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

In timer Great Heavens! what DID tna J
meant In time to receive his aying wn vas
bear his dying word to Eiien' 70 ner "n0 80
to have been his wife. I'll
Among the fated ten was one, the father o.1
large family, the sole , snppoldS OF yet he Fad
bowed almost passively to his awful doom, |
and had no hopes for time. Eternity was 1o5
near for that The people OF tne yo~n h~"
appealed, en- niasse, to the tyrant ZOE d P"AN'
or at least u respite but in vain. -. .a
The wife of the missing man, Asrsen, .a ma.
implored him with tears and single, easnes'
words to be merciful to the innocent Men'
whose death could not give her back her hus-
band, while it would leave so many osuo
hearts widowed like her own. But even ner
entreaties failed to arouse nu .an .ha Dmm.
Der of it's victims, and, Caligula-ilke ouiy
| wished the Confederacy had but one tnSoa.S,
| that he could clutch it in his ploou-s''1ihe"
| hand and rob its life away.
The night before the execution was Ser.l ..aS
| one. Wives mothers, sisters ana other ioNeu
ones came to look their last upon inc v,c'iI Ts
ONLY Davis sat uunoticed and unknown. he
| had placed himself near the door OF the cell, 10
| listen, as it were, to the footsteps passing NY
His sense of hearing was sfTalnea 20 ars ~
all thoughts of death, were lost in the one
wild hope that O'Nel might yet come.
How could he die SO ill prepared, so unae.
| signed SO rebeIlious to his doom! The words
| of prayer he heard around him, came TO MS gu.
in nnnieaning phrases, and he sat and hope s.
= fhs sS hbs rass
fioated through his mind the uadHecte9
thought that, when midnight came he woula
cease to hope-would cease to watch ana
listen. :, ",
words repeated at intervals almost mechanl-
caliy. showed how his heart was dwelling on
that terrible moment, when indeed ne shouio
'' How " he els listened! Not even STOPPING over
in his WEAKNESS, but sitting upright, motion
| Nhf
Vanly. All, no. The door opened at last,
and the guard called out "James Davis"
At last! at last At last! =,
He spranG towards the open doorway, his
parched lips parted to address ONeil, when n
low sad cry fell on his ear,-and he saw,
heard, and casped to his poor, overbnrdened
heart the unexpected joy o'Neil had brought
No need of that bewildering cry..-fraught
equally with joy and sorrow, With august, si
him that on the morrow Ellen's heart "oulo
measure out its full extent OF earthly woe; =,
For a long time he stood and gazed alb
stractedly at the closed prison door, n,urmur-
ing to himself strange, incoherent words. II
was thus the guard found him, when he came
to conduct the lady back to his care. But a
5 few words from O'Neil and the CLEAN of a
b twenty dollar gold piece-more eloquent than
words-changed his purpose. and the unhappy
a pair were permitted to remain together.
S mission to accomplish, and he hurried to the
headquarters of the Commanding General.
}, "Can see General McNeil' ~ he asked OF
d the orderly at the door.
# "oh, yes, he sees every one who comes
0 to-day and tonight. for that Inatter-so &C
d along" o,., .,
+ " TO nut an end now to that tyrant's life. AnC
e yet-would it benefit those wretched men"
i This reflection had scarcely crossed his mind
e when, at the head of the stairway, he wa
, halted Ivy another sentinel
" Have you any arms I"
i O'Neil threw Snek his coat and showed hi
lefencelsss breast.
i the young mans legs, and pressed his hand
: around his boots, then ordered him to pass on
y just then a little boy, about twelve years g
age, rushed out of the Generals rooms, hi
|. face pale and anguish-stricken, while tear
j, streaIned down his cheeks, and his pool
9 childish bosom was heaving violently with til
' esWhat is this:" asked O'Neil, laying hi
l. hand on the lads head, and checking his OF
:, ward progress.
the childs lips. Il have been kneeling, begin
o linn to spare him for the sake of grandma, fl
l., moor mammals sake, who is almost dead wit
t; sorrow, and for our own sake-for there Al
d six of u.s."
sr And he would not grant it, o. HEAVIER
J. /" He laughed ut me, sir, called me q rebt
ly and said he would grant me one favor, only
Id The child threw up his arms wildly as tt
It. bitter recollection surged across his soul, an
er as ONeil waited, horror-struck ana passlo
III dumb the boy walled out the last of the awf
vs., SENTENCE" He said might ride on one of t
- caissons to.morrow-and see him shot"
40 my God! Can this he true :"
he The child fled down the steps and rush
on away in the darkness, his sobs and screar
er startling the stiffness and reaching the ears
D." many mourning watchers.
Ter Wild thoughts of vengeance crossed O'Nei
ad mind as he stood on the threshold of t
We apartment within which the tyrant butch
ed sat: but such thoughts were at variance wi
oy. the purpose in his heart, and he drove the
ess away.
ms ITO be Continued
1t: