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

tor MS love. Nay, the contrast between him
question rose In her mind, "Ought she to re-
ject him Twas not this plain manifestation
OF the Divine willw She would, ct least, BIO
When she had sufficiently composed herself to
speak, che said
Your proposal, Count Raymond, is an
honor which had no reason to expect, and
could show myself grateful for your selection"
j., And why can you not. dear Miss Hanbury"
the count said, smilingly, You are yo9r own
will be the best tribute Of gratitude you could
give me-"
but you would hardly care for it without
Miss Hanbury," De la Tore said, gravely,
You and are not so young that we should
wreck onr happiness for chimera Ask your
sell, is this mourning for one who will! never
affections; il it using them as God Wills that
they should be used Had you told me that
you had plighted your troth at q higher and
submissive to the Ordering Of Providence tut
if you tell me that my rival is the memory of
your first love, then / am content to take you
even with that memory still enshrined in your
heart. will trust to time for the rest. Suffer
me at present to replace your mother; will
wait to fill that of your first fancee."
How could she listen to such language from
of the congregation were signing, and not feel
touched by his devotionf 1t was not in hui
man nature to resist this eloquence, the clio.
quence of disnterested affection. Bertha was
understands the term, and hence, after much
more had been said by the Count, she agreed
to receive his addresses during the three fol-
lowing months, after which she would give
him her final answer.
Count Raymond was enchanted that he had
succeeded thus far. He trusted to time, as he
had said, and his own assiduous attentions
to complete his hopes. Time rolled on, and,
though he did not find in Miss Hanbury the
encouragement he wished, he nevertheless per-
severed so we'll that, at the close of the period
wife, yet still asserting that the commentaries
of Hugh Chambers was enshrined in her
heart.
your noble love and devotion all the deep at
lection l once might. 1t is Il bruised and al.
most broken heart that you would have Count
Raymond"
"Well, will accept it, whatever it's con-
dition," De la Tore replied playfully; two will
see if there be no cure for disease of the heart.
Remember" he continued, more gravely, that
respect your sorrow: nay, esteem you more
on account of your consistency. We, however,
who are children of the Faith, will love each
other as such, always keeping in view the one
great work for which we were created. Doing
this, God " HI certainly bless us, and trust me,
dearest Bertha, we shall one day be all in all
to each other, subject always to His love-"
/ Bertha knew that, in her Utmost heart, II
she still loved the memory of Hugh Chambers,
she, nevertheless, esteemed Count Raymond
much more than she had ever done her former
lover. How his virtues paled before those of
the Catholic Spaniard! Hugh had abandoned
her at once, it may have been from conscien-
tious motives; but from the hour of their
separation on that lovely autumnal evening,
she had received news of him only three times
and this at long intervals. During the last
ten years no intelligence of him had reached
her. His house had long been inhabited by
gentleman who rented it from agent and
the estates were also let.
None of the tenantry appeared to know the
whereabout of their landlord. Miss Hanbury
believed that this knowledge was designedly
kept from her, but instead of weakening her
attachment, it induced her to believe that he
could not trust his own resolution. Now that
she had met with Count Raymond, the sudden
manner in which Mr.. Chambe had left her
contrasted strongly with the silent, patient de-
votion of the Spanish nobleman. Will our
readers wonder that she consented to unite
herself to him?
do you know the news about Count de la
Torref" inquired Maria Styles of Miss Hard
ing, a few weeks subsequent to the engage
ment between the Spaniard and Bertha.
No, what news Is he leaving usW
ooh dear, no! But he is about to bid alden
to single blessedness so ut least, Father Acton
says"
And who is the lady, of his choice''
No other than Miss Hanbury."
"Well, 1 never! I always thought he was
smitten, but for her to accept him after all her
professions of fidelity to the memory of Hugh
Chambers, is something beyond my compre-
nenSlon. w no Will DoaSC OF q wOmanS con-
stancy now y
"Well, for my part" replied Miss Styles, who
never having entertained any hopes relative to
the Count herself, was not much troubled by
the ugly green-eyed monster, &" think she did
quite right. What was the use of fretting her
life away about O man who may be in Botany
Bay for aught she knows to the contrary; and
who, If he continued to care for her, would ut
least have communicated with her directly or
indirectly"
"All can say is, that 1 think her very
fckle"
"Fickle! After ten years The only pity is
that she did not know De Ia Tore years ago"
Miss Harding did not quite agree with her.
Some of our readers will doubtless sympathze
with the latter lady. 1t was certainly annoy
ing that she, in her twentieth year, should be
cnt out by Bertha Hamburg in her thirteth.
There was comfort, however, in the axiom that
Glove is blind"
few weeks more and Bertha Hanbury and
Count de la Tore stood together at the altar
to plight their troth. The lady was scarcely
pale she had been some months previous
A wave of peace appeared to have swept over
the desert of her life, fertilizlng the barren
soil and giving promise of a brighter future.
The heart was not wholly at rest, but, its
achings were abatiny. She knew that she
would now have ever at her side one whose
counsel and support would never be denied
har 70 uhnt O. a ,;,rI,k