The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-28
llssle o..
a : fustling brown silk
NJ lace cap and collar, and

a . rustliny brown sill
NJ lace cap and collar, and
ihittens; 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 Moonshes when first made
her acquaintance.
i was the daughter OF q Melbourne
merchant and born and brought up
in that city, but at the date OF
my story (1S72) we had removed to
Richmond, q suburb OF the Victorian
capital. A strong, active girl OF IL, l
was daily in the habit of walking up
to town to attend classes in--strest.
During my walk to and from Mel.
bourne ! was more than once struck
by the appearance Of one of the cot.
fapeess 7s'ahaich 1passed. 1t was-a 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.
aler OF fragrant old.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 u low chair busily engaged in net.
ting. Like Penelope'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.
nestle. But l was soon to become
better acquainted with both lady and
servant.
One hot January afternoon l was
plodding slowly homeward, my mind
full OF O certain stiff German exercise
required by Herr II. on the morrow.
In my pre-occupation was in the act
of passing the white cottage with the
green veranda posts without looking,
us usually did, to see if the old lady
was in her accustomed place. when
q 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, paused
undecided whether to knock and offer
my services or retrace my steps.
While hesitated thee door was opened
from within, and the old Irishwoman
presented herself, reckoning me to
enter. Silently followed her into q
prettily furnished sitting room, bright
with pictures, books and flowers.
This much Itook i'll at the first glance;
my second rested on the evident cause
OF the old Irishwoman's distress-the
pale, inanimate form OF her mistress,
which lay stretched on n couch near
the window. Tho poor lady was in a
dead faint, phase OF indisposition
sufficiently alarming to her faithful
domestic, who, Ill agony of tears, ask
ed if it was any use to send for the
doctor.
Now, I 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
reassuringly to old Mally, she had
told me her name-and at once set
about applying the restoratives to
the invalid that l had found so use.
full on former occasions. In q short
time we had the satisfaction of seeing
the poor lady open her eyes and fix q
bewildered look on her maid, who was
on her knees by thecouch. Her glance
then rested on mo with puzzled ex-
preston.
"You have been ill.," I explained
gently, "and Mally and l have been
trying to make you BETTER"
Sooa VI you " GHko 80
much trouble with a foolish old WON.
an, my DEAR" she replied in a weak
voice, and the ghost OF q smile fitted
over her paid fa:e.
could and foolish!" Indignantly re.
peated Mally, furtively drying her
eyes on her apron, and turning O
beaming 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 a
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 fleeting.
The color quickly faded, her eyes
resumed their usual expressions; and
murmuring something to the Of.
feet that one is always fair to those
who love one, she closedher eyes, as if
to shut out some disagreeable recol-
lecti ion. Presently she said, in a low,
intfeating voice: Oh, Shane, darling,
why do you linger? Old age is creep.
ing on, and l am weary of waiting
oh, so weary!" And as she spoke the
tears trickled slowly down her thin
cheeks.
Twas glad when the entrance of the
maid with the tea things reused her.
Desiring Mally to place the tray on a
small table beside her, the little lady
sat up and insisted OH pouring out a
cup 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,
so hope you will excuse me-" The
tea was strong, and under its stimulat.
ing influence my hostess became quite
laxative. She told me her name was
Kathleen Moonshee; that she was by
birth q native OF County Kerry, Ire.
land, but had been for more than thir.
ty years resident in Victoria. :. "But
! never quite liked the colony, my
dear" she said in her gentle way; "and
Mally and would have left it long
ago but for reason of our own.
There is friend, who has promised
to join lis some day soon. it may be
today" and her eyes frightened. 81
cannot tell for certain, however. But
when he does come we shall ill 60
home together to the cool, green Kerry
meadows and its beautiful lakes. You
have heard, dare say, Of the lakes OF
Killarney" 4@
Iadmitted had read of them, but