The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-05-05

ionsly.
81 was thinking" said I, "of far more pre-
cious thing that is drifting from you-steadily
drifting. and getting moro distant every day,
and yet yon heed it not.
81 don't understand you" He looked be-
wildered.
"Bertha" 1 merely uttered the name.
lie grew pale instantly.
Bertha is drifting from you" said 1; "and
unless you stretch forth hand to save her
right speedily, she will pass out of your
reach"
He let the rudder, which he had been hold.
ing slip from his grasp, and leaned forward
with q frightened look, toward me.
"Why do you say this'" he asked in n
breathless manner.
I" Because it so appears to my eyes. Bertha
has failed sadly since | saw her last. All her
| of face and limb has wasted away. She eats
nothing comparatively, yet is taxed with duties
| that would wear out strong man. You, with
your vigorous health, could not endure them. !"
"But what can do 2" asked my friend, with
pale alarm in his face. My few sentences had
startled him from pleasant life.dream. she
will bury herself, you see. What can do T.
| he repeated.
lyon can stretch out your hand and save
her, before the current, that is now floating
her away, bears her beyond .your REACH said
I, confidently land take the privilege OF n
friend to warn you in time. Not once since
have been here has she shared our recreating
drives refreshing hours on the river. She
does not sit with us in the library, joining our
pleasant conversation, and making thought
more beautiful, in other days and when
we meet her mt meal-times, looking 80 pale and
spirituelle, it is plainly to be seen that mind
and body are feeble from excessive WEAKNESS.
Can this go on long, and her delicate organism
not give way' Be assured not, for the strain is
too great"
"But what can I do ?" asked my friend
again, looking still more alarmed. " She is
welded to these household cares, and enslaved
to her children"
have not seem" said 1, "any attempt on
Your part to win her aw ay from them. There
has been no remonstrance against her self
| sacrificing conrse; no manifested concern; no
urgent invitations to join us in rides and
rambles-I speak plainly, for there is n life at
stake-but n dull kind of acquiescence. Now,
if you wish to keep her long, all this must be
changed. Ioa must, at any cost of effort, see
that she no longer violates the plainest laws of
health"
"You have awakened me from Dream"
said my friend. as he grasped the rudder again
and headed the boat homeward. Drifting
away Drifting away" he added a few mo-
ments afterwards. Eyes, it is even 80. But
will catch at her recedlng garments and hold
her back"
At dinner-time we met Bertha, looking worse
than had seen her since my arrival. noticed
that my friends eyes wandered every little
while to her face, and that he did not eat with
his usual appetite After the dessert, and be-
fore we left the table, he leaned toward her
and said, with u tenderness in his voice THAT
no wife's heart could resist
81 am sorry to see you looking so worn out
Have yop been lying down this morning Z"
81 Part of the time," she answered, looking
at her husband gratefully. 1t was plainly to
be seen that she was not used to such tender
inquiries.
This way of life won't do, Bertha he
went on. ut is destroying you. see you
little)-" and must put forth q hand to draw
you back. Nature will not bear the burdens
you are laying upon her"
Isaw light coming into her pale face, and
love beaming out from her eyes upon her hus-
band. His interest aud concern were genuine,
and she felt it.
1--WE are going to take an easy ride this af-
ternoon," he added, ''and want you to go with
US. Now don't say nor
1 saw objection in her face and her lips
moved as if she was about putting her obiec-
ton in words. But her husbands "Now don't
say mol" coming as it did on bis warmly-ex-
pressed interest and concern, changed her pur-
pose, aud she said-
"If it will give you pleasure"
Nothing in the world would give me more