The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-03-31
ELLEN FITZGERALD (;
"a NovEL.)
1svsrently Dedicated to the Memory Of RICHARD
DALTON WILLIAMS the Irish Exile and Poet,
g. p. ELDER.

g. b. ELDER.
tConoludsd.J
CHAPTER xxxvIII.
And Kate too seemed to be slowly awakening
from the stupor and bewilderment which that
fatal night had brought upon her, and Mrs.
homo, her brothers devotion and her own ton
der care would gradually restore her childs
Mr. Dudley's remains and those of Col. Owen
were the precious burdens they were bringing
back from exile SO that the reunited friends
seemed to have met only to exchange COM
mon record of grief and trial-of sacrifice and
death! -
And in the meantime what were all the de-,
ones doing. from whom they had been so long
parted
Amt Polly, sympathizing with the afaiotion
done all she could to brighten up their home,
and make it wear q look of welcome.
The tack was not an easy one, for the soldiers
it of many of it's most valued treasures.
The furniture hacked to pieces, the walls de-
faced and stained, the paintings shamefully
abused-how could Aunt Polly restore the
brightness of the past, renew the beauty of
that once happy homef
But Mrs. Dudley's rooms she did restore;
and there was one treasure left that shed light
over all the ruins of the house.
The Virgins statue still stood unharmed-
the white brow serene and calm, typical of
purity and peace-the tender hands out
stretched as though greeting, with mother
love and mother-pity, the poor wanderers; and
III though welcoming back the broken-hearted
exiles.
house from which Emma, radiant in beau ty
and proud of her Northern husband bad passed
away, leaving her helpless grandfather to the
care or servants Selfish to the last, she con-
graduated herself upon having won hand
eomo husband, and of having missed her design
upon Willie Dudley, who was now only one
armed broken-dow poor rebel!
No fear of her being an old maid now-and
since the North had conquered, she might as
we'll be q belle in Washington, spend her
time in q miserable, dull, unhappy, conquered
Mr., Latrobe was helpless now I; but his eyes,
like her poor fathers, followed Leonora loving
w. only there was q monrnful, self-reproachtul
look that made her heart draw nearer to him
every day.
ted return home, of oil that had befallen the
family-aud he had looked the sympathy he
could not speak, the pity he could only feel.
Hshands alone were capable of motion and
as he lay still and helpless on his bed. these
wandered ever to and fro, following every stray
mosquito and squeezing it in his grasp; but
many time, just when the poor insect had
ceased to struggle, his hand would relax its
hold, n plying look would steal into his face,
the poor bruised thing would fly off to buzz
and bite again.
Mrs. Brown, with a tender light in. her
dear eyes, talked over to Aunt Polly, all her
their dear ONeil; and one day, while arrang-
ing wardrobe for Ellen's use, finding
some of her dead boys clothes, and layingt
them carefully aside, she said:
81 see Gods mercy now. Had my poor
George lived, who Knows how he might BIO
coming homo to-dayT
Aunt Polly, bursting into tears at the thought
of her dear favorite-"LiLe poor, good Mas
Neil, cold and cotned "
And thus with saddest memories OF the past,
t,nnl hair
ones home; while those whom they had left,
waited for them with hope and love aud chas-
CHATTER xNxIN.
In Mcmoridm.
1T was even rs Mrs. Dudley had hoped.
Kate slowly recovered her strength aud reason
and once more spoke inteligently of the
Past, True, it was fearful one, BIT Mrs,
nn,IIay drew all tue links together and
went with Kate over the chain OF touching
There was one thing, however, Mrs Dudley
never knew; the exact manner dt ol ner 81 mus us,
henrthst one in defiance of o fawfess crew; but
she was never told the sickening truth, nor d'd
she seek to fathom all its 6lsckness' EhonSe
for her to know that her beloved aud indulSen'
husband had gone before her to another
world, and that never more could her heart
however willing, cling to earth or TO It's Joys
She laid him by the side of Blanche, and stand.
ING Inv their graves she humbly acknowledged
that God had been mercIful even in her atc'
1ious There were two left for her to love, foI
- her to lean upon. while two had gone to pre-
pare the way for her tired feet ana weary
heart.
Col. Owen rested near his early friend and
benefactor, and ut his tomb, Kate remembered
all the past without one Intervening cloud,
aud turned from gazing on the spot with
brighter, happier smile than she had worn for
many years before.
To- Jim she especially kind, as it to
show the faithful boy, that while she reineu-
bered everything, there was nothing 10 for
give.
TO her mother she devoted all her caro-, as
though trying to compensate for tho loss OF
him Who had watched over her 30 long and