Light O' The Morning
to say about Dublin, and talked much of his old friends during the evening that followed. Nora, however, try as she would, could never meet his e
e fellows more taken aback. 'Is it you to lose your property,
and will they h
ara; and as to John Fitzgerald, I believe he would take us all into his barrack of a house; but they can't help with mon
is to be do
nd in. We'll manage by hook or by crook. Don't you fret your pretty little head. I wouldn't have a frown
," answered Nora
ire. "Faith! I thought I could never get back fast enough, I see
taken place. The Squire laughed at Mrs. O'Shanaghgan'
hions about women," he said; "an
ious to improve myself. I may be good enough for you, dear father, for you love me
a sort of a craze now amongst women, the desire to beat us men on our own ground; it's
I wouldn't fret you for all
o it strikes me we are both pretty equal in our sentiments." He patted her cheek,
knew from past experience that now there was no hope at all of saving the old acres and the old house unless something very unexpected turned up. She understood her father's character too well; he would be happy and contented until a week be
ing must happen to pr
Her uncle, George Hartrick, was, according to her mother, a wealthy man. Her mother had often described him. She had said that he had been very angry with her for marrying the Squire, but
tle such as English people live in, with suites of magnificent rooms, and crowds and crowds of respectably dressed servants, a
tleman of old descent, kept visiting Nora again and again. If she could only see him! If she could only beg of him to lend her father a little money just to avert the crowning
because he does not know how. He will just drift on until a week of the fatal day, and then he will ha
otted its pages, and the paper on which it was written was of the poorest, but it was done at last. She put a stamp on it and ran downstairs. She went to Hannah's cabin. Standing in front of the cabin was her small admirer Mike. He was standing on
ave a violent tug to one of his front locks by way of salutati
you to go a me
, miss," an
yourself into the little slit in the wall. I
s," answe
t into your pocket. Don't let
be sure, miss,"
up to the Castle tonight. Now good-by; ru
Nora, rolled his tongue in his cheek, and d
was visiting one house after another. Some of the houses were neat and well-to-do, but most of them sadly required funds to put them in order. At every house Squire O'Shanaghgan received a hearty welcome, an invitation to dinn
elp us all! But if you are turned out, what an awful thing it will be! And your family the oldest in the place. You're welcome, every one of you, to come here. As long as I have a bite and sup, you and yours shall share it with me." A
now had a secret of her own, and a hope which she would scar
she had set her daughter in her laments over her absent son, over the tattered and disg
would reach Mr. Hartrick in his luxurious home. She thought she would give him, perhaps, twelve hours, perhaps twenty-four, before he replied. She knew, then, how long the answe
rs. O'Shanaghgan took her place languidly at the head of the board. Sh
g at the Squire. "Can you let me have a pound after breakfast
-luster eyes. Where had he got one
the postman in general for the O'Shanaghgan household for the large sum of twopence a week. He went daily
ters!" s
surveyed her dau
at is the matter with you? You know I
post, mammy,"
ill be patient, Margaret
gan gave her a cold stare, and helped herself
a change. I have heard of an excellent cook just about to leave some people of the name of W
did thrust in her head, holding the
she said; "maybe you'll fetc
the local paper for the Squire, which was always put up with the letters, a circular or two, and, at long intervals, a letter for Mrs. O'Shanaghgan, and perhaps one from an absent friend for the Squire. No one was excited
ot to worry himself writing too often. Stamps cost money, and the boy
tter to his own sister," said the Squire. "So here goes; we'll look
table. They were very meager contents; nothing but the newsp
e said; "it is f
aghgan, holding out her ha
dy, as it happens. It is for
ould scarcely hold it. It was addressed to her, beyond
ad any letter to speak of from Terry myself. If you read it
think it-it is from T
nse, m
id the Squire. "It will be refresh
a very thick sheet of paper out. The
brother is here. Ask your mother to spare you. You can return with Terence whenever you are tired of us and our ways. I have business at Holyhead next Tuesday, and could meet you there, if you could make it convenient to cross that day. I inclose a paper with
e Hart
shed she let the sheet of paper flutter to the floor, and l
I must go
id Mrs. O'Shanaghg
sappoint me," cried the girl. "
r uncle, after long years, has condescended to send you an invitation, and you speak in this impulsive, unrestrained
ase let me go, daddy-oh, daddy!" She rushed up to her fat
able in cold displeasure. "Give m
lace in which she was born, the land she loved, the father she adored-all, all their future hung upon Nora's accepting the invitation which she had asked her uncle to giv
id the Squire. "There is something behind all this. I never s
ed Nora, her head buried
said the Squire. He lavished fond epithets upon the girl, and fi
speechless indignation for a moment, left the r
said. "This is a disgraceful scene.
th her, however, and retired into the dr
e roguish, dark-blue eyes of hers, with that bewitching smile which showed a gleam of the whitest and most pearly teeth in the world, with the light, lissome figure, and the blue-black hair-what could not
aghgan sat
d calling her ridiculous names, with no meaning in them, and folding her in his arms as if she were a baby, and all for pure, downright selfishness, is enough to make any sensible person sick. Nora, too, who has always been spoken of as the unselfish member of the family, who would not spend a penny to save her life if she thought the Squire was going to suffer. Now she wants him to put hi