The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
MESSENGER suspAY FEBRUARY


care they Germsnsf" said Ellice, really
interested.
"Their name is, but 1 fancy they are for.
elgners. Maheleth speaks like a foreigner
Haheleth! A curious NAME"
Yes an unusual one; go is her sisters
Thamar"
They were at the street door now, and Ellics
oaae inc glrl good morning, saying they woulo
what a curious chancew he went on. at
is the same girl we saw coming out of the
synagogue last ght. Did you noticei"
YES" said Holconbe.
how"
my dear fellow, never could get up az
"still waters run deep, Holcombe. suspect
that is the case with you, you sly fellow"
Monday came, and the two friends were
again at No 25. Rachel admitted them as be
fore, and showed them into the old lace mer
chants den. He was alone, and looked very
eager; but his wasted, wrinkled hands an6
dried up face spoke his misery character, and
freze the sympathy he SO little cared to re
trembling fingers, and it was curious to soc
these cobweb treasures drawn from common
drawers and boxes, and beaped on riskety
because he was still so ill. Everything about
the room looked cold and hungry; the foo,
was bare; the paint on the walls dirty and
discolored, and an untidy assortment of tin
hood of the stove. The window looked into O
back yard, and what panes were not broken
were obscured by dirt. In strange contrast to
all this was bouquet of fresh flowers on q
chair.
While Ellice and the old man were bargain.
ing, Holcombe fastened his eye on the flowers
conjecturing we'll whose present they were.
The old jew asked enormous prices for his
laces, and gave marvellous accounts of the
difficulties he had sustained in procuring them
as an excuse for his exorbitant demands. Sc
the time seemed long TO Henry, who knew
little or nothing about such things, when sud.
denly Rachel appeared at the door with a basin
of soup. "Fraulein Low enberg sent you this
she SAID to the old man, and then to the stran.
gers: You must excuse us; he is too weak
to do without this at the accustomed time, and
the fraulein is gone out"
Gone OUT querulousy said the miser
Gone out without coming to see me"
She knew you were engaged" retorted
Sa You will see her again tonight
She spoke as to q spoiled child.
Well, well, business must be first, and she
has business we'll as have" And he went
on with his flourishing declarations over his
lovely laces
Holcombe understood why she had omitted
her mornings visit to her old protege and in
deed it would have been unlike his ideal Of
her had she acted otherwise.
Have you nearly done, Ellice ~ he said
coming up to the table.
Yes; all right. See, have chosen the
incest things could find, as far as know
but the fellow asks such COMPOUNDED prices"
well you had only that to expect" was the
smiling answer and then the young man turn
ed to the lace merchant.
Have you been i'll longH"
Only a month; and should be dead if il
were not for Maheleth. cannot do without
her"
"Bnt she is poor herself she cannot bring
you what you want, can she7"
mo, she cannot; she is poor, and her fathel
is poor, and 30 am l. 1 sell nothing now;
have no customers"
Holcombe smiled slightly, but he went on
Are you fond of flowers 7"
Yes, but I cannot afford them."
Then it would be cruel of me to aek viole
heart's-ease of you; bnt if you would give me-
that, will send you more flowers, and brine
you something you will like to- morrow"
flowers, Mabeleth can give You some; she ha
some growing in her roOm."
mo, this is enough. Good-by, and
will try and see you again."
As they left the house, Ellioe said to hi
friend:
We'll, Holcombe, you are green. You dom
mean to say You believe he is poors"
Ono, don't believe it but he will be non,
the worse OFT for q few flowers and some GOOD
food if he won't get them for himself"
suppose you remember that there 10 an
son nurses both 7"
~ know what you mean, Ellice, and wisl
yen wouldn't joke; it is not fair"
S very well, old fellow; but if you were
You always were the very steadiest old chaI
going"
A day or two afterwards, Holcombe was lief,
alone again; he had sent things to thinner
mann as he had promised; but as yet he bad
not not revisited the Juden strasse. On Friday
there was special service at the Catholic
Cathedral at eight O'clock and the young man
hardly knowing why, determined to go.
The church was only partially lighted, ex.
cept the chancel, which was dazzling. The
music was good, the congregation devout, and
the German sermon as interesting as could be
expected. Tho whole effect was very beauti
ful, and seemed to Henry peace-siviug and
heart-soothiDg one. A rush of voices came
breaking in upon his reverie at tho 1antWm
Ergo, and the surging sound was like mighty
uttersnce OF his own feelings. As the priest
raised the Host, he bowed his head low, and
prayed for peace and guidance, and when he
lifted it again the first object his eye fixed on
in the aisle, dropping Ter head against one Of
the columns. He knew the figure we'll but
with strange thrill be asked himself why
was she heref For the music For the beauty
OF the sightf For love of a creed she was
half ashamed to embraced Or from the curl
oslty Of chance passer-byf
He watched her as she moved behiud the
shadow of the pillar, and waited until she was
enticed from her hiding place by the quick
assertion of the once crowded church. Now
Tho light from a lamp streamed down on her