The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-09
NEW ORLEANS, SUfDAYNMORNING, JANUARY o 1S7o

! ~ Sou' 30 oon't ne surprised to me an
morning about breakfast time. Tell the CHI
dren, Cousin Helen is glad they have found
new friend buF'-here the reader paused
ana, after a hurried perusaI of the remainder
replaced the missive i'll it's envelope
Foolish Helen !" she said as though tn kin,
70 herself; then, supper being announced
there was nothing more said on the subject.
On Christmas eve called with some present,
i i2t me children. had promised them to eli
mSt santa Clans in their favor and waited I'm.
M thought they would he aaeep to brine
| what toys and trnkets they had told me conf.
uTehtialiy would be acceptab BILE Ushered into
tnI PaIl"r, dld not at first perceive in the dim
! liGht that some one was standing near the win
ooW. l he NOISE OF the door closing caused the
| nIscnPaht OF the room to look around, and as
she dld SO. recognized Miss Foster
Excuse me-" managed to articulatc in my
or that You We're expected"
: was not expected" she answered smiling
y. bnt grew honesicl as Christmas ap-
preached, and astenishcd them all this morn
ing at daylight. viii you sit down. Mr. Mo-
ray !, And she drew a chair forward
bank YOU" / replied, ''not this eyeuin,r
nave 'et'iciy Brought some triiles for the lit
Tie ones. We are great friends. | lave become
quite al nome with trCm during your absence"
80 80 I.&uIA tells me she answered; ''aud
- have found them So" rcipincd. - sup
pose they are all three drgGrIiuaVt Santa Claus
Vat tlis moment. Fat must be going i6e Find
enough to present my compliments to Mrs. 8u-
vvrguc, WHO is probably busy this evening,
J
mas"
Ar.I ceased speaking the parlor do", opened
uUdtl" mistress of the house entered, bonnet
ed and sHuwicd for walk, and accompanied
by Fred, wuo announced himself complete
wTeclliIo!it fIOlic in the nursery.
GOOD evening, Mr.. Moray" said the little
lady cordially. these for the children
Thank you; yuu are very kind; they will \be
delighted. You-see Tonr wtndcTcr-has re-
turned. Is She not looking we'll Sit down,
you must not 60 yet. Rather late for lady to
IA.
down town, and Erred las volunteered to ac-
company me. We shall not he absent long
yUu must stay fill we return. You and Helen
are old friends, know, and can manage TO pass
All hour pleasantly together"
l faneicd Helen looked at me imPleringIy, as
though to say, do go away" and l'Zentured
to TemotistTatc.
a. am inexorabic' was the reply. you are
to remain till como back. Fred, take his
gloves and Helen, ring for lights"
There was no outstanding such imp0rtuni-
ty. Reluctantly, but with good grace as l
could Summon, l allowed myself to succumb to
the force of circumstances. Seeing there was
no help for it, my companion in distress took
some fancy knitting from table near her and
soon appeared lost in.Its iutTiCacics. For fully
-tive minutes after the door closed on Mrs. An
Vcrgnc and her brother sat in embarrassing
slcnce-silcncc that at length grew uacndur-
able,
You arc sitting too far from the FIRE said,
by way of rudraynr to mend matter, there
must hc some dgauGht from that window too
withuut-luokiug up: land am not NJ III gold"
Another i've minutes OF silence. What should
stty neAt! Gould sit there uIuel! Lon. >se..
did not think SO. ! felt sthough / u..st make
a desperate move and take my leave.
Suddenly, Veallng ont upon he silent night
hcrrd The sound ufzurils- She huaIU them
laa-I Knew, for saw her Hit her head to
listen.
.'Tho Christmas chiruos,' I said, q. Io.y bean
sas.a.L-L l4l-l- l4e4I4 -lG Rnlue
and Naples last year l was in Engla &dat this
rln
to itself and dcarer than all other-at least so
it seems to me-
You believe in Christmas, then, as an insti-
tuition ~ she answered smilingly, and with
touch of the old sarcasm in her voice.
- Surely" replied gravely, "since believe
in Christ. Inasmuch as a Catholic believes and
reverencus all that his Church teaches and be-
1 looked at her face to see what effect my
words would have but it cvinced no emotion
of surprise. She answered quietly and assur-
eddy, as though our ways had never been sepa-
rate.
" Yes, we who are Catholics enjoy the capa-
city of feeling and approaching these things as
none do beside. Especially converts such as
you aud /, who havcs5inoTn the experience of
doubt and fear
-" was not aware" rejoined, that you
knew of my conversion q
Ono ?" she replied, 81 have known it some
time having seen you several tunes at Mass
and Beuediction. l do not believe you would
make the sign of the cross unless you held it /
to be the sign of salvation. And, you do make
it, think
Ono doubt the discovery surprised you Miss
Foster" | continued 90 -
d" No it did not she answered. 81 did not
think the change would be accomplished so
soon. but hoped great things for you."
Even when you accused me most bitterly 2 I
Why tread on dangerous groandj but the
words were spoken, and l could not recall
them,
Even when accused you most bitterly"
she said, in n low tone
" Yon are far-sighted, 1 perceive. Perhaps
you may also have some idea Of the mannerin !