Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1886-11-10
LITTLE MISS MOONSHEK
From the Chambers Journal.

Picture to yourself neat little fig
IRE, habited in a rustling brown silk
gown. point lace cap and collar, and
black mittens; small, elderly lady,
with wild, wandering blue eyes and q
tremulous mouth, whose uncertain
glance and shrinking manner told of
some terrible shock sustained by the
nervous system in days gone by. Such
was Miss Moonshee when l first made
her acquaintance.
was the daughter of Melbourne
merchant and born and brought up
in that city, but at the date OF
my story (1e72) we had removed to
Richmond, suburb OF the Victorian
capital. A strong. active girl of IT,
was daily in the habit OF walking up
to town to attend classes in--strest.
During my walk to and from Mel.
bourne l was more than once struck
by the appearance of one of the cot
tases which l passed. 1t was neat
little place, painted white, with green
varanda posts. The windows which
faced the road were full of rare gerani-
ums and ferns, and the trinity kept
garden plot was planted with all man
ner OF fragrant otd-fashioned flowers
and herbs. 1t was the lady of the
cottage. however, VINO, even more
than her pleasant surroundings, in
terested me. When the sun shone
she was always to be seen, dressed
in the fashion l have already
described, seated under the veranda
in low chair busily engaged in net
ting. Like Penelops's web, her task
seemed endless. and she seldom raised
her eyes from her work, which engross-
ed all her attention. An old Irish
woman, who was continually towering
about, either wedding or watering the
garden, appeared to be her only do
nlestic. But l was soon to become
better acquainted with both lady and
servant.
One hot January. afternoon / was
plodding slowly homeward, my mind
full of a certain stiff German exercise
acquired by Herr H. on the morrow.
In my pre-oCcupation | was in the act
Of passing the white cottage with the
green veranda posts wi bout looking,
as | usually did, to see If the old lady
was IN her accustomed place, when
a cry Of unmistakable anguish
from the interior arrested my steps.
To unlatch the garden gate and hurry
up to the front door was the work OF
q moment. There. however, l paused
undecided whether to knock and offer
my services or retrace my steps.
While l hesitated the door was opened
nom within, and the old Irishwoman
pre- 'ented herself, reckoning me to
enter. Silently l followed her into a
prettily furnished sitting room, bright
with pictures, books and flowers.
This much Itook in at the first glance;
my second rested on the evident cause
OF the old 1rishwoman' distress-the
pale, inanimate form o. her mistress,
which lay stretched on a couch near
the window. The poor lady was in
dead faint, phase of indisposition
sufficiently alarming to her faithful
domestic, who, IN agony Of tears, ask
ed nlt was any use to send for the
doctor
Now, had had considerable expert
ence in the treating of fainting fits,
my mother being unhappily subject to
frequent lapses into Inconsistencies,
from which, acting under the doctors
orders, | had generally been successful
in recovering her t THERETO gn2}kkte
told me her name-and at once set
about applying the restoratives to
the Invalid that had found so use
full on former occasions. In a short |
time we had the satisfaction OF seeing |
the poor lady open her eyes and fix a
beWIldel Ell look on her maid, who was |
on her knees by the couch. Her glance |
then rested on me with puzzled ex-
preston
you have been ill.," I explained |
gently, land Mally and have been
trying to make you better"
sit is very good OF you to take so
much trouble with a foolish old wom-
an, my DEAR" she replied in a weak
voice, and the ghost OF smile fitted |
over her paid face.
Gould and fooIish!" Indignantly re-
peated Mally, furtively drying her
eyes on her apron, and turning a
beamlng face toward her mistress.
"Sure It's joking you are, Miss Kath-
leen. And what would Masther Shane
say did he hear you miscalling his
sweet Kerry rose?"
The old Irish woman's words had
wonderful effect on the invalid. A
faint pink flush suffused her cheeks,
her eyes shone, so that for the mo-
ment she looked almost pretty. The
change, however, was but feeting.
The color quickly faded, her eyes
their usual expression; and
something to the ef-
feet that one is always fair to those
who love one. she closedher eyes, as if
to shut out some disagreeable recol-
lection. Presently she said. in low,
lntreating voice: Oh, Shane, darling,
why do you linger? Old age is creep
ing on, and | am weary of waiting
oh, 80 weary" And as she spoke the
tears trickled slowly down her thin
cheeks.
I was glad when the entrance of the
maid with the tea things reused her.
Desiring MalIy to place the tray on a
small table beside her, the little lady
'at up and insisted on pouring out a
'up OF tea for me, apologizing while
handing me the bread and butter for
What she called her rudeness. 81 was
overcome with old memories, my dear,
70 I hope you will excuse me-" The
ga was strong, and under it's stimulat-
ng influence my hostess became quite
laxative. She tod me her name was
Kathleen Moonshee; that she was by
birth a native OF County Kerry, Ire 6
and, but had been for more than thir-
y years resident in Victoria. "But I
never quite liked the colony, my {
lear" she said in her gentle way; "and E
Tally and l would have left it long I
go but for a reason of our own. S
There is a friend, who has promised {
o join us some day soon. it may be
O-day:" and her ewes hr1ghtene6 al r