The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-11-15
NUMBER Al.

NUMBER H
agony of an hourf He breathed more free
ly, however, as each step placed him farther
beyond the danger, and began to congratu-
late himself that the first trial was safely
passed
His triumph, alas, was premature. A
slight noise-so slight indeed that he was
not quite sure that he had heard any-made
him pause for a moment, and then he slow
ly proceeded, vainly striving, as he looked
back over his shoulder, to catch q glimpse
of the object of his terror. We know that
there is no criterion of courage 80 rigorous
as impenetrable darkness; it will discover
the least flaw. Men who, in the full light
of day, would lead forlorn-hope to the
ga4es of hell, were it possible, become as
timid under it's influence as children. SO
with Barney. His total inability to grasp
an idea of the impending peril extinguish-
ed the last spark of self-conidence in his
breast, and though the snow was falling
thickly, with a cold cutting wind, yet the
q gj fase pf s lift hin
without effect, for he heard it splash
through the thin covering of ice on the wa
ter of the hole. Then he fled.
| 1t was scarcely mile to the old castle,
| and yet Barney, who could Mt other times
have COPIED with the stag itself on his ma
tive mountains, or followed on foot the
hounds for the day, and think five-barred
gate o. trifie at the close, grew faint and ex-
hausted before he had gained half the dis
| tancc Gradually his pace slackened, and
! he began to think himself unpursued, when
the cracking of some rotten branches that
had fallen with the autumn leaves, COM
bined with the sound of muffied footsteps
on the snow, quickly undeceived him. He
louickened his pace once moro to It's utmost
| speed. The corner of the grave yard was
/ {.
but he seemed rather to feel instinctlvely
its presence-and tho wild rustling of the
evergreens swaying to and fro III the WIND
struck his dsordered mind as the shrleklnS
of ghosts upstarting from their cold graves
to join the maddening chase. Every BRAN
i ble-nor were they few-that touched his
coat instilIed fresh horror into his heart
and once at least he fancied he head his
name in a faint and smOthered tone, as II
the wind had stihed it in the speakers
MONTH Yet he paused not, but with arms
thrust forward for fear that he should dash
, against a tree, and tortured with a horrid
dread lest he should rush into the river, he
pursued his flight
Suddenly it flashed on his mind that the
cards. the remote cause of all his mistor-
tunes, were yet in his possession. Think
, ing thatsto part with them might perchance
effect parting with his indefatigable pur.
suer, he drew them from his pocket, and
cast them behind. This made matters
which their company had entailed, their
dismissal had only added one more-Ae
!. slpped and fell as he threw them away.
= aO!' he groaned aloud, and for an in
q slant the thought entered his mind that II
+ would as well to surrender without another
a struggle. 1t is clear he only thought so fol
, one moment, as the next saw him scram
r bling to his feet, and in 4 few minutes III
had crossed the river.
A. "Now," thought Barney, 81 am safe
/ thev dare not cross the flowing water"
le that he judged wrongly was quickly ap
,e parent, for he soon heard the crazy oil
i bridge creak under one pursuer at least
sr and the swiftness of the step told him
w was overmatched. Though despair ha
Re we'll nigh overcome him, he determined
a. hold out little longer, for the goal wa
,es near.
d, A small meadow alone separated hi
n from the castle, and that being reached
ed knew there were friends who would n
n leave him to face the danger alone. Wea
nd er and weaker still became each step, al
i. d his strength was ebbing fast. like the Is
on grains of saLd in the hour-glass. He cou
he hear a heavy painting which was not
to own and it told him that it was hardl,
Of couple of yards in advance. That little y
nd soon lost, for he felt himself elutched II
ted Hat saved him, and bareheaded he cOntii
,se ed his fight. His boots, clOgged with shs
Af, weighed down his exhausted limbsb O
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