The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26

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not now either weary the reader or delay the
story by dwelling any more upon antiquarian
particulars. But in the present instance there
was something unusual, which shall not, how
ever lead us into description ; it must be left
to display itself as our tale runs on.
| Pauius noticed with surprise that the species
of hall in which they stood seemed to lead
nowhere. Eleazar, meantime, shut and bolted
the house-door, took up his lantern from the
ground, pushed back sliding panel in the
right-hand side wall, and then led his visitors
in direction parallel to the Suburb outside,
along an internal passage lighted by solitary
sconce. At the end of the passage was q stair
case, and at the top of this door, half open.
They passed through it and Eleazar bolted
and locked the door, Another but shorter
passage in the same direction was terminated
by similar staircase and similar door ; after
passing which they found themselves in the
real vestibule of the bouse-large, handsome,
well-lighted by a hanging lamp paved with
tessellated marble, and rising overhead into
concentric vault. Evidently, at some former
time, the entrance of the house had been
straight from the Suburb into this vestibule.
While indeed they waited here for the Jew,
who was fastening the last as he had fastened
Tue uTsU uOOT, lucy cOulu near distinctly Tue
roaring torrent of disorder and debauchery in
tho infamous street outside.
"a curiously constructed house, sir"
marked to Paulus the decuron Longinus, with
bewildered look in his handsome face. The
Jew, who had come back as this was said,
chuckled and observed, as he again led the
way:
"If you lived in the Suburra, you would like
/ to make your house difficult to enter"
Presently they arrived in fine spacious
apartment, and beheld in the middle of it
table, which were lights arranged so as to
| illumine long lambskin scroll in characters
new and strange to them, and a venerable
aged man seated at the table bending over the
SCROLL and standing at his side q young girl,
who held in her hands some kind of oriental
| embroidery, an end of which trailed along a
pile of cushions from which she had apparently
risen, leaving her work for a moment in order
to look at passage in the book at the call of
the aged reader. The latter was so absorbed
in his occupation that he was not at first
aware of the presence of strangers but the
child, who stood on the side of the table oppo
site the door, looked up and gazed with sur
prise at the four martial-looking figures who
strobe behind Eleazar into the room. What.
ever the amaZement, nevertheless, of the
young maiden might have been, Paulus was
more astounded still for, truth to say he
thought he could never have beheld anything
beautiful until that moment. The new. corners
having nearly reached the table, had halted,
Paulus and Eleazar in 'front.' and yet, even
now, the old man, reading the scroll with his
back to them, was unaware of their arrival,
for pointing with his finger to the page, he
exclaimed in tone eloquent with emotion:
"And this warrior, this patriot, this glorious
hero, this matchless servant of the Most High,
and champion of the people of God, this very
same Judas Maccabeus, my grandchild was
my ancestor and yours-he belongs to our own
linew
"Your line your own line," said Eleazar,
in harsh voice, and sneering, " is to mind
your business, or rather my business it is for
that give you your bread, and not for dream
ing over the Scriptures. Who, think you, is
going to pay the smallest consideration to you
or your grandchild because you are descended
: collaterally from the Macabeesi"
AT this bitter Speech bitterly spoken, the
old man, who, the first sound of the voice
had turned round and risen, bent his head
meekly, but yet with certain dignity, and
) replied:
:" had finished the accounts you gave ME
My grandchld and 1 are not asking for any
consideration from you beyond what 1 earn
You need not remind us that a noble old race
has fallen into poverty. Come Esther"
With this he was retiring, but the young
, girl burst into tears, and running to he1
, grandfather, taking his hand with one of hers
and brushing her tears away with the other
she looked at Eleazar, and made the following
l speech:
" Ioa rude, cruel man you are always say
ing shameful cruel words to my grandfather
because he bears everything. But will no
allow you to speak to my grandfather
will not bear it any more"
Here she heaved q little sob, and added
rather illogically:
" You ask who will pay grandfather any
consideration because he is descended from G
: Isy1N L