Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09

| VIII SHOW ueLerence 10 ONT opinion, nurse,
which is directly opposed to yours" says
Miss Priscilla, Strengthening herself.
L suppose [ can manage my own young
lady, miss says Mitchell, undaunted, and
now, indeed. thoroughly braced for conflict.
Il have grave doubts about that Mitchell,
and at least you should not answer me in
| this wise
IF L brought my young lady safely ali the
way from Jerusalem, miss. suppose l can
take care of her ere
Her carp" questions Miss Priscilla, not
meaning to be rude at all.
''She means here" says Miss Penelope, in
a stage whisper.
'.Ohr' says Miss Priscilla, rather shocked
at her mistake, which has been accepted by
Mitchell as deliberate insult. katherine,
| go upstairs with Mitchell, and change your
shoes and stockings; they must be damp"
| Il don't consider Mitchell at all nice
| person." says Miss Priscilla, when the door
| has closed upon that veteran; but still l
| hope l did not offend her with that last
| thoughtless slip of mine. But really, over
| here, in Ireland, we are not accustomed to
| the extraordinary language in which Mitch
ell INDUCES at times. She seems to me to
| be saving up her aSpirateS for hypothetical
| de3rh Of that article in the future"
| Miss Priscilla is SO pleased with this long
word that she quite RECEIVERS her temper.
At this moment the door is opened, and
| Timothy enters, bearing not only an air Of
mystery with him, but large envelope
"Why, what is this at this time of night?"
| says Miss Priscilla, who is plainly under the
| impression that, once the lamps are lighted,
| it is verging on midnight. She takes the en-
| velope from Timothy, and gazes at the huge
regimental crest upon it with judicial eX-
| preston.
A sOjer brought it, miss. Yes, indeed.
ma'am. A-hossback he come all the way
| from the Barracks at Clonbree."
Redcoats at R0sSmoyne are a novelty, and
are regarded by the peaSantry with mixed
feelings of admiration and contempt I
| think the contemps is stronger with Timothy
than the admiration.
Prom the Barracks" says Miss Priscilla,
slowly, turning and twisting the letter be-
tween her fingers, while Monica's heart
beats rapidly. 1t is it must be the invita-
| zion; and what will be the result Of it?
Yes indeed, miss 1 asked him what
brought him at this hour ma'am; but he
took me mighty short wild his answer, so [
give up me questions
Never having been able for fifty years to
make up his mind whether his miStraSsaS
should be addressed as maidenS or matrOnS,
Timothy has compromised matters by put
tin2 miss" and ma am into every
sentence he dedicates to them.
All, an invitation from Captain Goblet
tor Friday neXt-um- um-fOur to seven
um-um. All of us invited, even Kit" saws
Miss Priscilla, in decidedly lively tone.
NE am I aslled?' cries Kit, excitedly.
Yes, indeed, you are specially mention
ed. Very nice and attentive, | must say,
OF those young men, particularly when we
nave not shown them any kindness as net.
L thought that Mr. Ryde a very superior
young fellow, with none Of the diScOurte0us
antIpathy to age that disfgureS the manners
OF the youth OF the present day. Penelope,
| my dear, perhaps you had better indite the
answer to this. Yours is the pen of ready
writer"
VERY WELL" says Miss Penelope, rising
sl0Wly-Oh! so slowly! thinks Monica-and
going toward the davenport.
''Is the soldier outside Timothy?" asks
Miss Priscilla.
Eyes, miss. He said he wanted bit Of
writing from We for the captain"
at is long ride. Take him downstairs,
Timothy and give him some beer, while
Miss Penelope prepares reply"
Begging your pardon, miss, and with due
| respects to ye, ma'am, but he's that stiff in
his manner, an tight in his clothes, L doubt
if he'd condescend to enther the Kitchen
'Timothy," says Miss Priscilla, with much
displeasure, ''you have been having hot
words with this stranger. What is it all
about?'
There's times, MISS as I'VE all knows,
when a worm will turn; and though Pm not
worm, ma'am, no more am [ a coward, an
red coat don't cover more flesh than
black; an I'm an ould man, Miss Priscilla,
to be called a bufferp'
1t is apparent to every one hat Timothy
is nearly in tears.
"a buffer?' repeats Miss Priscilla, with
disgust; she treats the word cautiously, as
one might something noXious. "What is
buffer?"
Nobody enlightens her; though perhaps
Terence might, were he not busily engaged
trying to suppress his laughter behind
huge Japanese fan.
Perhaps, Timothy" says Miss Priscilla,
gravely, "as we all seem in ignorance about
the real meaning of this extraordinary word,
you are wrong in condemning it as an insult
1t mag be-er-a term of elldedrn1ent."
At this Terence chokes, then coughs SOL
emily, and finally, lowering the fan, shows
himself preternaturally grave, as set-off
against all suspicious.
Il wouldn't pin me faith to that, miss, if
[ was you," says Ryan, respectfully, but
with touch of the fine irony which is bred
and born with his class in Ireland.
well, but as we cannot explain this word,
Timothy, and you cannot, perhaps the best
thing for you to do will be to 90 to the orig
inator of it and ask him what he meant by
it, says Miss Penelope, with quite astonish-
ing perspicacity for her.
Sure did that same, miss. Twas the
first thing said to him, ma'am. What do
We name, spalpeen, We thief O. the world
says l, by miscalling dacent man out of
his name like that? says l. 'Igave him all
that, miss, an dale more, though I've for
gotten it be now for the RyanS was always
famous for the gift O. the gabp'
IF you said all that to the poor marine, ]
think you gave him considerably more than
you got says Miss Penelope land so YOU
NAV cry peace Go down now, Timothy,
and make it up with him over your beer"
Timothy, though still grumbling in an IN
der-tone death and destruction upon the
hated Sassenach, retires duteousiy, closing
the door behind him.
Now, Penelope" says Miss Priscilla
with an air Of relief, glancing at the pens
and ink, at which Monica's heart fails her
She has no doubt whatever about the an
swer being a REFUSAL but a sad feeling that
she dare make no protest renders her doubly
soTrowfuI.
Dear me!' says Miss Penelope, leaning
back in her chair with pen we'll poised be-
tween her fingers, and a general air of pleas
ed recollection full upon her, lit sounds
quite like Old times-dOesn't it?-to be in
vited to the Barracks at Clonbree.''
Quite" says Miss Priscilla, with an
amused smile.
"YCu remember when the Whiteboys
We're so troublesome. in or dear fathers