The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-17
tContinuea.)
CHAPTER xXXvf.

There came fearful hush over the scene q
Col. Owen fell upon the ground. The hons
crumbled into shining mass of seething Goals
Inc ,a Giackened oharred, inSn I,11: bnrthet
Jim knelt round it stunned, fearless, motion
less and dumb!
They did not mark the sky again illumned
in the distance by, another wild and sudden
light, nor could they know or care that scenes
as black and hellish that they had passed
though, were being enacted all through the
land over which the army of "the hest govern
ment the world ever saw " was making it's no.
BILE conquering way!
The groans of Col. Owen first reused Will.
liam Dudley from his stupor of grief, and ap.
preaching the wounded man, he recognized
for the first time, his old friend and early
playmate.
broke from his lips as in the light of the rising
moon, he saw the dying look upturned towards
"Clfford! Clifford! Is it thus we meet
againr
Jim heard his young masters cry, and came
pale himself with fright, towards the fatal
spot. Falling down in an agony of remorse
and fear, he lifted up his hands and wrung
them desparin yly--
az killed him, Mas William! did it! did
IL didn't know twas Mas Clifford, Indeed
didn't"
1t would have been difficult to aualyse vii.
liam Dudley's feelings as he stood over the
form of the dying soldier. He seemed to for
get the person of his friend in that of the enc
my of his country, and all tender feelings of |
his youth died away in the reality of the scene |
before him. This man was one of those who
murdered in fendish joy his noble, brave, de.
voted father, who had widowed and made
broken-heartr,l his gentle, loving mother
Yes, this man was not his friend and MAY
mate, be was but one of the leaders of a ruth
less soldiery, an officer in an army of butchers,
he was one of the destroyers, murderers of ali
that had made life beautiful.
a groan OF pain and anguish from the man
at his feet, changed these feelings in an in
slant into pity; sorrow, love.
..;.t William, William" spoke the feeble,
realize the feeling of your people-I sympa
thize in all their bitter hatred-but-itis too
late, too late The South must succomb i'm the
dreadfui warfare made upon her women chill
dren and old men but when she falls there
will be little fame-or glory for her vctors ~
. his breath failed him, and he lay speech bless
Tor several moments, breathing heavily ,
Willie bent one knee beside him and raised
MS tumbled, matted hair, while Jim still [
moaned over the part he had taken in this Q
nights dark catalogue of woe. Col. Owen r
'poke again:
Jim, forgive you--nay more, thank Won v
or this release. never could have survived b
That was doomed to tonight. Yours o
vas brave decd. glory in it-eyen now W i,
Jim crawled back to his poor dead master;s r.
ody, near whic Kate still kuelt, erect and v
e 90 Here he rocked himself to and fro in y
~ , gaeat sorrow ,mnrmuring words of pity, RI
Poor young people, Dear old Nrassa. Dis NJ
de last of all your happiness. feared dis, sc
as Clihord' when seed you last. know'd
DC was bad omen-a mighty bad omen for oe
'n bofe. But de good Lord knows never pl
ought my hand would touch that sword,
nen ie fell SO cruel like between Miss Kate is
III you, long time agow tt
Wniie.Jim was tenderiy recalling the scenes bl
acted IN his old home, Col. Ovens life was
'brsg fast. 10
= l have no right to ask it, William, but if ct
'I n 9ety see her before die 'twould not be at
a.:
!" i me mad scarce spoken yet one word to wi
70 Gylhg man only the soft, caressng touch WI
inn to'S 11S M upon the pale, white brow before hi
Now and then his an"s 10 ,Sf .nSnIa er co
al ,os t1a S other mouruful object on the grass,
n nt d =, Soi. owen spoke of Kate, pang col
? dark and terrible before him. mi
,re g' .%St see wa" pleaded the dying
ly 40 AM now. My own n.t has rohhnS no.
ate Of happ'ness-those whom represent pre-