The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-09

fnHic1 TINS change was brought about PEI
baps l may have felt may still feel an indehi
edness to some oner to whoIn it has been n mat
teHot Doubt with me as to whother.I sboul,
unpaid" y ~ " .
hay have an idea" she replied. s.vet mo-
Just sns one that to which you make al
fusion. \Some one may have been instrumental
IN AwakeNIng thought the subject. But
Their" VINO '' Aui
For a moment sat silent 4" ShaIlI tell he,
W4a5 she haS done for me?" asked myself
shall | open The old wound and let it bleed
afreshF win IL he any sacrifice of nv manIi.
ness II tell hen what a few moments ago
heI" dr IT. my duty aTd purpose to coneealR7
oreW my gaze gom the fire and directed ii
ioWlfd hef. The ivory needle few in and out
between her slender fingers: it seemed She had
| a task to do My resolve was taken. But
Inele was not the shadpw of ahope in my soul
H I; PsPohe Something impelted tne-sone-
| tsnIhS, Knew not what X desperate spirit I
tn"nSht 1t then my good angel, know now
7 ,-., mere mere is debt and an obligations" I he
gan, and an acknowledging whiTl I am
proud 10 make although tine fact of its exist
chce be almost death to my A little more.
man Two years ago circumstances led to the
,ol''l'on OF ahat which but fAr those circhm-
SIamces might have been unrGyealed t0-day.
ing. You rejected 1t ard That You did so, or
WHY find no fault or blame. The folly was
mna; -aicne l'ye haene the Consequences.
Bat while Nou diSabuSsd my mind 0t any Wild
hope it might haYc- cherished iu\ moments
quite Wild, you told me some unHaiSitible
truths JHtil met yaH / had lived a selfish,
useless life. After / mot you, the germs OF
something better i'll stirred now and tncn,
and impulses hat ! more than once fought
down knocked at secret doors where the dust
and "Obwchs Of the world had gathered. Then
the drHgHcmcat came, and after it the change
i'll me-
Stnl knitting, the soft wool few through her
fingers faster and faster, rs though she badG>
defiance to my moan She did not look NJ. as
paused bnt her lips were compressed and her
check brightly flushed.
81 went away loving you. Far>away from
your visible influence, the thought of you fol-
lowed through all my jonrneyngs |
passed through new scenes and experiences
loving you; come back loving you still. l am
here tonight with nointent of pleading A lost
cause with no hope of drifting from desolate
seas into pleasant waters, with no dream of
Lcthean draughts to be taken from youT hands.
AS in the former instance, circumstances have
forced it all upon me. Tomorrow l shall won
der at the folly which prompts me to say what
l am saying. But tonight, before close the
book for ever, let me thank you for what you
have done for me (; let me leave you with the
knowledge that, while l have been rash aud
presumptuous / have not offended you or
caused you pain"
She had risen from her chair while was.
speaking. Standing moment ifreseIttte,-
with. lips half parted and eyes downeast, she
made II passionate gesture with her clasped
hands. as though impatient with herself.
do not forget she said, "any part Of
what told yeu that night, two years ago. l
INTERCHANGEABLE so. But it all came
on me SO suddenly that hardly knew What
did say. l remember there was something
about msuscd talents and wasted life, of
" hat You might bc and were not, of great pos
sibilitfcs sighted and contcmucd. But here
Ecr voice faftcrcd and the words came slowly,
:" do not remember telling You then or at any
other time that | did not, could not love you.
DO you remember it ~ Looking 1p, her gaze
met mine hale smlingly half teartuily.
." No. do not remember it, | said, "but You
sent ITC Tway fT0TT y0T5 !TrIrt f1rr,at
ten that there was nothing of encouragement
for the future in your dismissal of me. Can it
be-dare l hope that-that-"
Somehow two warm, soft hands were clasp6d
in mine, and the Christmas bells pealed out
tuncful chime, now softly low, now musically
clear. And then she told me what had never
even fancied in my dreams of the Glove that
had dweIt in her heart of hearts so long of
fears that had assaulted her when she grew con
scious of it; of n hope in the future and its
unborn possibilities that had filed her soul
when she seemed most indifferent aud cold of
prayers that from their fcrveHcy had been
heard and answered.
~ knew you would come back to mcn she
said " knew that God would do great thiags
for you. Aud even if you mad not come; If
some one else had taken my place, some AM
bition. occupied your heart. it would have been
the same in the end, or nearly so, | think
could be Conteuted to love you silently all my
life long, if l knew you to be in Thought aud
purpose what had so lOngcd to have yOu; If
answered.
wonderful unselfshness of woman's love!
. HlafNtibllA. consistency OF woman Iillu
How often do ye burn and diesaway Unhe0ded
and uHprzed on hollow altarsi
Three short bright years have passed, and IT
is Christmas eve Outside hear group of
merry boys, battling with the bitter wind aud
laughing at its fefGGness. Frost giitters on
the window paueS aud chills the air tonight;
aud blazing fires roar MP the chimncNs, pour
ing forth welcome they go. Here, in this
quiet ROOM there is atmosphere Of peace
and calm content that almost fills me with "A
revcrential fear lest the sweet spell shOuld float
away and leave me desUlste.