, 1861-01-10
The Priests Story.

4
Of my mother-best and dearest Of mothers I
said the holy man, signing deeply and claspinC
his hands fervently, while they were lifted e
Iheaven, as if love made him conscious that The
| spirit Of her he lamented had found It's eternal
rest there" thy geRtle and atfectionate nature
| sunk under the bitter trial that an a-wise Prov
idence was pleased to visit thee with Well SIR
Frank wrs my mothers darling; not that you
are to understand, by 30 saying, that she was
Of that weak and capricious tone Of mind which
laVished its care upon one ct the expense Ol
others-hr from il never was deep store ol
maternal love more equally shared than among
the four brothers: but when the two seniors
went away, and was some time after sent, for
my studies . st. Omer, Frank became the OBJ
ject upon which all the tenderness Of her atfec.
tionate heart might exercise the little maternal
cares that hitherto had been divided amongst
many. Indeed, my dear Frank deserved Il all ;
bis was the gentlest Of natures, combined with q
mind Of singular strength and brilliant imagina-
ton In short, as the phrase has It. "he was
the flower Of the flock, and great things were
expected from him.
It was some time after my return from St
Omer, while preparations were making for ad'
vancing Frank in the pursuit which had been
selected as the business Of his life, that every
hour which drew nearer to his departure made
him dearer, not only to us but to all who knew
him, and each friend claimed . day that Frank
should spend with him, which always passed in
recalling the happy hours they had already spent
| together, in assurances given and received Of
kindly rcmembrarces that still should be cher
ishcd, aud in many mutual wishes for success,
with many hearty prophecy from my poor
Franks friends, that he would one day become
great man.
One night, as my mother and myself were
return from one Of these parties, my mother said,
in an unusually anxious tone
"Iwish Frank was home"
what makes you think Of his return 30
?" said I.
al DOM KNOW" said she, "but TN uneasy
about him."
"Oh, make yourself easy" said !, " we cannot
expect Frank for an hour to come yet.
Still my mother could not become calm, and
she idgeteh about the room and now and then
would 60 to the dour Of the house to listen for
the distant tramp Of Franks nurse; but Frank
came not
More than the hour named, rs the probable
time Of his return, had elapsed, and my mJther's
anxiety had amounted to q painful pitch, aud I
began myself to blame my brother for so long
and late an absence. Sill, endeavored to calm
her, aud had prevailed on her to seat herself
again at the fire, and commenced reading pagc
in an amusing book, when suddenly she stopped
me. and turned her head TO the window in the
attitude Of listening
at is, it isl", said she; al hear him com
ing"
And now the sound Of a horses feet in q
rapid pace became audible. She rose from her
chair, and with deeply aspirated Thank Godl"
went to open the door for him herself Iheard
the horse pass the window in second or two
more, the door was opened, and instantly Tear.
ful scream from my mother brought me hastily
to her assistance. ] found her lying in the hall
IN deep swoOn-the servants Of the house has
tily crowded to the spot, and gave her immedi-
ate aid ran 10 the door to ascertain the cause
Of my mothers alarm, and there saw Franks
horse painting and fOaming, and the saddle empty.
That my brother had been thrown and badly
hurt, was the first thought that suggested itself;
and car and horse were Immediately ordered 10
drive in the direction he had been returning;
but in few minutes our fears were excited TO
the last degree BY discovering there was blood
on the saddle. -.
We al experienced inconceivable terror Of the
discovery, but not to weary you with details,
suffice Il TO say, that We commenced diigent
search, and at length arrived at Q small by-way,
that turned from the main road, and led through
bog, which vas the nearest course for my
brother TO have taken hOmeWards, and we &C.
cordingly began to explore It L was mounted
on the horse my brother had ridden, and the
animal snorted violently, and exhibited evident
symptoms Of dislike 10 retrace this by.way,
which doubted not he had travelled that night
and this very fAct made me still more appFo-
hensive that some terrible occurrence must have
taken place 10 occasion such excessive Fepug
nance on the part Of the animal. However, |
urged him onward, and telling those who accom-
panied me, 10 follow with what speed they might
| dashed forward, follOwed BY faithful dog Of
poor Franks
At the termination Of about half mile, the
horse became still more impatient Of restraint,
and started ct every ten paces-and the dog be
gan to traverse the little road, giving an occa-
lashng his sides with bis tail, as II on some
scent
At length he came to stand, and beat about
within very circumscFibed space-yelping oc-
casionally, as if 10 draw my attention. I dis
mounted Immediately, but the horse was 50 ex-
tremely restless, the difficulty had In holding
/ him prevented me from observing the road by
the lantern which carried. I saw, however, Il
was very much trampled hereabouts, and bore
evidence Of having been the scene Of struggle.
shouted to the party In the rear, who soon
came up and lighted some faggots Of bog.wOod
which they brought TO assist in our search, and
We now more clearly distinguished the marks ]
have alluded TO.
The dog still howled, and indicated particu.
lar spot 70 US; and on one side Of the path, upon
the stunted grass, We discovered . quantity Of
fresh blood, and ! picked up . pencil-case
which ] knew had belonged to my murdered
Lrothcr-ior now was compelled TO consider
him as such; and an attempt 70 describe the az
Oni1ed feelings which at that moment ] telt'
M. -, sf..,., .,. - a.. a.. ai.oo-.-v A