The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-25
throbbipg Of your heart already tell you from

More he would have said but, even Ms he
spoke, Matilda sprang from her seat, and
snatched the letter from bis hand. Her bosom
heaviDg, her cheeks glowing with color that
had long been stranger to them, and tears OF
, joy streaming down her cheeks, she broke the
seal and tore off the silken cord and thrice
had her eyes wandered over the writing on the
parchment ere she seemed to catch it's purport.
Then, at last, she understood it too we'll un-
happy maiden !! her tears ceased not to flow
but the cause of them was changed they were
no longer tears of joy but of new and bitter
sorrow.
"Sir Adolf" at last she said, in a tone of
deepest suffering. "your joy adds torture to
| my grief. What was 1t you said 2 light read
read and weep with me for my unhappy IA
| ther"
| The knight took the letter from Mstilda.s
| hands. and, az he read it, his countenance fell
| For moment he feared that the priest b ad
| dealt treacherously by him, and had made him
| the bearer of evil tidings no sooner, however,
had he fully possessed himself of the contents
| of the letter than his suspicious vanished but
| recollecting his incautious exclamation he
was seized with selfreproach, and remained
silent and lost in thought. And now compass
sion filed Matilda's breast; seeing him musing
so sadly, with his eyes fixed mournfully upon
the letter, she repented of her hasty words,
and approaching him where he stood, while a
smile CLEANED through her tears
Forgive me, Sir Adolf" she said 4" be not
thus troubled. Think not that I am angry
with you for having raised my hopes too high
full we'll know the fervor of your zeal for all
that touches me and mine. Believe me- Adolf
L mi Far
devotion"
Princely lady," he exclaimed, at have not
raised your hopes too high. / repeat, there is
light for you, and my joy is not in vain. All
that the letter tells you was known to me al
ready; but it was not for that so rejoiccd.
Dry your tears, lady, again say, and cease
your mourning; for soon your father shall
press you to his heart"
"What I" Dried Matilda, "can it indeed be
truef shall !, then, see nay father, and sneak
to him But why torture me thus why talk
to me in riddlesf o Adolf! speak, pray YOU,
and free my heart from doubt"
slight shade of vexation passed across the
young knights countenance. Gladly would
he have given her the explanation that she
sought; but his generous spirit could not bear
to publish his own deserts. He answered.
" pray you, illustrious lady, take not nv
silence amiss. Be assured that you shall in
truth see my lord, your father that Won shall
hear his beloved voice, receive his warm en-
brace; and that, too, on the soil of our own
dear Flanders. More to tell you is not in my |
power"
But the young maiden was not to be thus put |
off. A double feeling,-her woman's curiosity |
n nd n Hnfy rtnn- 1~-kk
to rest till she had discovered the solution of
the enigm$. Evidently not we'll pleased, she
began again:
" But do, Sir Adolf,-do tell me what this ia |
which You would fain conceal from me. You
surely do not rate my discretion so low as to
suppose that shall betray your secret,-I that
have had 30 much at stake7"
pray you. spare me, lady," he replied cit |
is impossible. 1 must not, cannot tell Won |
more"
With each refusal or evasion of the knight,
matiidas curiosity grew more and more. Again
ana again she pressed him to disclose his Sc.
cret but all in vain To curiosity succeeded
lmpatience, to impatience irritation till a:
last she lost all self-command, and burst into q
Hood of tears, like child that cannot have it's
way.
<Auoii couio now resist no longer; he re-
solved to tell her all, however much it might
cost him to be the herald of his own self. sacri-
hoe. Matilda soon read her victory in his
and drawing more closely to him,
regarded him with a smile of pleasure, while
he thus addressed her:
Listen, then, lady, since it must be 30, and
hear in how wonderful manner this letter
and these tidings reached me. / had wandered
out towards sevecote, and was sitting Hpon
bank deep in thought, fervently beseeching
Heaven to have mercy upon my lawful but
unhappy lord. Suddenly, happening to raise
my head, to my surprise saw before me a
stranger priest. In the instant it seemed to
me- that my prayer had been heard, and that
ZONE consolation was at hand, of which this
stranger was to be the minister. Aud so it was
ady; for 1t was from his hand that received
'he letter, and from his mouth the happy news.
Tour noble father has obtained from a gener-