The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-05

continuation of the tower should be coniidet
to that one of the young architects who woul,
furnish within the period of twelve days til,
finest design Before the expiration of til,
appointed term, the Frenchman had finished
his, and every one declared that it could moi
be surpassed. SabAlc was struck with adInra
ton at seeing it, and could not restrain hel
| tears.
'..Why do you weep? ~ asked Polydore
ALAS" replied the young girl, 20 weep be
cause my father, when dying, made me syyeal
that no other name than his should be- attached
to his work. 1 had hoped that it would be
within the power of my brother to complete it,
but now you have excelled him, and the name
OF .! PIolydore will replace that of Erwin
r,. You can prevent it yet" answered the
frenchman Consent to marry me, and
! yield to your brother the honor of finishing tine
| tower.n
Sabine made no reply, but retired to her own
apartment, her heart raclled with contendincs
emotions. If she persisted in her partially
| for Bernard de 4SundeF, she could not keep the
| oath made to her father; if, ON the other hand
she accepted Polydore's proposal, she saved the
glory OF Erwin, but lost her own happiness
Oppressed with uncertainty, she approached
the table, upon which was spread a large sheet
OF parchment and in distraction took up her
pen, which she unconsciously turned in her
hnSers Whlle addressing to God prayers min
gled with tears. At length, overcome with
fatigue, she fell asleep. Her sleep lasted the
whole night, and when she awoke the first
the window.
She uttered a cry of surprise as she glanced
at the table, for there, the sheet of parcl-
ment, was an admirable drawing representing
the facade of the cathedral us t appears to-
day; God had undoubtedly heard Tie prayer
angels to trace for her the marvellous design
which must gain the prize
In fact, it sufficed but to present it to the
members of the council for them to decide
unanimously that the young girl alone was
capable of completing the work her father had
commenced. At her request, however, her
brother was, associated with her, and Bernard
de Sundcr offered himself as an assistant; but
Polydore, tormented with jealousy, went away
in silence. eFaz ss--4-----s---. "a
Jean and Sabine took up their abode in the
great court of. the church, in order to watch
more closely the achievement of their plans
Endowed suddenly with an unaccountablc and
supernatural gift Sabine seemed exempt from
the laws of time. Hardly were her ideas con-
ceived, before they were mirarulousIy wrought
out; her chisel multiplied ornaments around
Erwins edifice and the rapid creation or 50
many masterpieces was inexplicabie. Sabine
herself was unable to solve the mystery.
Mcanwhile the great figure, destined for the
portal of the clock, had received the last
touch She had it placed Imposition, but this
process occupied the entire day, and it was
necessary to wait till the following morning to
judge of the effect produced by the statue. At
early dawn Sabine hastened with the crowd
eager to behold the new cjgf d0Hjp~,-
Horror and desoation! During tire night
the statue had been mutilated, and the greater
part OF the decorations so recently executed Inv
'''tN-
tonishncnE arose all sides: but this was
soon succeeded by dubious murnrurs. What
hand could have impaired the labor of the
young girl Was it the hand of II manor a
demon
The devil never destroys the works Of those
whom he protects" observed n voice.
And as they wondered, the same voice re-
counted the strange e&pedttiousncss with
which Sabine had dispatched all this,labor,
her unexpected triumph in the competition in
sttutcd by the council, her atlectation of living
i'll thought and solitudc-
These suspicious, sown in the multitude, sud
denly took root. The young girl had involun-
tarily embittered many hearts both by her
good fortune and her beauty, and the rcporGa
spread that God refused the work of Erwin's
daughter, because they were the inspiration of
an evil spirit.
Dismayed by this accusation, Sabine with
drew to the little studio, where she was wont
to prosecute her task, and remained until
evening in prayers and tears. Bernard de
SundeT after vainiy attempting to console her.
sought his own retreat opposite the tower; but
| the sorrew of his betrothed greatly distressed
hin, and banished all homes of sleep. He
arose and leaned sadly on his window. The
night was dark; the wind roared through the
| vast desert tower, and great drops of rain beat
violently against the slabs of stone. Bernard,
wholly preocCupied, rested his head on his
hand.
Suddenly hard, reiterated noise, like that
| of hamm breaking stone, interrupted the
stiffness of the night. The young German
raises his head. Before him, on the highest
| scatfold,>a shadow is visible. The form cannot
be distinguished, but the movement and the
! noise make it evident that the destruction be-
/ gan on the previous night is being completed.
| BERNARD starts and bends forward, when an
! other sound strikes upon. his ear. 1t Is the
more cautious and regular fall of the mallet on
| the sculptor's chisel. He turns and at the
| other extremity of the tower he perceives
white vision, which dcxtrously repairs the out
RACES of the hostile hand. From either side
| the responsive blows follow in quick alterna-
! tioH-,fIere the dark shadow inadvertently de-
| stroys; there the white phantom steadily re-
stores. -
But all once the latter stops 10 has heard
the sound OF the inimical hammer. 1t springs