The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-01-14

She drew from her bosom . white rosebud
and nestled 1t mp against her lips.
Leonors saw end .reccgnized the flower, bit
she did not realize al thst Emmas artful
words were intended TO convey.
She stretched ont her hand TO take the bud,
almost mechauically. or, perhaps, with the
unconscious feeling that it's pure leaves might
truth was hidden there.
"Excuse me, Leonora," said Emma. hastily
drawing back the flower. +" No other hand but
mine must touch It, until can lay it in his
own once moreW
She placed it back biushingly in the folds Of
| her dress, and then in an Indifferent, easy tone,
| wondered how long it would BIO before all this
Leonora did not know whether she referred
to the trouble of the times to the trouble of
her mothers Illness and. therefore, asked * her
"Oh! mean q great many things, child
Dudley may not return for year, and do not
see how can bear SO long separation"
flushing of Leonora's cheek and the indignant
sparkle of her eyes, showed the heartless girl
that the thorn Of jealous, wondering pain had
been en- iIplantsd even as she wished ne
| movement on the bed, hurried towards her
! mother.
"Ibeiieve mamma is awakew she exolaim-
ed, bending over her. 81 am very sorry you
are suffering so much, mamma, but how fool.
ish of you to frighten me as you did,"
The floor sufferers eyes rolled wildly. now
uX0O on A0OnOT8S lace anu now Oh Cuk"0
but no CLEAN of recognition gave meaning to
their gaze.
Leonora shuddered as she drew Emma back,
for she felt that heartlessness like hers could
neither ease nor comfort o mothers heart.
The movement around her seemed to disturb
Mrs. Latrobe who, lifting her poor, bandaged
head, and staring wildly at Emma, cried out in
ringing tones:
eye have angels faces, but Heaven knows
yonr heartsw
Leonora sobbed aloud as she recognized the
words Of Shakespeare's play and felt how like
Queen Katharine's was now her mothers poor
estate
Still partly sitting, still gazing wildly round
her, her head dropped forward, and In II low,
Like the lily that once was mistress of the
field and flourished, I'll hang my head and
peril b."
She foil back heavily-upon the pillows,
! where her white, care-wOrn face lay still and
motionless.
Emma, too, remembered the part her moth
er's wandering fancy was rehearsing, but feel,
ing only surprise and o slight fear ut the wild
stare in those burning eyes, wondered why
Leonora wept 30 bitterly.
| For q few moments MIRA Latrobe closed her
! WAS difficult and low means came from her
parted lips.
Hearing the sobs beside her bed, she reused
herself once more and called out plaintively: :
"Spirits of peace, where are YET Are ye all
gone And leave me here in wretchedness
"Motherw whispered Leonora, I" I am near
you. What can do for youf How can help
| you now!
She caught in hers the poor, bandaged hand
that was cropping over the bed, and by this
posture, and seemed to look upon some vision
near her.
ca, whoss ts b
The bright morning beams were, indeed
| shining round her, bnt in their deepening glow
the sufferers face seemed waxing colder, paler:
sss:ss s:Rssi'is
Speaking these words slowly, humbIy, she
open, feasting on the vision which, perhaps,
| she saw.
! Heaven comfort you, poor darling" sobbed
Leonora, rising to her feet and looking, awe
| stricken, upon her mothers changing face.
An answer came, but spoken in q low and
broken whisper:
II am past all comforts-uow-but prayers"
Still did Emma stand wondering and alarm
ed; but not drawing the terrible meaning
| from words moro full of truth than when she
| had uttered them upon the stage.
The morning air stole through tho open win
dow and shed it's fragrance round the bed. It
lifted the dark curls from Leonora's forehead,
and cooled the fever glow on Emma's cheek.
| Mrs: Stanton and Ida stood near the bed,
| while Ellen, who had entered with them, knelt,
the impersonation of that comfort which alone
| had power now and prayed for the unconscious
sufferer.
Turning her head towards her friends and
gazing at them curiously she murmured slowly:
Tho times and titles altered strangely since you
knew mo-
But pray you, what is your pleasure with mei'
| Mrs. Stanton took the widows hand and
pressed q loving, lingering kiss upon 1t, then
laid it back in that of Leonoras. 1t seemed
| mute farewell, and Emma, with sudden
! pang at her own blindness and Indifference
| drew nearer to the bed and laid her hand upon
| her mothers head.
| Again did the words of poor Queen Katba-
| rine startle the ears of the listeners by their
wild and strange appropriateness.
Raising her eyes to Emma's face, she feebly
| whispered:
"say-his long trouble-now-is passing out
of this-worldw
At last the truth dnwned clear on Emma's
heart, and with q sudden burst of tears, she
stopped and kissed the icy face.
1t seemed as though the action brought back
a little consciousness. for she looked at Emma
inquiringly, and sigh, as though from the
words:
"'Tis like pardon after execution: that
gentle physic, given in time, had cured me-"
Emma walled aloud as these words fell upon
her ear, while Leonora flung herself upon the
bed and clasDed her arms Id the att ffenin.,