The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-12-10

faveritc child; and forcing ,Leonora to KEEP
watch over her at all hours Of tho day EN-
and though the poor widows heart grew eicl
| with hope deferred, Leonorn we'll knew tina,
she had been bought to abandon both paren,
4 and sister in every sense of the word. She
also realized the malice of her grandfather
disposition, and how cunningly he had chosen
sure and terrible method of visiting on hel
mothers helpless head, the penalty Of her "a
| borne it all herself with patient resignation
even Willie's forgetfnlness would not have
| crushed her proud and apsfnl nature LIN
dening her heart and embttering her mind
Mrs. Stanton, whose only aim in life was to
do good, exerted all the kindness of her heart
| in the vain attempt to make the widow happy
and to interest her in the daily routine of heI
own unselfish life.
Clarence, too, with thoughtfulncss that
showed he was not entirely engrossed with his
study, devoted much of his evening leisure to
| entertaining the grief-stricken mother. He
| either read to- her or engaged her attention IN
game of back CANNON; but very often, even
Mrs. Latrobe would wall out the name of EN-
ma, and Indulge in such q burst OF tears ana
sad repinings,. that Leonora was Obliged to
lead her to their room and soothe her to sleep
as though she had been n child.
One evening after her loving task was ended,
and her mothers grief had passed into quiet
slnmber she returned to the sitting room in
which she had left the family. Her own
panions, and it was, therefore, with ieeinS
| OF slisappointment that she found Mrs. stan
ton and Ida gone while Clarence, having
drawn a small table under the gas-light. was
deep in the mysteries of an Intricate problem
in chess.
do not go, Miss Latrobe!" he said, as she
turned TO leave the room. "Take this easy
chair and DO kind enough to aid me in my la
bors here"
He pointed to the chess board with one
hand as he spoke and offered her the cosy
- . wit l. fl..n ut nr
Z" Your labors!' she replied, "yon misapply
the term, 1 think, for if l understand yonr
mother rightly, this is your recreation, and me
r0rk is not to come for several hours or more"
She pointed to his large law books on the
sofa. while he laughed out merrily:
Well! well! mother spoke the truth. IL
is a pleasant recreation q real, delightful rest
to unravel one of these mysteries can read
Common Law" with clear views, after have
found the windings through an uncommon
labyrinth like this. Did you ever hear of the
Of chess for tho first time, inquired If 1t was a
Noah's Ark ?"
She laughed heartily at the old lady's ig-
norance, but was surprised to hear him add, in
q Eraver tone than usual:
IL sometimes find it a shelter from the Ills,
refuge from the storms of life. real
Noah's Ark with the dove of peace in-dwelling
there"
She smiled incredulously at the idea of
trouble in his daily life, when a low, strange
laugh resounded at her side. Turning quickly,
Sne saw 1ua SgauulNS near uer Olack eyes
tlashing angrily, and her poor shoulder working
in 4 manner fearful to behefds-
She heard n sudden exclamation from Clar-
ence, as he sprang hastily towards her; bnt be-
singing blow from Ida's hand descended on
her cheek, and sent her, stunned and Keeling,
upon the sofa near her.
She saw Clarence fling his arms around his
sister and carry her from the room but before
she could totter to her feet, he was back again
beside her.
"a Do not so yet, Miss Lauobr, entreat you.
Let me offer you some excuse, some exrlana-
ton of 1da's unnatural conduct. All! YOU
thought just now that there could be no sor-
row in my life, no shadow in my home. You
see now how ], too, need at times word of
comfort and n smile of hope"
She looked at him astonshed. This Ian
guage so different from his usual cheerful,
light hearted manner of speech. His face, too,
was grave, his manner embarrassed, and she
felt he was under the influence of some great
emotion.
"Do not trouble yourself" she said kindly,
" to make any apology or to offer any excuse.
OF course Mrs. Stanton is the proper person to
look to IN matter like this"
She was astonisheG at his quick imploring
answer.
spare my mother, Miss Latrobc! Do not
let her hear of this"
Was he crazS' Had too much study turned
his brain A vivid flush of Indignation spread
room.
81 see you are surprised. feel that you
have every reason to be angry; but know
you are too generous not to listen, and too kind
not to forgive, when you have heard all wish
to say"
There was so much carnestness, SO much re-
spect for her that she could not do otherwise
than await his explanation.
~ believe" he began, you are aware that
no tie of blood or relationship exists between
Ida and myself. When my father married Mrs
Stanton, was his only child, as Ida was of
her mother, by previous marriage He was
a generous, good and noble man with little
demonstrative affection in his disposition; but
1 am confident he felt all the more, because of
this very reticence."
What can all this have to do with Ida's con-
duct towards her: was Leouoras wondering
thought.
81 had been orphan SO long, my life had
been so cheerless and lonely that when my
step mother took me to her heart, and gave
me all the love, and brightness had
missed for years, my affection and gratitude
towards her became almost a worship, and to
this day feel the same unchanging love and
thankfulness. l think my father felt deeply
the gladness shed over his life and mine"
He paused a while as if not knowing how to
tell the rest, while Leonora still continued to
wonder aud to wait.
- Just before. my father died, he besought
me, with tears and PRAYERS to promise that i