Year: 1870




WANTED, an experienced editor of Lib
eral views to conduct a journal in the
provinces"


Such was the announcement that met
my eye as | glanced on the first page of a
literary journal | wanted an excuse for
leaving London, and thought this post
would Just suit me. had a small income
independent of a remunerative connection
witlfreviews and periodicals, and if the
situation should turn out to be poor one
in a monetary way, could afford to put
up with it for short time. l called on
the agent to whom the advertisement re-
ferred


Well, sir" he replied to my prelimi-
nary questions, 81 doubt if the place will
suit you the salary offered is very small"


I,don't so much care for that at present.
Where should have to go, and what is the
name of the paper?"


Here is a copy of it."


Why, this is in Irelandp


g Yes, sir; we have had many gentlemen
calling here, who inquired no further when
they ascertained that fact"


But how is it the proprietors are will
ing to employ an Englishman, as | pre-
sumo they are from your agency in the
matter?"


l can scarce tell you, sir. My cores
pondent on the subject is a lady who
writes as if she was the owner of the Jour
nal cand perhaps she is"


,Fhe Castletown EdgLe-the name rather
tickled my fancy, and had no objection
to go to Ireland. 1t would serve my pur-
pose as well as any other quarter of the
globe The man seemed astonished at the
alacrity with which closed with the mis-
cradle terms ON which the desk of the
Eagle was offered


You can write" said, as 1 was leav-
ing, /" to say that you have secured an
editor, and cheap one with reference to
qualifications, you can say whatever you
like; but, on second thought, perhaps you
had better simply state that you believe |
am capable of doing the work"


Very good, sir. shall let you know
when they are ready for you"


A week after this had taken my seat in
thec- Wild lrishman" train, from Easton
terminus, bound for the extreme south of
the county of Cork. As leaned back in
the carriage felt certain boyish delight
at my escape from the London round of
life, which was becoming more or less
wearisome to me. On arriving at Holy
head | noticed three ladies on the platform
who seemed in distracted state with their
luggage. There was no gentleman with
them, apparently, and the porter was listen
ing in surly and uninterested manner to
to their nervous description of a missing
box. | went forward and inquired if |
could be of any assistance. They thanked
me, and explained that they had put the
box into the carriage with them-where it
was ultimately found showed far back un-
der seat, when the surly porter conde-
scended to look for it. One of the ladies,
while directing the man, had given me a
shawl and cloak to hold, and when the
little incident was over | found myself
following the party on board the steamer
They went down to the cabin, but | re-
manned on deck, and was about to hand
over my charge to the stewardess, when
the owner of the shawl reappeared.


"Thank you" she said, smiling, as I of
fered to help her ON with the cloak and to
wrap her in the shawl; 81 could not re-
main below, the morning is so fine"


Slthink we are pretty sure of calm
passage"


Il, am glad of that for my companions
sake l am good sailor myself"


Are you not afraid of the chill-there
is always a cold mist over the sea at this
hour?"


go, not the least afraid"


L remember, with a queer distinctness,
how our conversation grew, but / doubt
whether it would be interesting to others
as it was to me. In fact, before the sun
rose-and a beautiful dawn it was, flushing
over the far edge of the green waves-we
had become strangely confidential. Perhaps
L ought rather to say had. The lady list
ened with interest enough to encourage
me, and at last told her what was bring
ing me to Ireland.


am to edit paper for an old woman"


n utrs %
yours, this adventure. How odd it would
turn out if she were widow, and you were
to marry her! There is subject for three
volumes for you at once"


1 should be sorry to marry in Ireland
Irish ladies, understand"


a little nod of the head half satirical and
half coquettish, warned me of the blunder
l was about to make.


"But didn't think you were Irish"


Yes, quite Irish; and very proud of the
fact, assure you"


hastened at once to apologize for the
tone in which | had spoken. She took my
explanation with the best good humor


The Bay of Dublin was now opening be-
fore us, and | can at this moment call to
mind the loveliness of that morning the
deep emerald tinge of the sea, the Wicklow
hills, like purple clouds in the distance, the





and sometimes seeming to dissolve in it to
the'size of white butterflies. There were,
as yet, very few people on deck but the
quay draws nigh, and one by one the pas
sengers appear


II think | had better say goodbye to
you now" And she held out her hand to
me with sweet unconscious frankness.


Goodbye. / trust we may come across
each other again Perhaps you would tell
me your name 2"


She, smiled for a second, and then, with
an expression full of fun, glanced from me
TO- one OF her boxes lying outside the great
deck pyramid of luggage.


understood her at once. We parted,
and | carefully wrote down, Miss Went
worth, Mountjoy Square, Dublin" the
name and address inscribed on the
trunk.


CHAPTER IL.


Late the next night arrived at Castle
town Arms, having performed the last
twenty miles of the journey on stage
coach


Whi1a OF tho ranout I rap,aunb nbapa1 tba.