The Saint Paul globe., 1900-11-12

among the quantity shaped beds and in
the middle FLASHED a fountain. Further
away there were groups and bowers of
rare shrubs am d which cleaned marble
Statutes, and behind a high boX-edge
cut into all manner of fantastic shapes.
rose green slope crowned by ruined
castle Yes, here it stood in the sun
shine. gazing down en- the placid beauty
beneath, Castle O'Neill. a grim, melan-
schOly relic of the past it's thick grey,
iyy-mantled walls riven in bygone ages.
black here and there with the traces of
long extinguished fires, marked In many
places with the signs of Gods wrath and
mans hate. Once an important center,
teeming with life echoing to. the sound of
laughter and strife; now silent deserted
and forlorn with it's noble banqueting
hall thrown open to the winds Of heaven.
welcoming the rocks to it's guest cham
Der, holding cut desperately against more
inSidious enemies than Dane or Saxon
all-conquering Time, subtle, treacherous
decay.
The gong sounded for breakfast when
Molly returned to the house. and her
hostess was already seated before the urn
making tea and looking as bright and
almost as fresh as the girl herself:
said, at the conclusion of the meal. II
am very busy person, as you will see.
and can hardly find time enough for all
I have to do"
She slung neat little key basket over
one slender wrist, and taking Molly $
arm, conducted her down long, tiled
JdSStiSS WHICH, leu " liiC SCI c1IAI . III OAAA
ises
''The Kitchen said the old lady, as
they passed through swing door, open
ing into a large square hall, at the fur
ther end of which stood a stout, comely
person in a neat print gown and white
cap and apron, evidently expecting her
approach
tAnother in my place would dispense
with many of the duties ] impose on my
self" said Miss ONeill. pausing to en-
phasize her words, but the most essen
NM SC fhn
cation of thrift by word and example;
therefore have no hOusekeeper, and look
after everything myself.
Larders, sculleries and dairies, all on
large scale and kept to perfection,
were duly inspected by Miss ONeill, after
which, returning to the kitchen. she
wrote out her orders for the day. She
then repaired to the store room, followed
by the whole domestic staff, male and
female, to each of whom was doled out
such household goods as were required
for the day, the cook being obliged to
apportion the exact quantity needed, and
being somewhat sharply called to order
when in one instance she measured cut
rather more than her mistress considered
sufficient
At the conclusion of these operations
the latter desired Molly to put on her
hat, as she now intended to begin her
outdoor work.
Though the girl used all possible dis
patch in equipping herself, her hostess
was beforehand with her, and stood
awaiting her at the foot OF the stairs
when she came down, her dress tucked
up, her dainty feet stoutly shod and her
white hair crowned with ''Rubens''
hat and feathers which woman forty
years younger would have hesitated to
wear, but which suited her picturesque
antique beauty to perfection.
At ! o'clock they went in for luncheon,
at which meal Miss O'Neill appeared still
in her outdoor garments ''to save time"
as she told Molly, for she intended to
drive through the village Immediately
afterwards.
The pony carriage duly came around
lady taking the reins herself. and off
they set, at a good brisk pace, down
the long avenue and out at the great
gate.
A very pretty village was this of Miss
O'Neilfs and almost, if not quite 11nI0,ie
of its kind, retaining all the picturesque
ness of many an Irish hamlet, but with
an air OF prosperity, a neatness, a, spot