The Irish standard., 1886-10-23
AST0RY IN FOUR CHAPTERS.
4 Poor Irish Girl Proves Herself s
Heroine - Kathleen 0'Neil,
Trusted and True.
A HEARTLEss, CRUEL MISTRESS
"If Was Only at Home, Where the Poor
est and Meanest Have a Kind
Word for Each Other"
CHAPTER {.

CHAPTER {.
ssKathleen, is it possible that you are
crying again? Did l not tell you that
would discharge you if I found you
indulging in that foolish whimpering
any more?"
Poor Kathleen O'Neil had been dust
ing the elegantly furnished drawing
room, and she stood before an exquisite
painting Of one Of the blue, sparkling
Irish lakes: set in gold-green shores,
with sky beyond like liquid AMBER
stood with her apron to her eyes and
her ruddy checks deluged with tears.
s:I couldn't help it ma'am," she
sobbed; ''but it puts me in mind OF
home.'
:'Home, scorntully echoed Mrs. Ar
mott. your home! A shanty in bog.
1t ism It likely you ever saw such a spot
as that
"Deed did I, then, ma'am, answered
Kathleen, <'and many time. For we
lived beyant them same green shores
when"
s.There that will do,' said Mrs. Ar
mott, coldly:''I don't care to hear about
any "reminiscences.
Kathleen did not understand the i've
syllabled word. but her quick nature
oomprehended the sarcastic tone. The
tears were dried in their fount; the scar
let spot glowed in her cheek.
s'She looks down on me as If l was a
dog!'' Kathleen thought to herself.
AN sure it's the same flesh and blood
God has given us both. How would she
like it, 1 wonder, to be in a strange land,
and niver kind word spoken to? Oh,
but if 1 could see mother, and little
Honora, and Teddy, that's but a baby
yet; but it's the blue sea rolls between
us, and it's all alone that I ami"
Poor Kathleen! the sense Of desola-
tion came upon her with a sickening
power just then, as she stood before
the sweet Irish lakes, with wet splashes
on her cheek, and Mrs. Arnott's cold
hard voice sounding in her ears.
sIt's great pity to be obliged to do
with these wild, untutorsd Irish!''
Kathleen was Just bringing up the
tray, and Mrs. Arnott's words sounded
distinctly in her ears as she paused on
the ton stao to rat breath
"Of course, my dear,'' said Mrs, Tud-
or Audor, sympathetically, they're
bad, thoroughly bad, the whole lot Of
them. I'd send them all back to their
native country if it lay in my power"
II wish they were all at the bottom
of the sea,'' said Mrs. Arnott, "and
then perhaps we would have a. chance
to employ Swedes or Chinese, OF some
body that would at least earn their
bread. Is that you, Kathleen? Why
don't you bring in the ice water at once
instead of standing there?"
Kathleen obeyed; but the dreary
homesick feeling that thrilled through
all her pulses can hardly be described.
eff was only at home again" she
thought, ';where the poorest and mean
est have a kind word for each other!
They scorn and hate me here; and sure,
I've tried to do my best; but the lady
has heart of stone, and even the little
children in the nursery, with their
French mald, make fun of Irish Kath-
leen.'
And the lone exile wept herself to
sleep on her solitary pillow that night.
1t was mere closet of a room without
light or ventilation, that she occupied.
Mrs Arnott thought the place was good
enough for Kathleen. The bed was hard
and insuficiently provided with cloth
ing, but, as Mrs. Arnott carelessly Oh
served 1T was no doubt a great deal bet
ter than she was accustomed to at
home. And she had just paid large
sum for draping her drawing-room
windows with lace and brocatelle,-so,
of course. there was nothing left for
such trihe as the comforts of her SER
wants.
CHAPTER II.
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