Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-11-10


ayes, love, it does rain sometimes; and
sure, darint that's why the hills and the
valleys are so soft and green. You wouldn't
have it always dhry; the flowers wouldn't
grow without any rain"
"Must there be ramp inquired Kathleen
simply. Papa says l mustn't cry. Why
should the sky cry? The sky is good, isn't
it?'
f"Yes, dear; it is Gods sky"
"But papa says it's naughty to cry"
The time came only too soon when very
real tears, tears of passionate grief and
wild despair, were shed in that dingy Bel
gian lodging; and when the two children
and their faithful servant found themselves
alone in the bleak strange world, face to
face with starvation.
The Captain caught cold one bitter Feb
ruary night, coming home, in the teeth of
the east wind, from his favorite cafe; and
although devotedly nursed by Biddy and
Rose, who was sensible and womanly be-
yond her years, the cold developed into
acute bronchitis, under which James O'Hara
succumbed few days after his thirty
seventh birthday, leaving his children pen
niless and alone in the world. There were
only few francs in the Captains purse at
the time of his death for the short sharp
illness had been expensive, albeit the En-
glish doctor, a retired navy surgeon, had
been most modest in his charges. The Cap
tain's watch and signet-ring were PLEDGED
to pay for the funeral and while the coffin
was being carried to the cemetery, letter,
ill-spelt and ill-written, but full of tender
womanly feeling, was on its way to the
wealthy Miss Fitzpatrick of Bath, pleading
for her orphaned great-niece Kathleen, and
KathleenS penniess step-sister.
Miss Fitzpatrick of Bath was q staunch
Roman Catholic, and conscientious wo-
man; but she was not warm-hearted wo
man, and she was not deeply moved by the
thought of the CAPTAINS untimey death, OF
Of his desoate children. She had been very
angry with him for running away with her
niece, who was also her companion and
slave; and she had never left off being an
cry; yet she had given him money from
time 20 time, considering it her duty, as q
rich woman, to help her poor relations.
And now she was not inclined to ignore that
duty or deny the orphans claim.
She went over to BrcgeS, saw the children,
and in Kathleen behed the image of her
own dead sisters little girl as she had first
seen her twenty years ago, when the orphan
was sent TO her rich aunt, as the legacy of
dying sister the sole issue of foolish mar.
riage. And behold, here was another gold
en-haired child, sole issue Of another fool
ish-marrage, looking up at Theresa Fitz-
patrick with Just the same heaven-blue eyes,
and the same scared shrinking look, as
doubling whether t. find a friend or q foe
in the richly-clad stately dame.
If Miss Fitzpatrick had been Of the melt.
ing mood. she would assuredly have taken
the child to her heart and her home, and
the child's dark-eyed. frank-br0wed, loyable
stepsster with her. There was ample room
for both girls, in the biz handsome house at
Bath-empty rooms which no one ever visit
ed save the housemaid with her brooms and
brushes; luxuriously-furnishedr rooms, swept
and garnished, and kept in spotess order
for nobody.
Although there was ample room in Miss
FltZpatrlck's house, there was no room in
Miss FitzpatricS's heart for two orphans.
u shall do my duty to you, my dears,"
she said, land shall make no distinctions,
although you, Rose, are no relation of mine,
and have no claim upon me-"
you won't take Rose away?' cried Kath-
leen, pale with terror the blue eyes filling
with tears.
mo, my dear, shall not separate you
while you are so young" answered Miss
Fitzpatrick, complacently settling herself
in her sable-bordered mantle. SPY and by,
when YOU are young women, you will have
to make your way in the world, and then
you may be parted. But for the next few
years you shall be together. How have they
been educated?" she asked, appealing 10
Biddy, who stood by, curtsying every time
the lady looked her way.
''Sure, ma'am, my lady, the Captain was
very careful with them; he'd never have
let the dear childer out of his sight, only he
wanted a little gentlemen's society now and
then, blessed soul, and he liked to spend
half an hour or so at a caffy. But many's
the day I've heard INN reading POETRY to
the two childer, beautiful-Hamlick and the
Ghost, and King Leerd, and Lilly o Rourke.
There never was better father, il the Lord
had been pleased to spare him." concluded
Biddy, with her apron at her eyes.
MY good woman, you do not understand
my question" said Miss Fitzpatrick impa-
tiently. Il want to know what these chill
dren have been taught. begin to fear they
have been sorely neglected by that foolish
man. Can they read and write and cipher"
Bddy, hard pushed, was fain to confess
that Kathleen did not even know her letters,
and that Rose was very backward with her
pen, though she could read beautifully.
81 thought as much" said Miss Fitzpat-
rick. "And now, Bridget Ryan, I'll tell you
what mean to do; you seem to have been
a faithful servant, so, shall not allow you
to be loser by Captain O'Hara's death. 1
shall pay you your wages in full, and send
you home to Ireland"
with the young ladies?' asked Biddy,
beamng.
"What should the young ladies do in Ire
land9" exclaimed Miss Fitzpatrick; 'they
haven't friend in that wretched country.
No, you can go back to your home, for 1
suppose you have some kind Of home to go
to. But | shall place the two young ladies
in a convent have been told about, three
miles from this city, where they Will be care
fully educated and kindly looked after by
the good nuns. i shall pay for their school
ing and provide their wardrobes till they are
grown up; but when they come to nineteen
or twenty, they will have to earn their own
living. The better they are educated the
easier they will find it to earn their bread"