The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-10

You are mistaken. I have some Confeder-
ate money snd bonds but ~ to gold ce silver
have none. The jowelry you have robbed ne
Of va: to have been our last resource IN case
Mr.. Dudley spoke quietly and with dignity,
but the mans cupidity was not yet grained,
and many vile oath was tho answer No fs-
Mrs Dudley herself now spoke to the man,
or rather men; for all had gathered ro9nd
| their lesder, curious to know what farther
that they were e1iles, and, Of course, had a.
been permitted to bring with them very little
of their worldly wealth.
"Think," she continued, "of your own
| mothers and sisters fer away, and what would
be yonr feelings did you know shat to.day
| they were subjected to treatment like TINS:
Q. men! men! do the loved ones yo9 have i en-
behind ever think of you as acting thusi 10
| they picture their husbands, brothers, IN me
character Of thieves, disturbing the peace OF
| happy household and destroying the holiness
and rest of the Lords day I"
Several Of the men, conscience-stricken. or
In whom . feeling Of shame was aroused ny ner
words, hung their heads abashed: but the
'she wants her id trinkets back again, and
| is only trying to make us forget the money
Mrs. Dudley paid no heed to this brutal IN
"Be true men and brave soldiers" she con-
tinued Fight the battles of your country
manfnly, If yon believe you are doing right;
but do not mako war upon women and heip-
do ask Of you to let this be the last house
! into which you will enter, with such designs
! in your heart as you have to-day" :,
I" And want this to be the last of your ID
words - shouted the leader, Us two or three OF
the men, stealing to the door, made their way
| out and rode off. "You can't bluff me, ma'am.
came for the gold-dust, and mean to have
Saying this he turned again to his search,
ripped open one of the mattresses, dashed
open writing desk. and thrust his bayon,e et
other men, as wicked as himself, made sheer
ing remarks to each other regarding Mrs.
Dudley's words, and joined the corporal in his
| violent and destructive work.
| Mr.. Dudley could scarce restrain his anger,
and had already advanced upon them with
angry words, when Mrs. Dudley clasped his
hand in hers, and held him by her side.
The poor, weak Willie knew too we'll the
character of the men before him to expostulate
or threaten, bat his livid cheek and trembling
hands showed how mighty was the struggle
The ceiling of the little room was old and
dilapidated; many pieces having already
fallen of, either leaving bare the laths or dis
at there might
something hidden there beyond their reach,
and, instfgated by their leader, several OF
them made desperate lunges at the broken
One of the falling pieces struck Mrs. Dudley
on the head, drawing the blood and causing
her, for o moment, acute pain She knew,
the power of lawless men, and even this she
would have borne without q murmur.
But not SO ME-. Dudley. The sight of that
slowly trickling, the thought of all the insults
he had borne, the remembrance of all his wife,
his children, had already suffered the fact
n bad Sssn
tho uselessness, the folly of any other course
Except submission, and in his rage he hurled
pthe scoundrel nearest him full upon the floor,
a0izin0 he V he
| him to leave the house.
"Out of herew he cried, scout of here!
have borne yonr. insolent presence long
| enough. Begonep ~
The result was a natural one. Half dozen
of the wretches seized him, and, after q short
struggle, bound his hands together.
pora1. grizzly ri give you leave to 60 go with
all your family"
There was something very sinister in both
the mans look and tone; and Mrs. Dudley en-
treated her husband to como with them into
the woods. Willie rose. too. and, supporting
his mother on his arm, said:
eyes. let us all leave this house and take
shelter in one of the cabins. After searching
everywhere, these men will see that We have
spoken the truth when we said there was no
money hidden here"
"Never! never! will not leave this house
until those devils go before me! Go yourself,
William, with your mother and sister. Take
care of them. 1 will stay here until see the
my house, home and native State at their beck
and call, now I remain till the last vile wretch
HLet him stay !" said the corporal sullenly.
He will play the host while we remain in his
house."
"Charles," pleaded his wife, " come with me
and with your children; You can do no good
remaining here, while shall suffer fortunes
during our separation. Come, beseech you"
She laid her hand upon his arm to lead him
ont; but, bound as he was, insulted and de-
fed, his southern pride would not let him
cringe nor tremble before thieves and rufiians.
The search was meanwhile going on, and the
men were every moment becoming more vul-
gar and violent in their rage; until at last an
intimation that perhaps "that beauty" had
the gold about her, made Willie drag both
mother and sister out of the house for fear of
personal violence to them.
They left Mr. Dudley standing erect and de-.
faint in the middle of the room, his face pale
with emotion and his eyes beaming with in
dignatiou.
Little did Mrs. Dudley or Kate know of the
horrible suspense and fear in Wilie's soul as
he turned his back upon his father. and yet by
calm and tender reasoning endeavored to