The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-31

regard to the folly and uselessness Of any claim
on the part Of Miss Fitzgerald to her uncie'a
property. she also repeated her usual adytce
late husbands means .hsA bsse laxasly sb.
sorbcd by debts, and that she stu pseded any
remittsnces be might b. able to make bet. The
gerald's letter to her brother, dated le4-, an
nounciDg the death of her little Ellen. her only
child. The whole epistls wound mp with these
| .Ido not say that Ellen Fitzgerald !. dead
but think IL will be very difacult and q
, yisiy expensive affair to prove that she ID
Mr.. Davis read the letter over thrice, and
shen folded II up in it's original creases; for
inc mind will often attend to these minutiae
even when 1T 10 overwhelmed with sorro. OF
under his pillow that his pent-up feelings gave
oNeil WAS .:iesp. and of course heard not
NJ. Davis had had faint hope that hi.
mother would relent in her unjust determine
tion, and restore to her husbands niece her in
d5es.tanoe; but the letter had dispslied this
depths into which she had sunk herself through
her terrible greed and selashness.
Still asking me for money!" he bitterly OK
over the coverlid.
hurried ever by her cry for moro, moro " and
actual need and coming want Now he knew
better. She could no longer work upon his
generous sympathies, or goad his anxious spirit
to fresh and feyerish exertions.- He had given
her all his earnings: and in return, behold him
to-day poor, homeless wanderer. 80
Well did he know by experience that If
chance had thrown him in her hands sick,
Mrs; Brown, she would have reproached him
for bis poverty, and (almost daily would have
querulously asked how she was to defray the
expenses incidental to his sickness.
MOD0vf
He almost hated the name of it-so wretched
had it made his lie, SO desola:e his future
Even should he acknowledge his love to
Ellen, of what avail would it be Years might
elapse before he could be in q position to offer
her the humblest home; and what man, in his
plans of welded happiness, does not dream of
Then his sea-faring life oh, there were too
many obstacles in the way of his hopes! Better
that Ellen should never learn his secret: then
she might meet with some one nobler, richer,
better and more worthy than himself.
These were the thoughts that chased each
other through his mind, flushing his face and
agiteting his pulse until at last fever set in,
ONeil slept on in happy Inconsistencies,
and the little household down stairs prepared
themselves for rest.
sick room to inquire of ONeil if anything was
needed for tho night but finding the door
open and O'Neil asleep, she determined not to
arouse him, but to take herself the post of
watcher.
"Give me some waterw
This was the first duty she was called upon
to fulfil, and as she brought it to the sick man
she wondered at the strange, wild look in his
brown eyes.
He drank rapidly and greedily, and then
tossed his arms about his head.
aches"
She brought more water and bathed his
broad, white forehead very gently.
90, mother! mother 70 came from his pant
" n 6n0arA t0nNhed ia Oyv
Then she knew that he was delirious.
rhdt thought you would be jSss for my sake
He moaned long and piteously. Take your
justice. Take them away. Mine are poor and
ou a
There was o moment of silence in the room,
disturbed only by oNeirs regular and heavy
breathing.
"Give me some waterw
This eager cry startled Ellen, but she COM
piled as before, and then resumed her seat be-
side him.
"Honor your father and your mother"
This was said most bitterly, then came q
hooking laugh.
He slept for few moments, while Ellen join
ed her hands and prayed for him and for her
poor aunt. -,
the living~ His mind had resumed the thread
of its pain and psrplexity.
at wonder if mine are to be shortened now!
Thirty years are not SO very long. Three short
decades-three short decades!"
Most fervently did the gentle watcher pray
that long and honored life might yet be his.
Her silent thoughts and earnest prayers were
strangely startled by his next low, solemn
words:
Dead! Dead! Deadw
He turned on his back and dropped his arms
to their full length upon the bed. She rose
and looked at him. His eyes were closed, but
his breathing was loud and rapid.
She touched his forehead still more gently
than before, and ran her fingers through his
hair. Again did their pressure seom to soothe
him.
az loved her so we'll, SO truly. My own, my
beautiful! And you write me abe is dead, mo-
ther-dead! deadw
Ellen shuddered, her limbs trembled, and
her poor heart futtered like an imprisoned
bird.
This, then, was the cause of his deep sad
ness. He had loved, and Death had taken his
treasure from him, but the cherished memory
still lived and haunted him.
How vain aud foolish l have been. fan
cied-I was almost sure" She hid her face in
her hands, ashamed of her foolish hopes, and
indignant at her poor, silly heart for grieving