The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-14

avowed herself Catholic. Alone and unsup- !
ported she has made the great stePIalone sue
goes to Mass and Vespers-and wlthonS sym
her family sae In
she has shown her aunt Lenno1 wise
prophet, but that lady is no less indignant on
that account She enlarges upon het ia S hss
taken no such risk for her own daughters
falling into Popish pitfalls, and traps set for
s6o and ne
intimacy and nearly all intercourse With her
cousin. In this she il secretly governed by
countenancing of her clandestine correspond.
ence, but she makes a show of setting herself
against Popish influences"
The parents of Elinor have taken the matter
with seeming Indifference. She loses none OF
their love in consequence Of the change in her
faith; and they are sure she is qnite as good
daughter as ever. But greater trouble, II
this is trouble, now absorbs their minds.
John Lloyd has failed in business and failed
in health. He Is q broken-down man. In this
emergency, Eiinor has determined to accept
situation as musical governess in wealthy
family. She has felt the tug at her heart
strings, no less from her wounded pride in the
matter Of her changed social position, than in
rents. She is no saint, only good, pure
minded girl, who is scrupulously conscientious
in al things: She battles sgainst q bitter
and easier life of her cousin. She does not
really wish Lizzie to be as poor as herself, and
she is sure she would rather be herself than
Lizzie. but she does wish her father and
mother were in the same comfortable ease that
her uncle and aunt enjoy. Her uncle is dis
posed to be very kind to her, but he:is ham
opposition to her. He has sent her check to
defray all necessary expenses in her wardrobe.
So she goes TO her new homo so nicely clad
that at least no air of sbabbiness clings to her.
Brave as abe may be, this feminine sensitive
ness to her appearance is very acute in her.
Foolish vanity concerning dress she may not
have, but, being young, she is only natural In
she cannot ignore at least creditably. If o
young woman has not this much of feeling
concerning her toilet, she lie probably slovenly,
or else she affects eccentricity which ia more
disagreeable than a love for fnery.
Elinor soon settles into the new and changed
relations of her life, the more easily because
her employer proves exceedingly kind. AS her
of that accomplishment, brought into more
constant contact and intercourse with the
guests at the house than the mere instruction
Her scat ct the piano calls to her the attention
and brings upon her the criticism of many who
| otherwise might never netce her. And SO it
happened that young Mr.. Schuyler, the brother
| other turned the leaves of her music. sang to
her accompaniment, and gazed admiringly
upon the pretty hands moving over the keys
pages before it. Mr.. Schuyler is an agreeable
young gentleman, good-looking enough, grace
full enough, and fattering enough in his address
his attentions. But buzzing in his admiration
around each sweet flower like the veriest male
coquette Of 3 bee, he to just unstable enough
tions. Elinor likes him. but with little re-
serve. She is not of q distrustfnl nature, but
she does not quite like Mr.. sohny ier's manner
admiration. He has attempted some senti-
mental love-making, but there has always
been sort of holding back-a non-committal
forward and manly. 1t has appeared to her
that he has been attempting to gain her regard
without making any actual ayowal himself.
his own vanity at her expense. Yet she is 80
afraid of being unjust to him, knowing that
her position in the family may make her I'M
feeling: He really is very kind in great
, many little ways which she would be ashamed
, not to acknowledge. and she thinks, if she
were not governess for his sister, she might
receive his attentions in less cavilling spirit
, In the meantime, Mr.. Schuyler studies
, Elinor from quite. a different point of view
peated experiments that he cannot make her
understand or respond to various little devices
, which he has been in the habit of using to flrt
with certain schoolgirls whom he has met
often in his daily walks and rides. All these
. signals pass unnoticed upon the convent girl.
But in futtering around this innocent, cold
He does really love Elinor as much as such n
nature is capable of loving. just because she
has not responded to any of his advances, lie
has become most seriously interested in her.
But just when an honorable feeling of cheos-
bility on his mind, a wonderful discovery
bursts upon him.
He has been amusing himself by conducting
n correspondence with some unknown lady
who has signed herself e. L." This inoognita
has at last yielded to an oft-urged request to
send her picture, and fine photograph of a
beautiful girl has come to him. Whose face
does he seef By all that is astounding" he
says, Z" Miss Lloyd" He cannot be mistaken.
The very same. 1t is Rembrandt shadow
picture, by which he studies every line of the
profile, while it shows also the contour of the
full face. There is the dark hair waving from
the same fair forehead The eyes are the same
dark orbs with the long lashes, only he has
never seen just this bright, coquettish, laugh
: ing look in them before. It is onderfnlly
charming in the picture, but he really does not
like it as well as the other thoughtful, intent
gaze he has lntely como to love so well.
The demure little cheat !" he says. "Well,
she is versatile, it mnst be confessed. Who
would have thought iti But stop. This may
be cheat The whole thing is so unlike her.
I do believe the writer has sent Miss Lloyd's
Lloyd certainly, and saw Elinor Lloyd writ