruble him. y
"StilI he gets an odd call now and then
III warrant, . observed Lanty knocking
he ashes from his pipe. and preparing
o replenish it with fresh tobacco. "A
nan like Bait Curley can't want job
ong ii there $ any goin. .
20, he gets his share. to be sure; but
where's the benefit o that, when there's
lothing to be made by it?'
We'll he makes trif1e over the price
! the tabakly and the dram any way;
nd what more does he want? Fiddlin's
low not what it used to be in onld times
Else y
Indeed, thin,yo may well say that, Z
he replied, when half crown d we'd
ins the highest he made this twelve
aonth. The Lord luck down on us, I
on'na how poor people can stan it at
hat rate. z
It's mighty hard assented Lanty,
anding the old woman the pipe, after
Tiping it on the breast OF his jacket. II
mud the time myself when we cudn't
hake fut at weddin short Of shillin
piece to the fiddler. But sure the peo-
las hanrfs Il hrt,lr.a f,,,f nj s<,,,% Ivl.a