The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-31

the result had been-but now, may DO proud
of him, fond Of him. true to him till DEATH" !,
Jim was standing behind his mistress
the faithful boy felt privileged to speak, as
| these consoling words reached his ear.
load off my heart. feared you never could
be happy-after what done"
pier now than I ever could have been if he had
Jim looked like his old self that night. or
rather, there was more of the "Dudley style"
about him than had been during four long
smiling face formed as pleasant sight as any
| in those handsome rooms, and made the little
party feel as if the "good old times" had re-
Dudley led his bride towards his mothers
chair, and bent his knee, as he was wont to do
in boyhood, to receive her fond embrace and
"God bless my darling boy and his sweet
past"
He knew she was thinking sadly of that other
blessing which could never now be spoken-of
| that other honored presence before which he
and Leonora would have knelt in filial rever-
| ence.
" Beloved trinity of peace and JOY and love /,
Ny sister, mother, wife! Surely few men are
| as blessed as l."
The beaming, loving look with which he
| showed that, while his heart had admitted q
| new and sacred feeling, none OF its olden
memories or tender duties had been excluded
| from theiS shrine.
Kate with her whilom, girlsh smile of mis-
| chief, replied to her brothers words:
And only one weak arm for all to lean
| uponp
=. But that shall do triple duty, sister
mine" And before they could guess at his de-
sign, he threw his arm about all three, and
held them laughing, to his throbbng heart
As Kate and Leonora struggled beyond the
| reach of that young powerful arm, scolding
him for his sauciness and threatening him
with summary revenge, Mrs. Dudley, drew
came Of age. whispering fondly as she kissed
| his smiling face:
"still = boy,-a naughty, mischiefloving
boy God give his one brave arm all tho help
+! on it."
az have two arms, dear mistress" interposed
those with whom he had already shared so
| many joys aud sorrows-
| 1.-Two stout arms, dear mistress and while
| live they are at your SERVICE" q
My good. true Jim!" replied Mrs. Dudley.
hardly able to restrain her tears at his humble,
TO your masters grateful family"
shoulder, and with the bright, hopeful look
Eyes, Jim. Ue will work together, and,
God willing. we'll give back to The Dudley
family its olden spiendor, peace and happi-
A low sigh from his mother checked the en-
| thusastic words upon his lips. and brought
him, saddened to her side; but Jim, fairly be-
side himself with all the new emotions of the
evening, slipped out into the hall, where he
indulsed in the hearty. honest, faithful cry:
Hurrah for the Dudley, family The dear
old Dudley family, forever"
Ellen learned from Mrs. Dalton, the poets
| widow, all the sad details concerning his I'M
timely death. sudden hemorrhage of the lungs
had carried him OFT in the prime of life, giving
| him no time to say farewell to those he loved,
or to breathe blessing OH his wife and child.
There on the banks of the Lafourche, in the
| village graveyard, he had been laid to rest,
only an humble mound of earth and sim pie
wooden cross marking the spot so dear to
every Irish heart
- You will know the place, Ellen" said the
weeping widow, "by the fragrant violets that
bloom above his dear remains. As though
kindred to the sweetness of his character and
! the modesty of his life, they sprang mp in luxu-
rant beauty over all the sacred spot: aud
faith full watch above his head"
There will be q more enduring testimonial
to his worth and genius raised some future
day." answered Ellen. 1reland's exiles will
him who lost 30 much in the cause of country
"Perhaps SO. Ellen; but neither glded
epitaph nor marble shaft can ever bring him
back to me!'
Saddest wall of broken heart! Ellen
knew too we'll the greatness of her loss, by the
sorrow that filed her own heart for him who
when you go to his grave, Ellen, bring me
back a violet. 1t is the only message he can
send me now. But, if the grass has ovcrgrown
the little flowers, clear it away, dear, for his
sake aud mine"
And thus, with reverent sympathy for the
widow of her friend, aud tender veneration for
his lowly grave, Ellen accompanied the body
of ONoil towards the spot he had designated
as-his own resting place.
How strange it was that both her country
men had left her. They have ceased to be
exes now,",she thought: and am the only
one"
Leaning on her husbands arm she led the
way toward the poets grave, following the
dire ctions given her by his widow. Mrs.
Brown and Aunt Polly had also come to pay,
their last respects to him who had been ,
friend to both All ONel's friends aud
quaintances, and many strangers who had
heard of his noble action, were present in the
monrnfnl procession, paying him the only
tribute in their power-smple reverence to his
cof1ined clay.
Ellen and Mr.. Davis were the chiefmourners.
and deep and sincere their grief AZ they
participated in the ceremonial. He had died
TO make them happy; yet they each felt that
through all their joys and future Happiness
would run one thread of chastcned sorrow,
one hue of darkest memory that must make