The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-11

though both were in part right, the father il
when speaking of his almost miserly habits, T
the mother in believing that her son loved
Madeline. o
The youth possessed one of those thoughtful
natures which become old too soon and those {
who wonder at love in a boy of sixteen, must
remember that in southern France blood runs
bwarmer than in England. 1t was, indeed, won
derful how he always thought of Madeline in .
connection with that night Of feverish agony
how like a ministerng angel the child had
seemed in his eyes. when she tripped lightly
in with the cooling draught to satisfy his long
| ing The cup of cold water had worked with
O marvellous charm, and the youth regarded
| tho girl with feeling akin to worship. In the
eyes Of others she was just bright-eyed laugh.
| ing thing, somewhat wilful and capricious at
| times, as girls are apt to be ; but to poor JAG
ques she was being of heavenly beauty.
brought the old soene most wildly to his
mind, and you might have seen by the moon
light how pale and agitated was his face.
After long vigil, he rose, and taking from |
secret repository n sum of money-large for |
him to possess-he slowly counted it, and then
gazing earnestly on his treasure, said softly, |
Madeline, Madeline !" en-. with tears stream
ing down his checks, he flung himself on his
such earnest, simple faith, that he rose tsan-
quill, and seeking his couch, soon fell into d
| sound sleep.
| Three more years went by and still Jacques
continually added to his store So scrupulous
was he in denying himself every superiluity,
that the neighbors whispered how the young
GuyOt had become q mser. Some did more
| than whisper, they spoke openly to his mother
| respecting this peculiarly in her son. Madame
Guyot looked very sagacious, and gave mys-
FERROUS hints about the virtue of sparing on
ones self to spend on another CHANGING as she
spoke at Jacques and Madeline, who were just
visible to the group of gossips
actions. woman will hardly ever deem him in
the wrong, however extravagant they may be.
Even vice in her sight assumes the dignity of
virtue if she can ascribe its committa to the
power of love. So it was with the gossips at
/ whose self-constituted tribunal Jacques was
tried and fTSm that time ne, many sly joke WAS
head was almost turned with thinking of the
. of course, much magniied-riches which were
day. She fsit she was beloved for it is not
: | hard to divine when ono is the dearest of all
earthly objects to pure and honest heart
! the conduct of jacques was O sad puzzle to
D her. .
3 :" He is never SO happy when by my side."
q one may see but do not think he cares to
gain me for wife," The mother would bid
d her be patient. and all would in time turn out
q some limit to the expected patience, so she
2 would peut her cherry lips, and give Jacqaes
D. Succeeded in giving him pain, he seemed as
It far from declaring his sentiments as ever
d The crisis, however, came at lest. Madeline
had q cousin Marie, who was not only near
0, neighbour, but also sort of rival beauty.
,, There had been no slight jealousy between the
\. girls on the subjects of love and marriage
b but Marie had at last triumphed, and, the day
r for her own wedding being fixed, she openly
r twitted Madeline about her laggard lover.
?. This was q sad blow to the vanity of the
"a young girl. Maries fance came from W hat was
81 in those days thought great distance, and
ia neither grudged spending time nor money in
- visits to his betroth ed while Madeline, with
q her lover almost at the door, seemed likely
y enough to remain single. Oh, it was too much
Of for any maiden's patience.
The wedding day came, and she of course
IN was one of the guests, together with Jacques
Of and the girl, bent on Furnishing Der tardy ad
q, mirer, coquetted with others by his very side
ID But she did not stop at coquetry only. The
&, brother of the bridegroom, gay and hand
ut some follow, at Marseiles for the tirs
,g time, was smitten with her charms, and aftel
6. the wedding, found, or made, many many excuses Nse
he line. jacques, it seemed, would not be piqued
into Submission, and she was not inclined
C. either for n spinste:'s life longer silen
en- wooiug SO, after some hesitation on the par
or of her parents, who still leaned to their younl
r." neghbor, partly from old association, and still
moro because of his reputed wealth, Madeln
he was betrothed to the stranger.
er Madame Guyot often sighed, and said in he
lis sons hearing that 1t was q pity two of tn
mt prettiest maidens in Marseilles should be car
ay ried off by strangers for she had long sine
of made up her mind, that since jacques woul
needs marry soon or late it would be we'll t
no have q daug hter-iu-law whom she had know
th from babyhood. All her hints might hav
been unheard, for any outward effect they pro
duced OH her son but when tho marriage da
be came he remained shut up in his little chan
mt Der. Neither food nor drink passed his lips
but could he have been seen by any ono,
On, mighty mental conflict would have been IT
vealed to the watcher-it the last grea
nv struggle with human passion. The last ba
to to hia devoting himself to one great objee
ou was removed.
The gossips who had aforetime intereste
themselves so literally in the affairs OF Jacque
ed and Madeline, once moro twitted Madam
in Guyot, saying, it plainly was not love tina
Ter made her son such a miser in his habits; bu
of che answered them more proudly Guan eve
that Jacques would now look higher for
ow wife.
ar So, first one great lady and then anotht
to- was said to be the fair object Tor whom OF
i'm hero cherished q secret passion, and whom
est was trying to equal in wealth. But thong
or Madame Guyot tostered the idea, she, poo
airs soul, knew better; for only few days afto
tho marriage of his one love, Jacques ha
not begged her, in broken voice, 10 find OF
whether the little vessel in which Madelr
in had borne the precious draught of water to b