The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-02-16

Ing STAR AND CATHOLIC ME
bars 30 o You sS not Si.ssEs 1 NET Should POI
be always free to accomplish my duty, the last
Wishes Of my mother ~
peassd the future ' faihsr-,a.ls~. Alarmed but
yet not discouraged. "There IL an tmprudens
and rash liberty, my dear you1g lady. sDd one
ders nothing, and asks nothing Of ycn. She
Of those who are Interested In your hsppiness,
az. osis Ana You nao~ d:
posed to act toward You ~ an old friend as
your father. I have great inauance in ben
nothing sssisr for me to trapquiiizs you on the
subject OF your old women than TO mako ont o
little account Of tho actual state of things,
With = few words Of my own obseryation, and
BILE into the hospital for incurables in this de-
partment.. In this way, my dear Valentino,
yen SEQ all can be arranged for the best. You
fatA Of the Protesess Of the excellent Madame do
Gueye ysur little fortunesMili not bs COM
promised; exempted from every cara, free
s e 8
Await you IN your new family"
Valentine listened to every werd, her eyes
axed, her lips immoyahle. Bat from time TO
over her eyes, an expression more desolats
fixed itself on her lips. When the caressing
and persuasivs voice Of her future fether-in-
ssx esssed 70 be beard, sho sadly bent her head
's4lss Monsieur Maubars, 1 sac we can never
egain undsrstand each other am not free, ns
ySa eppear to think: What my dear and wor-
shy yfoteosress would have done, must do for
"B1t. my child, reflect; you cannot sacrifice
II. . poor, abandoned orphan, who, without
the generous protection OF this incstimab1e
friend, would have been sent in years gone by
Thers you would place these Poor inarm Pee.
&aubars, if my henefactross had in dying loft
some debt of honor that should pay, would
you advise me to cancel the obligation-.you
who are 30 just and honorable ~
"But, my dear young lady, the case is differ
! enti your excessive delicacy leads you astray."
ut Is only different in one respect: it is
more grave and solemn: This 10 sacred debt
God and towards the posr, to satisfy the yearn-
ing Of her soul. To-day this debt Is transmit
ted to mo-. irecognzs it; receive it with
the rest OF her heritage; promise TO use, if
necessary, all my resources. all my time, all
my strength to pay it as I should"
The young girl, pale though resolute, rose in
pronouncing these words, and extended her
she called upon all the strangers assembled to
witness her irrevocabIe decision, her generous
determination. The old frequenters of the
mansion could scarcely recognizes her; she
ment. and was TRANSPORTED. Her former
| sweetness, so timid and charming, did not
abandon her, but there mingled in it an ex-
preston of invincible courage and infexible
integrity; the weak and feeble child had dis
appeared, and in her place appeared woman
loyal, intrepid, resigned; ready for every de-
and most cherished affections of her heart.
NJ. Maubars wac undeceived; it was with an
expression evidently of extreme surprise and
marked discomfort that he fell back few steps
and bent his whitened head: "I persist in
hoping, mademoiselle, that you will still re-
fleet" said he, in tone impressed with re-
markabie GOODNESS. "otherwise, you under
60 some modification. Consider that such OBJ
stinacy on your part 10 o most unhappy prece.
dent for the we'll being and peace of yenr fu-
ture household"
At this brutal menace, at this the saddest
moment, perhaps, of her life, Valentine became
still paler and her look more sombre, bat ahe
neither trembied NOR hinched, accepting with
Of the duty she had embraced. Only, by an old
and tender habit of childhood, with the re.
| mains Of q hope perhaps, her gaze, more elo-
Alfred-ths friend, the betrothed, whom, for
| so long time, che had been accustomed to
consult In any sadness or disquietude. Bat
AureO, oetoro the mute Anguish OF this regard
was not moved. He bore with his father an
| ale of gravity and dissatisfaction.
II am sure you will reflect upon this, Valen-
! tine,n he simply said. "Yon see my father
counsels you as q true friend, having only in
| view your happiness and the preservation Of
| your fortune"
Then Valentine turned slowly and sadly,
| without allowing o single tear to escape her,
! breast.
"My good Monsieur Norm, my resolution in
taken" said she, her voice at first trembling,
but becoming steadier as she spoke. "All the
reflections could mako would only serve to
show me my duty, more distinct. more exact
more sacred. In two months, if you wish, We
will hear what property had better DO sold,
and choose q suitable abode for our asylum.
Now, gentlemen, our council is ended
, believe. -. =. thank you one and all for
having accorded me your advise aud the sup
port of your presence.
All the assistants understood that the coura
geons young girl must be left alone to suffer.
alone to weep. They rose simultaneously
bowed to her.profoundly with admiration ana
respect. and went ont. Alfred wore already a
resigned look of sadness, and N. Maubars be-
trnyed his irritation in his brusq ne movements
aud unsteady walk. The echoes of their stens
died In the distance, and around the orphan
IN her mourning reigned only solitude and