The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-14

weeks thus passed in alternate changes of
cheerful and depressed spirits, and Biddy, who
now looked at her mistress with more anxious
was often in her dressing-roOm alone, and the
prayer books were moved every day from the
| position in which Biddy purposely- arranged
! them in the morning.
| At length the hour of trial arrived, and .
little daughter was given to these two hearts.
80 united on all points save one; but that one,
and repelling effects, was like an iceberg that
comes suddenly down upon q calm seq that is
heaving and sparkling under the radiance of
! glorious July sun. et
thought Of any future danger was entirely bail
! isaled from the minds of her friends, when, on
| the third day, strange and serious symptoms of
| puerperal fever, then but little known, and
even now difficult to manage, became only too
apparent to those who had watched her most
anxiously. :. ~
| the delirium and prOstratiOn attendant upon
! the disease succeeded each other in such rapid
| succession, and the order for perfect quiet was
SO imperative, one being allowed to enter
her room but Mr.. Stewart, the nurse, and the
physician, that there was no opportunity for
Biddy to act as she desired. At length the
change had taken place, Biddy watched and
waited for the doctor as he came down stairs,
and asked eagerly, with tears in her eyes
+" Was the madam better, was she worse !"
The doctor had known Bridget long time as
good and valued servant, and approaching
her affection for Mrs. Stewart, told her very
quietly that there was no hope, and that only
q few hours of life remained to her. Stunned
| as she was by the verdict, she lost not moment
| in putting on her bonnet and starting for the
bishops house, but the way was long, and as
there were neither omnibusses nor street cars
| in that day, long time was consumed in the
GRAND.
AS the doctor was getting into his buggy, he
| was accosted by intimate friend Of Mrs.
Stewart, who, learning the sad intelligence of
/ Mrs. Stewards danger, made 1T her business to
go at for DR.. Beechwood, believing that
| such precautiOn would be acceptable to her
! friends.
| In the meanwhile Kate's mind had become
Of ct Hee
husband hung over her i'll an agony of sup
pressed grief, and looking up into his face, she
will she reused her waning faculties and spoke
IL see. understand it all, Charles am
going To die. and must leave you and my dar-
OF my love and duty; grant me, then, oh, my
| husband, in this, my last hour, the only conso-
lati",, Eft me! Let me die, forgiven by God
for ~, nav E,thlcssless to Him. Now. in this
awful moment. withdraw your iniunctions, and
send for the bishop, that may have the con-
sOlatiOns and assurances that only the sacra-
ments Of my own Church can give to me: For
your sake, have given up the service of God,
oh, have pity me, Charles, and let me, ere
too late, have u chance to save my soul" -
She was too weak to say more: but kept her
and grief were at last about to triumph over
prejudice and ignorance and Mr.. Stewart had
| relinquished the hand held, saying, rs he
kissed her wan face:
at shall be as you wish, love. will send
for
When, un;lnnounced. to his great surprise,
DR.. Beechwood walked quietly inro the room.
The impulse t" perform this last ;nt of Justice
was gone in Il moment. and following DIR.
Beechwood to the bedside said:
:" See, love, Providence has sent this good
to comfort and surely, Nate, his
prayers and advice will aid you quite rs much
as any Others
The shock was great to Mrs. Stewart, as |
her eyes opened upon the form of this man ,
bending over her, that she was ut once struck |
speechiess and she could only wave him off
with her hands whilst an expression na OF nhut
face. DR.. Beechwood wholly undaunted by |
this chilling reception, lost not a moment in
launching forth into an eNtemporaneous prayer,
in which he tlwelt particularly upon the signal
mercy of God in giving him the opportunity to
rescue this soul from the clutches of the Evil
One, and the abominable errors OF Popery
While in the midst of II grand oratOrlcal flour
ish, Biddy, followed by the bishop entered the
room.
Mr.. Stewart, who had been watching his
wife rather than listening to the prayer, saw
that q fearful change had taken place and lost
what remnant of hope he had before felt.
Nearly crazed by his own emotions, he knew
not, in this dilemma what to do, but as he
mechanically rose from his knees to receive the
bishop, DR.. Beechwood, fearing his weakness,
interposed himself between them, aud at once
took the settlement of future action in his own
hands. The good bishop, understanding at q
glance the state of the case. addressed himself
to the Presbyterian divine, saying:
B. 81 have been called here, sir, by the earnest
request OF that dying lady; and as KNOW that
my ministrations are what her heart demands,
and her soul requires, beg that you will allow
me take your place ut her side
I" You, sir" replied DR.. Beechwood, have
come here on u tacit sign from Mrs. Stewart
which that Irish woman interpreted into re-
quest; but T. sir, have been sent here by God
in advance of You, to save this poor soul now
wavering in the balance between truth and
error, knowledge and superstition. L shall not,
therefore, reverend sir, give way, but will con
tinue my exhortations for the comfort and sal
walton of her distracted soul.