The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-27
AFTER MANY DAYS
A Story in Four Chapters.
CHAPTER I.

r. was night, the great city still: The echo
of hurrying feet had died aw ana nd sne WSose
n 1aof ONE heart was throbbing with sorrow too
o' The clock on thestars had struck hour after
bonr. and Marion Gray, after trying In vain TO
sleep, rose at last, and pressing her iaSe
AGAINST the wndow-pane, stood LOT awniie
gazing into the quiet night men she Msh
-h;snered prayers, with soft tread sne
passed from the room and along the mGonhs
corridor until she paused at q door, when sue
onened cautiously, for there her child was
The dimpled hands were stretched above
Ev.'s curly hair; the little white teeth just |
neeped from beneath the red lips; and as the
mother pressed a kiss upon the broad white
brow, the child 1nurmured her n I'm 1;..,. ,sa
ering her face with her hands the ag S, ed
prayer went up to God, II IL oe possible ie'
'h1 r. S was fearful struggle. The choice had
been given her, either to renonnce her reI-
gious faith, or home ana her chiia , anu nea
was completed, and the last night had come
for her in the handsome and luxurious home to
which James Gray had brought her Us MS
He had been very good to her during those
five years-stern, proud man though he was
until the change In her faith had made TINS
breach between them.
Never did man live who had more deeply
rooted hatred of the Catholic Church and it's
sisted in her adherence to it, she was no longer
his wife save in name-no longer fit to act as a
mother to her child 30 he had said.
Something of this Marion had foreseen
when she told her secret. She knew it would
bring her sorrow-might bring separation from
those she loved best but there was no room
for choice; it must be God first" and hs
would not lay upon her more than she conid
bear So she accepted nef hus6anas Secis sno
told something of the secret agony she hat
passed through.
Now the parting with Eva had come Whel
the child awoke Marion would be gone. Thi
was the last time she could watch that limo
cent, sleeping face: and who would make u
to the little one for the absence of her mother
Money would surround her with comfort
friends might be numerous and kind, yet Ev
would want ''mamma "-caii for her ana CT
for her many q day and night until she wa
An! in that lay the sharpest sting of til
separation-in the certainty that her ow
child would soon forget her.
But there was still the possibility of retrac
ing; she might yet spare herself this hear
The footprints of Jesus are in the mario
path of suffering; Marion's head must bend
meet it's crown OF thorns for far above IL
rough, steep heights shone out the promi
4vhich lured her onward: BE thou faithf
INTO death. and will give thee crown
The struggle ende., then. All earthly Ion
ing and regret were laid down aS Ine 100.
the Cross, and Marion grew caimer as $
stooped to kiss more the sleeping child.
Mary, my Mother and hers, to you col
mend her. Keep her for me-" she whiSpere
Once more Eva murmured Mamma" as
in n dream; and then Marion Gray went ba
to her solitary room to wait for the morning:
Her syes wandered ROUND, resting UPON
comforts every article of use aud orhaiHe
havinx y history of its own-some associati
conns.tod WITH her married life. 1t was ne
that Eva had been put into her arms, tiu
feeble thing, the touch of whose velvet mn
ers had reused the depth of mother-loNe
Mmrion's heart. when the child's father n
N.Y b,
for bis gait.
From Tia, ioo:A Il i''tsr coffin had been ca
i'll ,,nt ui. brt,re WHEREIN they had la
4nir ,.,u,,a-I,urll chilli. Bitter Gears had be
d shed An,m Marion looked her last upon t
tiuv ,uaIl!e tltc. Nor she c'"ld say, ut
we'll"