The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-10


-----------y--r--tt-
ma before the smallpox had defaced her bean
ty. Instantly Cecilia caught the likeness.
she gasped for breath, for she felt that some
strange mystery was on the point OF being d.
vulged.,
Cecilia" now faltered the agitated Norma,
II am not, never was, n servant! Nay, had
| servants, slaves wealth ut my command l
forsook all, alto follow thee! disguised my
! self as a mental to watch thee--to serve thee"
sobs prevented her saying more.
"Who are you, then ~ inquired Cecilia IN
| low, deep whisper.
"Your-nothcr!" replied Norma, waiting with
breathless anxiety the effect of her revelation.
| She had not long to wait. Cecilia sprang to
I "My noble, generous child" exclaimed Mon
ma, lyon do not. then shrink from your poor.
| despised, fallen mother ~
| Cecilia, pressing Norma again and again to
her heart, "why have you kept me all these
years without telling me you were my mother :
| / could not have loved you more, but may
| have failed in respect"
Bright was the smile which now beamed
over Monna's fearful face. The worlds scorn
| was balanced by her child's esteem. Unseen
by mortal eyes, an angel of mercy held the
weights, and spread over the outcasts his pro-
| tecting wing.
| Listen to me- my child" at length Norma
said, ''listen to my story. l was an orphan,
| left to the of an indulgent uncle, who
early betrothed me to his son, whom disliled.
/ Indian
| owed to my uncle's Hberality: it was perhaps
my bane, for l6sged to know the world be-
yond the harems walls. BY accident met
| your father. 1t matters little what followed
| fled from my uncle,s house. was but four
ecradafo,hir plPf hts 20 Yas seen did feel ah6
| have returned to my uncie's roof, but had
! lost caste. Your father. knelt at my feet
| would have done all for me but-niarry me I!
! / was Mahometan, and he Christian; yet
this was not the obstacle. My poor uncle came
| toy your father, offered him wealth as my por-
| ton if he would but make ME his wife, and
vowed that should bend to whatever creed
| be chose. 1t could not be; the proud con-
querors of our land never stoop TO alliance
| with their vanquished slaves.
''At fifteen became your mother When L
! clasped You to my breast, and thought that IN
a few short years you would be torn from me,
to be sent to England, like other children born
under similar circumstances, l felt as If my
! heart wOuld break. Many, many sleepless
| night did pass in imagining some escape from
| this destiny. At length traced plan which
| Heaven has helped me to execute. besought
your father to permit me to accompany you to
| England as your nursery maid, reporting at
! the same time that your mother was dead de
treated this a childish within, till, tired OF
| nv constant opportunities, he consented, ex-
pecting that should soon return to him after
| leaving you in London.
| Not till our landing in England did fully
| understand the disgrace had brought on your
| innocent head. When your fathers family re-
fused to notice acknowledge you in any
WAY, Determined never to leave yettt- ste. !
refused to return to India, and my whole life
then became wrapt mp IN you. No words can
| paint my anguish Mt having been torn from
YOU to be sent sto the hospital, on account OF
the smallpox. 1t then that Heaven sent
me a messenger of mercy in the person of Fa.
Their Paul He promised me to watch and
gnaTd You should die, as i then feared ]
! shnnld. IL easgd my heavy heart and taught
! me to lay Ahysbstrden Mt tho foot OF the cross
I This is all my history. But I<have not yet
Il told the reason why you found Ineia sHeh daft
despair, and why faintel[in the interview
q Lad with your uncle Bear up, my child
Your uncle st. Leger came TO tell me that your
father was mdrTieJf The letter, the cruel let
ter which he gave me, is from your fathers
wife. She tells me ne7er again to dare to cor
respond with her husband, nor again to obtrudt
You upon his notice."
Cecilia would have again taken the letter
when Norma resolutely held it back, aud pla
+ cling it in her bosom, said, Il shall wear 1t her
as a moral CiIioe till my DEATH"
Why talk of dying eSclqimed Cecilia
Gam not here to love and cherish you How
could Mr.. st. Leger give you this letter ~
Do not blame your uu6fey my child; he dit
not know its contents. / begged him not q
tell Miss Thornton of your fathers maTriag
for few days. He seemed surprised, for Ia
docs not knew the 4i+.I-rElIich binds to you
Only Father Paul and you know that am
your mOtherw
, When Miss Thornton again came to inquir
after Norma she was surprised to see her 3
, much calmer. Yet the news of Col. ST. Leger'
, marriage blow from which she neve
entirely recovered.
Mr.. st. Leger sent n polite note to Mis-
: Thornton informing her of his brothers mar
rage and recommended Cecilia's removal fror
: school with her servant, as he could no longe
. | answer for his brothers intentions about Ceci
, liza, to whom he had given an education whie
might sJffice to earn her bread as governes'
, Father Paul now came forward, and Ofiere
Q them an asylum in respectable lodgings KEEP
1 by n GOOD old Irish woman, who received onl
ladies, and further said me wonld Tecommen
! Cecilia as daily gnxerness in several familie
! where the children we're too young to so I
, school.
The day of their leaving the school was
q sad one Cecilia's earliest Tecollections wer
: ! within its walls. All the school now knew {
....... .s..tr r-s 7'Ta