The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-07-17
"How Ei;a1yy

at
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particularly as it was whispered tmemoe
two that Shawn was seen hove. any t'm
the neighborhood in the eve.a hr",,. 3,
corpse room was occupied b to oe b;s sge'
faitbf aIo rste;ners 10 Long an.
with few iuniops; Of o1e n tbasn nami,y
families; and thithsr, afpartS searohin,
scrutiny among the occupxats Of the parlo
and kitchen by Frank and the priest
the latter arrayed in humble lay garb, will
hat slouched and coat muffled-such o
these as were deemed Trustworthy, were
also drawn gradually and by whispered in
vitations; some being left uhdisturbed, a
few, known to be faithful persons, for ap-
pearance sake, and a few suspected either
of having attended the wake through Gu
| riosity, or whose known and frequent in
tercourse with Sir Robert caused them to
be, IN the present case, objects of suspicion.
When the congregation, selected to par
take of the Mass, and consisting of about
twenty persons, young and old, were
gathered into the small corpse room, which
they completely crowded, the door was
locked and the window shutters fastened,
with thick screen suspended inside
them, lest, from the lowness of the win
dow the slightest glimpse of the proceed
ings could be obtained from the outside.
whilst kerchief was placed over the key
hole, that no prying eye might benefit by
1t. Then the priest, having hurriedly ar
rayed himself in the few sacordotal robes
he had secreted beneath his disguise,
commenced the service in q tone little
above whisper, but which was distinctly
and eagerly heard amid the intense silence
preserved by the little group-a silence
almost g profound as that of the corpse for
which they prayed. Eagerly did Ellen,
above all listen to the holy words so sell
dom heard of late, and which, she knew,
for whom they were offered up. Il seemed
as If her spirit, altogether snblimased from
earthly thoughts-were poured forth with
each prayer, though, now and then, she
was obliged to bow her head, to rub away
the fast rushing tears, as her eyes involun-
tariiy wandered from the clergyman and
the ceremony he was performing to the
pallid face of the dead; so soon to be hid
den from her view for ever; while Father
Bernard-his tall, thin person and spiritual
features rendering him no inapt representa-
tive of mediator, as he stood between the
living and the dead-performing his func-
tions with fervor and deep feeling, low as
were his accents, notwithstanding that, oc-
caslonally, he could not control glance of
doubt and fear towards door and window.
And it was well those precautions had been
taken, as the ceremony was barely at it's
and the partakers only pre-
pairing to leave the room eradualiy. and
one by one, when the voice Of Sir Robert
now Sir Robert beyond all disputation-
was heard in loud and violent alteration
Win some, who were attempting to stay |
his progress beyond the little hall that di-
vlded the parlOr from the wake room. He
was evidently intoxicated, and his voice
completely terrified the occupants of the |
wake room, with the exception of Frank,
VINO, with flashing eye, was proceeding to |
open the door, in order to beard the brutal |
bacchanal without.
No, no, Frank, you shall not endanger
US all to indulge your excited temper,
Whatever excuse there may be for your ex
citement at present." said Father Bernard,
placing himself against the door, and lay.
ing one hand on Franks shoulder. while
with the other he hastily concealed the
'acerdotal robes again within the coarse
garments he had resumed. 81 know that
,oice, too, and it BODIES good neither to
hose individuals here nor to me, were
We to DO seen through yeur means; be-
ddes that, any collision would surely, be
tut OF place and character just now, how.
'ver gross the conduct of the misguided
10Y. That window, small as it is, will
PERMIT OF our egress, without risking such
lnholy collision and in that direction YOU .
must come with me, by which means we
hall avoid endangering the living and dis
expecting the dead-let us move at once.n
Father Bernard is right, dear Frank
nd do remove yourself with him for few
ours for all our sakes," said Ellen, after
ause.
And leave you exposed to drunken and
rutal insolence, Ellen, were even nothing
arther to be feared 7"
There is nothing to be feared for me,
rank" she said earnestly "but as you
,ould save from insult the poor remains of
inn who loved you-loved us both-oh-
rank, go at once" burst of b y sterical
obbing overpowered her, and she sank
gainst the bed. Ii
am gone, dearest Ellen |" he exclaim-
d and with an agility pertaining to Lis
'rm and habits, he had passed through {
he little window which bad been opened {
y the priest, and was assisting the latter {
J his less active descent. 4
They had scarcely completed their egress &
hen Sir Robert, having broken away /
ON those who had been endeavoring to G
etain him, kicked fiercely at the door, ex- t
aiming in a tone of drunken violence:
open at once, command We. 1 know c
g have some varmint among We, but I'll u
hearth him speedily or blazes to me.n O
The door was instantly opened, and the b
,ene that met his view might we'll have q
'bered and softened any one less hardened