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

greater pain than deAth.0
He wrung Ellen's hand and strode hastily
away. just half way down the orapge-walk.
no turned again, looked earnestly up~and
along the front Of the honse, and Ellen knew;
hss he .S. t e: last farewell of her who
"Tell her." he said, ainging ont his arms
with look Of passionate love upon his hand
some face. ten her that al the joy IN life is
The strong arms fell, the loving look was
turned away, and the true heart went forth to
meet the sdark and shadowy future"
Whom they next met, Ellen remembered this
~, those arms had been raised in loves ap-
peal; and how, for the sake of one, fair sleep
or, they had molly striven to shield all South
regret!
A. be turned away, the rosebud fell to the
ground but he stopped and secured it, Ellen
wondering II he had intended to leave it
for Leonora and forgotten it in the pain of
separation.
As the gate swung to behind him, Clarence
stanton came hurrying round the house, to-
He had taken leave of his mother and sister
the night previous. The relaxation from
study, the absence from care, the relief
from !da's haunting presence, seemed as OK
to his active limbs. -
The knapsaok, with its accompanying tin
plate, brown blanket, eto., was strapped across
pursuit, he Held in his hand half dozen pages
torn from hi. ohess-book, with whose problems
he hoped to beguile many tedious hour of
He was inst hiding them in bis jacket pocket
as he came round to the terrace.
He had seen the parting between Ellen and
Dudley, and, for once in his life, clearly under
any of his chess books.
GOOD bye, Miss Ellenp he exclaimed,
cheerfully, I'm look after Dudley and bring
him back to his square in safety"
Thinking OnlV of LAQnOrA- ShA raniod
gratefully and eagerly:
'Do watch over him most carefully for the
sake Of those who love him; but do not neglect,
at the same time, to take equal care of yourself"
"Oh thank you I do not think of charg-
ing . battery alone, nor of throwing up unex-
ploded bomb-shells, but ~ to any further pre-
cautions Of safety, do not intend to be over
particular"
She was glad to see him 30 merry-then, re-
menbering his passion for chess, she said
archly as she took his outstretohed hand:
This war is o more serious problem than
any you have been studying. May not wish
for you the same success upon its battlefelds,
as you have had in miniature warfare"
fearfully against us but with truth and JUS
tice on our side, we never shall resign the
game~
Southern Knights! May honor guard each
move they make and glory crown their loss or
Nay, none Of that, Miss Ellen! Our line
defence to glorious endingsw
He raised his cap saluted her with beam :
ing smile, and passed on, down the dewy, wind
ing walk.
after he had left her, thinking of the past and
looking forward to the future.
Several months had elapsed since she had
received letters from Mr.. Davis /; but she knew
that the blockade was the only cause Of the
non-arrival of newsstand her heart told her
| that she was not the only sufferer by thi. I'M
avoidable delay.
She feared, However, that he might attempt
to return to the South, and that his sense of
duty to his own section, and his acknowledged
love for her, would prove a surer and q harder
trial than even this suspense and separation.
She had not once heard from her aunt, and
she knew, through ONeil, that her uncle's
property had all been sold, and the proceeds
invested in Northern securities.
cit is useless to regret the past ~ she said at
last, as sigh escaped her patient lips, belieing
her true, brave words. "And it is worse than
folly to dream of the future"
The fatureL ALL It was merciful that none
could read its folded pages for who could bear
with hope and courage the trials of the present.
! if its fearful record were disclosed to view.
When Ellen entered the invalid's room, she
saw that Leonora had arisen and was sitting
between the open window and her mothers
bed.
"She must have heard his voice. she
thought. "strange that she did not come to
say farewell"
As she approached the bed, she noticed that
hdrS. LaGr0Do naO turned towards the WINDOW,
and that one poor, bandaged hand was lightly
clasping Leonora's.
She ceased to wonder now. This was the
simple explanation. That gentle, yet unoon-
scious pressure had alone kept the faithful
daughter from her lovers side.
As she stood beside her, Leonora raised her
face, pale from the night's watching, and said !:
II heard his voice while still asleep. Ellen.
and it wove itself into my dream. 1t seemed
to me he came to say good bye"
Eyes; it was even SO. Your dream was
true. The Guards received their orders last
night and they left on the earliest train this
morning. He sent you, through me, many n
message of love and remembrance.m
If the mothers heart had been strong and
| noble in its great love and pain, Leonora's was
now its peer. A look of tender triumph
beamed from her eyes, a glow of pride lit mp
| her checks, rs Ellen told over all his words
repeating his generous refusal to have her
| called from her needed rest, and depicting
even the radiant look with which he had gazed
upon the walls that hid her from his sight.
"I saw him, Ellenl The morning light
shone round him and he held a white rosebud
in his hand. Perhaps he would have given
that to me ; but could not go to him and leave
my suffering mother here"
The picture and the thought, however, were
both so sweet, that Ellen felt no other words
dodf Tn