The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-16
them spoke. Mrs. Netterville lay back en-
deavoring to recover breath and strength

them spoke. Mrs. Netterville lay back en-
deavoring to recover breath and strength
for the coming scene, and Nellie was COM
pletely stunned. The shock of finding her
mother dying at the very moment when she
had hoped to restore her to new life-the
bodily WEAKNESS consequent ON her jour
ney-the sudden, and, to her, the most in
applicable resolution to which Mrs. Meter
Vile had come in her regard-all combined
to paralyze her faculties, and hardly sbio
to think or even feel, she sat like statue
on the floor beside her mother.
From this state of stupOr she was reused
at last by the sound of the dying womans
voice.
"Nellie!"
" Mother!" cried the girl and then, as
she felt that poor mothers hand teebly en-
deavoring to Irvine itself round..her neck,
she burst into fresh flood OF tears. They
saved her senses, perhaps-who knows
Creatures as strong in mind as she was, and
stronger far in body, have died or gone
mad ere now beneath such a strain on both
as had been put upon her for weeks.
Nellie, my child-my only one-weep
not!" her mother whispered tenderly.
" Believe me, little daughter, that L die
happy IE mo+,,er ,not,,err Nellie sonned
"and thought to have given you life"
Mrs. Nettervillc paused q moment, and
then, in a voice trcmulous with feeling, she
replied:
''Nellie, would not deceive you. Life is
no idle thing, to be cast off carelessly as
garment; aud for one brief moment the
thought that, but for this sudden malady,
might yet have lived some years longer,
filled my soul with sorrow But it Is over
now-more than overland am at peace.
Why should not for you are safe--you
for whom chiefly clung to life Yes, now
that a man good and generous as long
have known Roger More to be, is about to
take my place beside you, go without re-
pining-nay, 'rcpining' is not the word,"
she said, correcting herself" go in great
joy and jubilation to the presence of my
God"
go mother!" sobbed Nellie, cut to the
soul by this allusion to her marriage, SO that
is the worst of all. 10 not insist upon it,
l entreat YOU"
swered, almost sternly. Think you 1 could
die happy if left you-a child-a girl-un-
protected in this wild city?"
"Mother be not angry, beseech you"
Nellie pleaded, &c. remind you that 1
came hither safe !"
CAY, but you were coming to your mother,
and the world itself could'say no evil of one
bent on such a mission. Tomorrow, Mel
lie, YOU will be motherless, and will not
have it said of you hereafter, that you went
wandering through the country protected
by man who had no husbands right to do
it. Child, child ~ Mrs. Netterville added,
in tone of almost agonized supplication,
"if you would have me dieNin peace, if you
would not that your presence here (instead
of joy should cast gall and vinegar into
the cup Of DEATH you will yield your will
to mine, and go back to Your grandfather a
welded woman"
Mother ~ cried Nellie, terrified by the
| vehemenee with which her mother spoke,
dear mother, say no more = IL shall! he
I even as you wish. promise.> Alas |! alas
this weary bleeding has commenced again.
4 IL, 4 <l<,x al \ %,
! Mrs Nettertillo could not speak, for
blood was gushing violently from, her lips,
but she pointed to a jug of water OH the
floor. Nellie took the hint at once. and
] dipped handkerchief into the water, with
1 this she bathed her mothers brow and
washed her lips, until by degrees the he
NOR, lmge subsidized, and the dying woman
4 lay back once moro pale and quiet on her
i pillow. ..r~ -
Just then, to Nellie's great relief the
taller entered, hearing lighted torch; for
the sun was goingsdown, ana the cell was
almost dark already.
| After. him came OrmistOn and O'More,
accompanied by the gray-haired man who
had been with Mrs. Netterville at the mo-
ment of their own arrival in the prison.
Ortniston took the loren from the Jailer,s
hand; and placing a gold piece there instead,
dismissed him, with orders to close the door
behind him. and to give them due notice
before shutting up the prison for the right
AS he set the torch in the sconce placed fol-
it against the wall, the light fell full upon
Mrs. Nettervillc's face, which looked SC
pale and drawn that for a moment he
thought she was dead, and whispered his
suspicion to the stranger. e.
The latter drew a small vial from his
bosom, and poured few drops upon hel
lips. They revived her almost Immediately
she opened her eyes, and a smile passed
f over her white face as they fell upon hel
visitant. "You here again, my father y
! she murmured beneath her breath. SCI
thank God that you have had the courage
You know the purpose for which l neet
YOU"
know it-and under the circumstances
approve it" the stranger answered quietly
ttiYie sooner, therefore, that 1T is done th'
better it will he for all"
E aPot;r child-l,oor Nellie ~ murmureS