The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-02-16

81 am going tolook fof kim," said Nosap
in tone - 1Isf "a stern thst l11lsk :
glanced up, terrified and astonished, for -
the same moment she saw Nora draw long, !.
shining knife from her bosom, while abe
muttered:
"And when have his hearts blood,
will diet"
There was something so determined, and
yet SO touching; 80 horrible and yet 90 Sad,
in the woman's calm determination to CONF
NIT another crime, that Ellen knew not what
to say. Yet soothingly, as to o child, and
pityingly, as to an erring one, she spoke: -
"Nay, Nora, dear-you would not add
another sin, would you, to your already
heavy burden of sorrowf"
g Another sin! Who-speaks to me of sin!
Even my poor mother pitied, and forgave me
too, before she died; but she said not u word
about The sin. Peter, too, When he drove
me out, said his sister was disgraced but
he did didn't speak of sin. Sin! sin"' CONT
nued the now excited woman, "what do
you mean by speaking like a priest Sure,
if to be deceived, and abandoned and dis
graced, and made fricndless, does not make
you pltJ
al do pity you, Nora, poor child! But
your mother need not have forgiven you,]
had there been nothing to forgive. You
seek the life of another is your own soul
ready for judgments Have you asked par
don of Him who heard /Magdalen's cry
| Will the blood of another's heart restore
your own to peace and happiness Ali
| Nora, Nora, remember our dear Lord said
to one, poor erring woman: go, and sin no
morev Let your future atone for your past,
and bring up your boy as a peace-ohering
to your G6d !"
| 1t was strange how the poor, desperate
woman had lost all sense of moral obliga-
ton; how the sin against virtue was over
looked in tho feeling of shame and disgrace
that it brought upon her, and how she
hoped to purchase peace by plunging into
deeper crimes
Ellen felt that she must save her from
despair, for she shuddered as she glanced
from the quiet face of the innocent babe to
the distorted, anguished face of the mother.
Taking Morals hand, she led her into the
cabin and seated herself beside her.
The~yessel still rocked regularly from
side to side and the waters continued their
monotonous splash against the cabin-iights.
Rocking the baby gently in her arms, she
prayed for words of wisdom and comfort,
wherewith to instruct and console the sor-
rowing one beside her.
"What will become of met" at last burst
from Morals lips in q mournful cry, while
4 fiinging her apron over her head and face,
she rocked to and fro in her agony of shame
and desolation.
"You have erred, Nora," said Elen's
gentle VOICE, (" but you are not to despair!
God is good, and He will help you in your
trials and in your sorrow. I am sure your
sister will receive you kindly, and, for your
dead mothers sake, viii forgive and love
you now"
"She used to be very fond of me, said
the peer woman. " was the youngest, and
: she called me once her black-eyed Nora, her
pride and her beauty"
Her voice was inexpressibly sad and
touching, as she dwelt upon those early,
happy, stainless days.
3 And she may call you so again." said
Ellen.-"You have a new life before you,
Nora; your child to care for and to love-" -
"Ahm me! ali mel" moaned the poor mo-
ther, as that dismal future rose before her.
"If God is with you, Nora, who shall be
against you9 Liveefor Him and His sweeti
u Mother, and if no other woman Will look al
you, She will be friend, and sitter, ard
mother, too"
The cabin was so dark now that Ellen
could not see Morals face, but she felt a cold
hand laid on hers, and heard n low, sweet
voice murmur:
"God bless you, dearie! i think I see a