Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-21

dren,'' says MISS Penelope. she IS evIuenIy
growing extremely nervous. 1T seems so
strange they should be coming here to the
old house."
Monica cannot be a child now. She must
be at least eighteen" says Miss Priscilla,
thoughtfully. 1T was in 1868, that"
1854, think" interrupts Miss Penelope.
1853" persists Miss Priscilla.
you may be right my DEAR says Miss
Penelope, mildly but firmly, you often are,
but l know it was in "a that"
s'What?' asks Miss Priscilla, sharply.
''The Desmond Tilted our Katherine"
"You are wrong, Penelope, utterly wrong.
1t was in 49,"
II am nearly always wrong" says Miss
Penelope, meekly yet, with latent sense
of suppressed power. But | cannot forget
that in the year George Desmond behaved
so shamefulIy to our sweet Katherine, Mad
am O'COnnOr'S COW had two calves, and
that" triumphantly, was in a.
''YOu are right,-quite right" says Miss
PRISCILLA vanquished, but not cast down.
$50 it was. What a memory you have, my
dear Penelopep
Nothing when compared with yours"
says Miss Penelope, smiling.
At this moment the door opens and an old
man enters the room. He is clad in the
garb of a servant, though such wonderful
habilimentS as those in which he has arrayed
himself would be difficult to purchase now
adays; whether there are more wrinkles in
his forehead or in his trousers is a nice ques-
ton that could not readily be decided at a
moments notice.
'Well, Timothy" says Miss Priscilla,
looking up as he approaches the table, 1--WE
have had news of Miss Katherine's-I mean
Mrs. BeresfOrd' s-children."
REST her sOwlr' says Timothy, in a rev.
erential tone, abiding to that part Of the
late Mrs. Beresford
SIT seems they have landed and will be
with US to-day"
Sure an grand change it will be for us
all, miss; twill indeed, ma'am," says limo
thy, cheerfully, though his mind misgives
him. There's nothing like children, when
alPS told; sureS there's music in the very
sound of their footsteps"
Il hope they will be good" says Miss
Penelope, with doubtful sigh.
''Faix, what else would they be, miss?"
says the old man, with assumed reprOach.
''Tis we'll mind of poor Miss Katherine
herself,-the soft tongue she had in her
head, an never cross word out of her,
save to Nelly DoOlin-an' she was the divil
himself, Savin' your presence, miss, and
enough to provoke all the Satisfactory
be-
II trust they will be happy here" goes on
Miss Penelope, still wistful.
AN why not, miss? Sure the country
is the finest place at all for the young; and
where's finer country than Guild Ireland?'
'Much can't be said for it of late, limo
thy" says Miss Priscilla, sadly; "all it can
boast of now is rebellion, seditiOn, and
bloOdshed."
Sure every one must have kick up
sometimes, miss" says Timothy with
youthful lightness; IAN afther ALL isn't the
ould place only dom what she can for her
self more power to her?'
Ryan," says Miss Priscilla, sternly, adj
dressing her butler by his surname "a thing
that is never done except in dire cases, and
fixing upon him an icy glance beneath which
he quailS, II regret you should so far forget
yourself as to utter such reasonable senti-
mentS in our presence. You ought to be
ashamed of yourself"
$50 I am, miss. humbly ask yer pardon,
ma'am," says Mr.. Ryan, promptly. But
all the different opinions one hears adde's
the brain. Twas only last night the Muir
phys had a meeting and they do say, miss"
lowering his voice confidentially, that the
Squire down there" pointing apparently
through the breakfast-room wall, lis in a
bad way with the League boys"
"The DeSmond?'
Eyes miss. He's been evctin' again,
ma am, an there's queer talk about him.
But" with a relapse into former thought
eff he's bad landlord, what can he eX-
pect?'
mo, no, Timothy. He is not bad land
lord" says Miss Priscilla, hastily, though
this allowance of grace to her enemy causes
her bitter pang. 'He has been most pa
tient for years. That kqlOlO."
well, maybe so, miss" says Ryan, de-
ferentialIy, but with a reservation in his
manner that speaks volumes. 1T isn't for
the likes of me, ma'am, to contradict the
likesof you. But did We hear, miss, that
Misther Desmond'S nephew has come to stay
with him?'
"At CoOle?'
CAT the Castle. Yes, miss. Fax twas
meself was surprised to hear it. But there
he is, safe enough, an another gentleman
with him; an they do say that the Ould
masther is as proud as Punch of him. But
his bloodS bad, I'll no doubt.
mo doubt" says Miss Priscilla, severely.
Miss Penelope signs.