Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1864-07-06
Now say, has be any chanoe?'

you have any seruples OF conscience on
the subject; if you have, God forbid that
I should urge you
When I left the convent, said she,
in low voice, it was because it would
have been hypocrisy in me to have re-
mained there. 1 took the VOWS ignor-
antly, almost by oOmpulsiOn; I embrac-
ed the reformed religion with an inquir-
ing and willing faith. God forgive me,
that I SO long offered him the worship
of my lips while my heart was far from
him2
And nowY said Luther, after waiting
for her to finish her sentence.
Now, she replied, I need not ask
his forgiveness for wOrshipping him in
spirit and in truth. l am no longer a
num-
Well, said Luther, 4 suppose this
is as direct an answer as I must expect.
So to my purpose
But even Luther stopped short, sur
prised at Catharine's emotion.
Perhaps, my dear, he said kindly,
I do wrong in speaking to you myself;
I had berter commission Margaret. 1
suppose women converse better on these
matters together; and yet as 1 have be-
gun 1 will finish. The other day Bo-
denStein, the nephew of Carolstad, came
to me to solicit my-infuence with you.
He wishes you to marry him. told
him could have no particular influence
with you, unless you have no scruples of
conscience about marrying. He is a
clever young man and I see no objection
he is very unlike his fanatic uncle
He might have talked an hour without
receiving reply. Catharine's manner
had changed; there was no longer the
emotion or the blush.
What shall I tell him?'
Anything that you please, she said,
so that I never see him again.
Why this is strange, said Luther;
you did not seem to have scruples of
conscience justnow. Ny dear Catharine,
you must not forget that you have no
natural relations here-and this youlg
man viii be protection to you.
I wish you would not speak of him,
replied she
Is there any ono else that you like
better?
She made no reply
Nay, speak; I have every disposition
to serve you. Has any other person
made the same proposition to YOU?
Yes, said Catharine with a little wo-
manly pride; Counselor Baumgartner
made the same proposals.
DO you prefer him?'
Yes she replied rising; but I am
as happy now as I ever expect to be. Ny
friends assure me that am no burden,
but on the contrary a help to them; and
so 1 wish you good morning.
Poor Catharine hastened to her room.
He dream was over. Luther, the aus
tere, the insensible reformer, had awak-
ened her from it.
Margaret entered while her eyes were
yet red with weeping. She tenderly ap-
preached and embraced her; but neither
exchanged a word
There is no hope for Bodestoin,
thought Luther; lit is evident Baum
gartner is the object. Catharine is a
child; if the Elector dies she is without
support, except the labor of her hands,
and they do not look as if they were
made for labor. I will write to Jerome
Baumgartner; he is well known as
young counselor at Nuremberg
Accordingly he wrote:
1924, Oct. 12.
IF you would obtain Catharine Won
Borne hasten here before she is given to
another who proposes to her. She has
not yet conquered her love for you. I
shall rejoice to see you united.
LUTHER
The young counselor received this let
ter with surprise and incredulity. The
positiverefusal of Catharino, some months
before, had left no doubt in his mind,
and he thought the wisest plan was to
enclose the letter to her and inquire
whether he had written with her sane
ton.
In the meantime, Iuther's friends be-
gan to urge him to marry, particularly
Melancthon. You PREACH said he,
why do you not practice7'
He protested, however, that he would
not be caught in the snare; that his time
was now fully occupied.
When Catharine received the letter
from her former lover, she was filed with
astonishmeut, and requested Margaret to
speak to Luther on the subject He
said he had done what he thought was
right and would be agreeable to all par
ties hut he found there Tas ons science