The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-12-29
~.Guany, they do not take It. upon ,ss I

Ives to answer her; and think they are
glad, indeed. to leave the house after a
thorough search has been made; and we
are glad, we know, to hear the last clatter
Of their horses hoofs die away in the dis
lance.
Moreen makes up my humble couch again
(for even this has been turned topsy-turvy
in the fruitess scarcely and go to sleep in
spite of myself. Moreen assures me tina:
Mr.. O'Neill must surely have gone on to
Moneymore with the driver, O'Flaherty,
TO see for himself that a fresh horse and
vehicle would be in readiness in the morn.
ing, 80 that we might go comfortably on
our way to Bann a,tle.
Christmas morn ng in 1relard-shall
ever forget It'll l open my eyes to the
sparkling light Of a CHEEKY sunbeam that
| reflects itself over and over again in some
tin platters on a shelf just above my bed.
/ see the fire burning on the hearth, smeE
| the appetizing aroma Of the usual roasting
potato, hear the bustling about of the busy,
tireless Moreen, and looking towards the
bUx-chair dlsoover-yes, as surely as
| live-the figure that looks as much like a
bundle of rags as ever-poor old Granny
Maginnis! Is she a fixture, then, night
anu dayl / close my eyes dreamily and
pair of lips touch mine. "Archie" muir
muir.
christmas gift, We lazy little era herW
| cries musical voice above me- Here
am | wild me arrums full to overtiowin'
wild illgant prisnts bought at Moneymore
this blissed morn-and it's tin to wan if ye
! have aiven a thought to give to me-fegs,
but Pm left, the day"
Oh, Archie, did dream itP'
Drame itP says she But, there
cushia, ak me an aisy wan"
| "Why, Archie, 1 mean all that about
! Shane Magroo-and the soldiersl Where
were you, sir, all that time! Your wife
was almost in danger, Archie O'Neill and
! you 49, you -"
"Was spindin' me last ha'peuny on me
ongrateful little wifel There, there, Mary
mine don't We be maxim such awful eyes
at me! Why, sure, nothing could harm We,
We beautiful wan Wan sight av tuat
shwate, pitirul face would melt the heart
of statue o. stone intoirelYw
1t is no use. ! can never be angry long
| at Archie. The rich, tender, mellow tones
of his voice when he speaks to me are like
some ravishng melody that soothes while
| it charms. And with this Irish voice he
! tells me where he has been, and of the
news that has come to him, that none of his
|
wintering in Dublin. So we need not con-
tinue upon our fruitless journey, but
hurry across Tough Neagh and catch the
Belfast steamer bound for Liverpool on the
following Wednesday.
say goodbye to Moreen Maginnis re-
luctantly, after having, with his consent,
shared with her the most of Archie's
Chr stmas presents; spring into close
| carriage and am driven RAPIDLY back over
the rough road leading to Moneymore.
After all don't know that am so deep
ly disappointed at not seeing Bann Castle.
Could | have had my choice, I'd have
| chosen rather the romantic ep sode of SO
novel a character as that | experienced in
the Maginnis shanty; and the hearing,
with my own ears, the story OF the noble
youth who befrended the tenantry at the
risk Of his life Ishall always feel near
ness to Shane Mugroo since l have CHANGED
to be mixel up in the very search for him;
and so l muse and muse and muse.
Out at sea Our good boat has plunged
through the waves of the North channel,
we have dipped down past the Isle of Man,
and Ireland is being left miles upon miles
behind US. My brilegroom's arm is about
me as we sit, sheltered from all human
| observance IN Curtalned nook OF the
| we'll furnished cabin of the little channel
steamer. | use the word human advsedly
in this instance since | am sure the angels
must be near, 80 much state of heaven is
it, and am content to hear the musical
Irish voice murmuring pretty nothng5
and exquisite something's into my listen
ing ear.
whist, Mary, ashore! Wake up, my
darlingl Is it asleep that you area"
mo, indeed, Archie; but it seems like
dream to look back over the last three
days Ishall never forget my Christmas
in IrelandP'
"And which part of it all seemed the
most wonderful to you, Mary, dearP
Honestly, Archie-dont laugh--it was,
think, to see how poor old Granny Ma
ginnis sat at her post. Do you think it
chronic. ArcheW
Chronic'-what might you mean by
that, Maryl"
THAT box-chair; does she cuer leave itl"
= She left it that night you were there,
Mary"
That's just what she didn't do, Archi-
bald, dear"
"Come, now, let me explain Can we
kapc a saycrit!n IL Will have been no.