The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-26
For the ; ew Orleans Sunday Cre.cent.l
BARTRELLE.
CHA PrER YIII-coNTIEuEp.

Like young priestess proclaiming the fiat
of Omnipotence, she stood before him, her
slender form stretched to its fullest height, her
hair thrown back from her forehead, her mild
blue eyes shining with light so awful in their
pure and holy fire, that the naughty brow of
her brother bent before the fearful inspira-
ton of her voice and gesture, like the guilty
and abandoned criminal he was.
"Oh, Warrenl" she continued, "son of
so many prayers, of so many hopes, what mad
ness has induced you to pervert your gifts to
these dreadful uses-to forsake life of truth
and virtue to practice falsehood, deceit, treach-
cry and crime. The criminal who expiates
the felonies of lifetime on the scafold, has
| at least ignorances and evil associations to
| palliate his offences, and lessen the actual
| guilt of his wrong-doing; but what have you
| to urge, nursed, as you have been, in luxury
and plenty, with every avenue of Christian
| gentleness and truth open wide before you,
with holy examples and parental care to help
you; what have you to urge in defence of your
life?"
Never in her young life had Mildred Hayes
| looked so beautiful as now. In her bearing
she seemed an accusing angel summoning
some lost spirit to the bar of final justice.
Never had Warren Hays been so moved-never
Hau lis evII ana Improbable life appeared so
hideous to his gaze. His feelings were pro-
! foundly stirred, and be answered with softened
look and deprecating gesture, as if he sought
to palliate the sentence he feared she would
pronounce.
"Pardon me, Milly, 1 meant not what L
said was eaten up with passion. Think of
my cause of anger and let it extenuate the
insanity 1 was so foolish as to exhibit 1
have no design, no wish to do aught that can
| bring reproach ON our name. 1t has suffered
enough already through my misdemeanors,
and 1 will hesitate long before 1 will subject
it to additional obloquy. Forget what 1 have
said. 1t was but the mere rawlings of delirium
believe me-"
Brother, if only could believe you!"
"You may, Milly you may. pledge my
honor that you may" His manner was earn
est and well calculated to carry conviction to
the mind of the artless girl before him. Per-
haps in that moment of awakened conscience
that he even believed what he said. But if so,
it took but the first breath of the world to
sweep away the emotion that stirred his better
nature. For, but few hours afterward he
sought the appointed interview at Kings, with
his malice re-awakened the hard, unfeeling
man of the world. In his sisters presence he
may have felt some of that silent and effectual
sympathy which in pure girls heart reaches
with invisible but potent power to whomever
she may be brought in contact with. Let the
worldly minded scott at it as they may, God
has, nevertheless, put into the lives of the
pure and virtuous in heart some essence of
His divinity, so apparent and convincing,
that every heart acknowledges it with intui-
tive awe. 1t is even said that the beast of the
wilderness, the fierce lion of the desert, will
fee from a maid in the pride of her purity.
And can it be doubted that Warren Hayes, in
the presence of his fair, young sister, may
have felt emotions which even the animals
acknowledge. Him who alone searches all
hearts can tell; but for our human natures
credit we will believe it.
But whatever may have been his resolutions
of amendment, they did not survive his inter-
view with his friend; for the next morning, as
Richard Barlrelle was leisurely slipping his
coffee at the breakfast table, the servant
announced
"Cap. Barry to see Mars Dick"
Surprising it to be friendly call, relating
to military arrangements with which the
young men of the city were all more or less
identified, the servant was directed to show
the gentleman to the parlor
Quickly finishing his breakfast, Bartrelle
sought his visitor. and was not little sur
prised to discover in his usually social and
chatty friend marked, though somewhat dis
tant politeness, at once indicative of other
than a social interview 1t is strange what
an instantaneous effect the manners of another
has upon our own. Bartrelle at once per-
ceived that his friend came upon no friendly
errand, and yet he knew that there was no
cause of offence between them. But he was
not long in ascertaining the object of the visit
eff you will permit me to be so bold, Mr.
Bartrelle, the object of my visit had best be
disclosed in a private interview" said the
captain, with grave politeness.
"I was about starting down town when you
called" replied Bartrelle, "and if you will
not consider me rude, perhaps your object
can be more easily explained as we walk
along"
1.-The very thing" replied the gentleman,
"come, let us be moving;" and Bartrelle
ushered his visitor with polite assiduity to
the door,
4" And now, Captain, that we are removed
from any fear of listeners, permit me to
inquire to what circumstance am to attrib-
ute the honor of this interview" inquired
Bartrelle, with that easy familiarity which
marks the conversation of men who may pos
sibly be approaching unfriendly ground, and
yet careful that their department shall be
scrupulously polite and urbane
Certainly; and you will excuse me, NJ.
Bartrelle, if 1 am unhappily made the medium
of an unpleasant message. 1 am charged
by my friend, Mr.. Hayes, to beg that you