The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-30

large bodies of men into foreign armies
but lie was full at that moment of his owl
concerns, and had little inclination t.
waste time in discussing the wisdom of hi
leaders. The truth was, Henrietta's recep
ton OF him on his arrival from Dublin tn
night before had disappointed him. II,
| had come in obedience to her own writer
orders, as conveyed to him by Nellie, ans
instead Of the frank, loving meeting whicl
his own frank and loving nature had hat, antici
pated, he had found her shy, cold, and, ht
| was forced to confess to himself almost
unkind. AT first he consoled himself b,
attributing this in a great measure to the
presence of her father, before whom she
| always seemed naturally to assume tho
bearing of spoiled and unruly child but
wien at her own invitation he had rowed
hers that morning to Glare Island, and hel
manner, instead OF softening, as he had
hoped, grew even colder and more con-
strained thanit had been before, he became
seriously distressed, and, unable to endure
the suspense any longer, they had hardly
landed from the boat ere Returned short
round upon her and said:>
"Hcnrietta, before you move one step
further you must answer me this question
Are we in future to be friends or foes ?'
"Not foes! Oh, certainly not focs!''
Henrietta stammered, taken quite aback
by the suddenness of the question. ooh,
certainly not foes!"
"Because l cannot endure this uncer-
tainty much longer" he went on, as if he
had not heard her. 81 must have an an
swer, and that soon. l might, indeed, in
sist upon your own letter, but will not.
1t was written under a sudden impulse.
and the word that gives you to me for a
wife must be said with calm consciousness
of it's import. What shall that word be,
Henrietta, yes or no ~
"Yes-if you will have me-" she said, in
low voice, half turning away her head as
she did so.
off! So long and SO faithfully as have
loved you, and you still talk of f9" he
answered, almost reprOachfully.
There is an 'if,' however" said Hen
rietta; and when you have heard me out,
you will have to decide the question for
yourself"
"Nay, the only if for me is the .if'
that you really love me-" he replied visit
fully, and in a way which showed he felt
by now means certain upon that score.
"That is the very thing" she answered,
flushing scarlet. Harry, dear Harry, re-
member that L have never had mothers
care, and promise to be still my friend,
even if what have got to tell you should
alter all your other wishes in my regard.r
"What can you have to say that could
do that9" he asked impatiently. For
Gods sake, Henrietta, say it out at once
it may be!'
at is not so very easy, perhaps" she
said, in low voice, and then she added
quickly: ''They call me woman grown,
Harry, and yet in some few things think
that am still almost Il Child"
g In Il great many things, rather, l should
say" he could not resist saying, with Il
smile.
That smile treasured her, and she went
ON quickly: You know that it has never
been a new thing to me to consider myself
your wife, Harry. My father has treated
me from childhood as your affianced bride,
and we have played at being welded in the
nursery. You cannot be surprised, there
fore, if in my feelings toward you there has
been something of unquestioning security,
which does not enter usually, think, into
the relations in which we stood toward
each other. This kind of sisterly feeling
oh do not look SO cross, Harry" she cried,
stopping short, cor shall never
be able to go on.''
EDO not talk of sisterly feeling, then,
he answered moodily, " for that / cannot
BEAR"
az need not, for I do not feel in the
east like sister to you now" she an
swered, with a pretty nairete that made
him almost depart from the attitude of
.old seriousness in which he had elected |
% receive the confessions of his -betrothed. |
lie had checked the impulse, however, and
signed to her quietly to proceed.
" You know, for you were with us ut the
imc,' she accordingly went on, chow |
much was charmed with this wild western |
and when my father first brought me |
,iiher. You know, too, Of my Indignation !
Wien found that thcrcal owner had been !
deprived of it in order to our possession.
True, / had heard before of the law of
enacted for the benefit of !
'ur army; but not until it stared me in the
ace as an act of private injustice, done for
he enrichment of myself, did thoroughly
appreciate its iniquity. From that moment
he very abomination of dcsolation seemed
o me to rest upon this land, which had
,nce felt to be so beautiful. i grew angry
md indignant with all the world-with my
ather chiefly, but with you also, Harry,
because, though L acquitted you of all -ac
i've share in the robbery, yet felt that it