Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-11-18
CHATTER III.

CHAIJEh llls
Monica Is up early this morning studying
The landscape and encounters Mrs. Reilly,
who is got up in her war-paint
"Why, where are you going Mrs. Reilly"
asks Monica.
"I'm going to get me mcle's wife's niece
FOR yer own maid Miss"
"Are you. I'm glad of that" says Monica
with native courtesy. rs she"-with some
hesitation and faint blush-"ls she pretty,
ReillyY'
"She's the purtiest girl yo ever set eyes
on" says Mrs. Reilly, with enthusiasm.
"rm glad Of that; can't bear ugly peo.
ple," says Monica.
"Faix, then, there's bad time before ye
wild the ould ladies'" mutterS Mrs. Reilly
soto uOce, gathering up her cloak and step
ping onward. She Is q remarkably hand
some woman herself, and so may safely de-
plore the want Of beauty in her betters.
Monica, turning aside, steps on high
bank and looks down toward the village.
Through the trees she can see the spre or
the old cathedral rising heaveaward. Though
Rossmoyne Is but village, 1t still can boast
its cathedral, an ancient edifce, uncouth
and mlovely, but yet one OF the Oldest
places of worship in Ireland.
Most Of my readers would no doubt laugh
1t to scorn, but we who belong to it rever-
ence it, and point out with pride to passers-
by the few quaint marks and tokens that
link it to by-gone age.
There Is nave, broad and deep, compris-
ing more than q third of the whole build
ing, with its old broken stone pavement,
and high up, carven upon one OF Its walls,
the head of ST. Faughnan, its patron saint,
"a hideous saint, indeed, if he resembled
that ancient carving. How often have 1
gazed upon his unlovely visage, and won
dered In my childish fashion why the grace
that comes from so divine an origin had not
the power to render his servants face more
beautiful!
The village itself stands upon high hill ;
the ocean lies at its feet. From Moyne
House one can see the simmer of the great
Atlantic as it dances beneath the sunbeams
or lashes itself into furious foam under the
touch of the north wind. The coast-guard
station, too, stands out, brilliant in its white
wash, cleaning spot upon the landscape.
Monica, looking down from her height,
takes in all the beauties of the landscape
that surround her, and lets the music OF the
melancholy ocean sink into her very soul.
Then she lets her eyes wander to the right,
and rest with pardonabe curiosity upon
Coole Castle, where dwells the ogre OF her
house. Above Coole, and about two miles
further on, lies Aghyohillbeg the residence
of Madame O'COnnor, that terrible dSsceli-
dant Of one of Ireland's kings; whilst below,
nesting among its frs and beeches, is Kill
more, where the IIalfords-a merry tangle
of boys and girls-inay be seen at all hours.
Then there Is the vicarage, where the rec
tor lives with his family, which Is large; and
nearer to the village, the house that holds
the curate and his family, which, OF course,
Is larger. Besides which, Monica can just
see from her vantage ground the wooded
slopes of Durrusbeg that have lately called
young ROnayne master,-a distant cousin
having died most Unexpectedly and left him
all his property.
Six months ago, Ulic Ronayne was spoken
of by anxious matronS as wild lad, with
nothing to recommend him save his hand
some face and some naughty stories attach
ed to his name Now he Is pronounced
charming, and the naughty stories, which
indeed never had any foundation, are dis
covered to have been disgraceful fabrica'
tions. Marriageable daughters are kinder
to him than words can say, and are allowed
by the most cautious mothers to dance with
| him as often rs they choose, and even TO sil
| out unlimited hours with him in secluded
corners of conservatories unrebuked.
After last lingering glance at the distant
| ocean and the swelling woods that now In
merry June are making their grandest show
Monica jumps down from her bank again
and goes slowly-s singing as she goes-to
ward the river that runs at the end Of Moyne
Down by its banks Moyne actually touche:
the hated lands Of Coole, slight boundary