The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-16
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 16, 1868.

Mrs. Netterville, as she caught the sound
of the low sobbing which, spite of all her
efforts at self-cOntrOl, burst ever and anon
| from Nellie's lips. "Poor little Nellie! no
wonder that she weeps. II is a sad, strange
place for a wedding, is this prison cell ~
"These are strange times" said the
priest kindly, " and they leave us, alas!
but little choice of place in the fultillment
of our duties. Nevertheless, sad as all this
must seem a. =. e.~.-4 an, certain that your
daughter will, some day or other, look back
upon her wedding in this prison cell with
a sense of gladness no earthly pomp could
have conferred on marriage; for she then
will understand, even better than she does
now, how, by this concession to IL mothers
wishes, she has secured peace and happi-
ness to that mothers death-bed. That is,"
he added, turning and pontedly addressing
himself to Nellie, "if sorrow for her
mothers state is the sole cause for all this
weeping p
Nellie felt that he had asked indirectly
n serious question, and she was too truthful
not to answer it Mt once. She did not speak
however,-she could nOt-but she gave her
hand to Roger, and made one step forward.
"COme nearer" whispered her mother,
" come nearer, that l may see and hear"
Roger drew Nellie nearer, until they both
were standing close to tie sick woman's
pillow.
Raise me up" the latter whispered
family.
He lifted her in his strong arms, for she
was as helpless as child, and placed her
in Il sitting posture, with her back sup
ported by the wall near which her bed was
placed.
AS soon as she had recovered little from
the faintness consequent on this eXertlon,
she waved her hand to Roger as signal
that the ceremony should begin. The priest
turned at once to the young couple, and
commenced his Office, making it as brief as
possible. Brief, however, as it was, and
bare of outward ceremonial, OrmistOn, as
he stood little in the ackgrOund, could
not help feeling that he never before had
looked on--might never again behold, such
strangely touching scene. The wasted
features of the poor mother, for whom
death seemed only waiting until her anx-
iety for the safety of her child had been set
at rest for ever; the fair face of Nellie, pale
now with grief and watching, but ready as
n budding rose to flush into yet brighter
| beauty with the first return of sunshine !;
Roger, with such u look of grave yet con-
sciOus gladness in his eyes as best suited
the mingled nature of the scene in which he
was foremost actor; the priest, who, Mt
the risk of his own liberty or life, was full
filling one of the most solemn offices of his
sacred calling; the vaulted roof above,
glistening in the damp as the light flashed
| on it, and the bare, bleak walls around,
scribed upon them joy and sorrow, hope
and fear; life springihg forward, on the one
hand, to it's brightest hours, and sadly re-
ceding, on the other, into the shadows of
the tomb-all were gathered together in
that prison cell, and combined TO form a
picture which would have needed the pen
| Gil of a great master to render in its full
| force and truth.
It was done at last Nellie had said the
word which made her a welded wife, and
Mrs. Netterville folded her in her arms, and
whispered "Thank you, dearest, thank
you for know what this nffst have cost
I you y and then placing her hand in Rogers,
added, "Take her, my son-take her; God
1 is my witness that give her to you with
| out fear for her future happiness. To You,
! in whose arms the father died, L may we'll
intrust the daughter ~ ~
You shall never repent it, mother
never. :" said Roger, with that calm, deter
mined manner, which, better than many
! words, brings assurance to the soul of
truth. az loved her from, the first day L
saw her, not much for her brightness
and human beauty, as for that higher
beauty which thought I discovered in her
soul, and which she has bravely proved
since then. Over beauty such as that time
has no power-the love, therefore, that
springs from it must last for ever"
"It is well, my son, ;" replied Mrs. Meter
vile, :" l thank you, and believe you. And
now, be not angry if bid you go! For
this one day Nellie must be all, my own--to-
morrow there will be no one to dispute her
with you"
She spoke the last words hurriedly for
the taller entered at that moment to inform
Ormiston that the prison was about to be
shut up for the night, and that 1t was lis
duty to see that all strangers left it.
.fBut not Nellie-not my child ~ said
Mrs. Netterville, with an appealing look,
first to the jailer and then 10 Ormiston
" Surely you will leave Nellie with met
"They must!" cried Nellie passionately
for by force alone they can drag me fron
you" ..a
/" Sir" said the dying woman, addressing
herself this time to -OrmIston alone, " add
this one favor, beseech you, to all tile
. others you have done me, and let my child
close my dying eyesf' r.'
"I cannot refuse you, madam" he replied
| much moved. " But is your daughter equa