The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-07

NE M
ton.
S"Could anything come between us. Hugh r.
she asked, laying her hand caressingly on his
arm
has squeezed himself in, and insists ON being
noticedw
"Do not laugh. Hugh but at times feel
that am too happy; at others it seems to me re
it were trouble which might separate us, Hu h,
1 believe should die"
troub1e can sspssate ms nothing shall ha1
hands Mt the same time in his.
But If God were SO to will itf"
He cannot: he would not will! anything
ideas you have tonight, Bertha. Why should
others 2"
az know not: but of late have had sad
forebodings of coming evil"
"Pshaw! what child yor. are. I really
gave you credit, dearest, for being brave lit
tie girl. Let us 60 in to your mother and have
They found Mrs. Hamburg moro preoccupied
than usual She appeared anxious and uneasy.
rIna was sich had Cr oneicated M
self from Bertha to her lover. The evening
wore slowly away, and for the first time Mise
HanSury felt q certain degree Of relief when
Hugh left them. When she approached her
! mother to bid her goodnight, she perceived
| that she had been crying.
%ama she she. Exclaimed hat
news let me know at once. cannot bear
| suspense"
81 have heard something which may bring
plain myself tonight. Do, not press me now
my love. Tomorrow will be early enough for
yon to learn bad tidings"
with my curiosity thus excited. must know
the worst tonight" Bertha then seated her
self on Q low stool at her mothers feet, and
continued els it anything that will concern
Mrs. Hanbury bowed her head, and few
tears slowly trickled down her cheeks.
| Miss Hanbury became very pale. After
short pause she said quickly
"Tell me the worst"
The elderly lady slowly drew from an escri-
toire on the table q letter, which she handed
az have received this from Father Ark
wright. You will find, my dear, that there is
marry Mr.. Chambers. The mere permission to
| follow your own religion will not suffice that
is, if you be married in our Holy Church, and
one in bonds less holy. though perhaps equal.
ly binding, would that God might mercifully
take us both to himself"
Bertha had taken the letter, and was atten-
lively perusing it, Her face became gradual
ly paler and paler, till its ashy hue alarmed
her mother.
Bertha, darling" she exclaimed, "may God
and our dear Lady support you through this
bitter trial for such believe it will be-"
Bertha Hamburg looked up at her mother
with world of woe in her gaze then, with a
low moan, buried her face on her mothers
knees. Long she continued in that posture,
weeping at times violently, at Others grievng
silently Her mother did not seek to check
natures best gift to suffering man." and
hoped that when the reaction came Bertha
wonld manifest the strength of mind necessary
to the emergency. 1t was late in the night be-
fore the two separated. Very few words had
been uttered on either side since the reading
of that fatal letter, but each fully understood
the other. Mrs. Hamburg knew that, come
what s5.ighS. her daughter would not swerve
from the path of duty. and Bertha felt that
her mother understood her.
Our readers WILL no doubt, marvel that the
obstacle, whatever 1t was, to Miss Hanbury's
union with Mr.. Chambers should appear thus
insuperahle to both mother and daughter. in
asmuch as they have been. already assured
that Hugh was liberal-mnded, and absolutely
free from any of the preiudices of tn times !;
also that he was the very soul of honor. Dear
readers, it was just that code of honor to which
he chung SO faithfully which would prevent his
meeting the demands which as Catholic, Mrs
Hanbury had learned she would have still to
| enforce in the name of her, child. He might
| be quite willing that his wife should continue
| in the practice of her religion, but would he
consent that his children should be pointed at
by all the country as Roman Catholics, and as
| having been brought up in the creed of their
mother. Nay, more, being sincere in his own
religion, would he not deem himself bound to
Both Mrs. Haubury and her child knew that
he would thus reason, and hence from the mo-
ment when they learned that such compliance
would be absolutely necessary on his part they
also knew that everything between the two
i fanceS was virtually at an end.
Bertha, when in the solitude of her own
chamber, abandoned herself even more pas
sionateiy to her grief than she had done when
in the presence of her mother. After the lapse
of some time, however, che became calmer,
and at length knelt to recite her night prayers
At the close of her devotons she approached
the Cruciix in her oratory, and raising It from
the pedestal, reverently kissed the feet of the
image, her tears falling rapidly upon it. The
act was very simple, yet replete with meaning
Surely it told Of a heart which, whatsoever,
were its human affections, still yielded its first
allegiance to it's Creator. Happy they whose
hopes and desires are thus subservient to His
will.
The bright sunlight again cast its golden
sheen over the fair landscape which surround
ed the home of Bertha Hamburg. The tenn
pered rays told also of the approach of even
ing. Again, too, Hugh Chambers stood with
| the hand of his betrothed in his, but the faces
of both were changed. His was grave and
| sad, and Bertha's whittier than ala6aster. 1t
| seenled that his sorrow was too deem for ex-