The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-09-05


her to his heart"
Now she was weeping very, very quietly,
and not seeming to know this changed the
subject.
But will tire you with all this" said ],
land did not mean to say so much when !
commenced. Eugene, will you read me some
of Adelaide Proctor know mother would
like It too.S
But he was SILENT and so was she. In that
silence he stood mp. and taking my mothers
hand, on which her tears were sosely falling,
he kissed it, and more to himself than to us,
he whispered:
"To lice In q grave 90 marked, nameless
though it be, is fate to envy
Then, bidding MS good night, he went out
knew he was thinking of the one SO dear.
wondered his thoughts could not penetrate to
her very soul, wherever she was, and bring her
to help him with his burden.
VIZ
1t was. some days after this, and every one OF
these days my dear mother grew weaker and
weaker, though each evening of chem Eugene
brought her some Of that nice wine. heard
voice on theetairs, dear, little voice had
always loved, and nov had missed for week,
Nora's. Nora Yves the child who had given
me my plant.
The little voice, a IL came nearer and near
or, was snsWsred BY another, lady's, rich and
sweet nj once, voice that seemed made to
hold ISvo-tones, and these were In is, % it sd-
dressed the child Finally, the door opened,
end with o triumphant shout Of "Here's Gertie
now!" my tiny friend stood before me, but
trAnsSormsd. From an image Of most pitiable
childish woe, and most complete destitutiop Of
al that children need or craze, she had become
IN incarnation Of the real and beautiful de-
light belonging naturally 10 thsir hesrts. The
sweat gray eyes danced with joy, the fair face
beamed with ligigb 1t had never owned before,
the listis form bounded 70 my bedside with Q
motion new to it. A robe Of pure white, sim
ply made, and graceful STRAW hat sled over
the brown hair, now carefully arranged in
curls, had taken the place Of her old costume
Of rags. had never sean o child so beautiful
a. che looked to me,aexcept in picturss. But
| there was . rustle Of other robes, silken ones,
trailing over my poor, worn door-sill Hooked
from her, and like visions Of the light itself
were the face and figure that met my gaze. II
light could sing, that soft and twinkling, and,
to me, new and charming sound made by the
rustic, might have been its voice, 90 pleasantly
did it impress my unaccustomed sense. 1twas
q stately figure, stepping, rs have often shut
my eyes, aud imagined the queens Of old, Of
whom read inthe books Eugene brought me
to step over palace floors. Indeed, 1t made
me feel ashamed our poor floor was not mar
Isble, that regal step, 1t seemed to reproaoh il
by the very sound of its proud fall. Therob'
which trailed over IL, o. II obeying tho bid
ding Of this step, was pale blue in color, and
of the mako called . carriage dress, 90 hav
been told since Out Of 1t shimmeriDg folds
had never looked on such shining combina
tion of hue and material before, 90 they seen
cd to me like some marvel wrought by light
rose o face 80 beautiful, began to think
, must be dreaming. It was not just the fes
ures either, it was even moro the expression
which was 80 lovely, 90 proud, and yet &
= melting with pity 30 noble and yet 90 fu
oftenderness. Az it looked on me then, 90 do
y imagine tho angels look on those who stuff
here. It was very fair face, quite as fair
the heart leaves Of white rosess and jest I
l. deintily tinged with color. The eyes thu
!. lpitled mo SO were dark and of the darkne
that melts, not penetrAtes the lips We
Ia curling and proud the nose delicate and lii
one chiselled and the hair-it waved in looG
abundant waves-was Of the palest gold. 70
who see 90 much beauty, will say this, of hel
10 was Of q rare kind. 1t was indeed /, WI
ii had never seen any before, felt this, Go loo
ed atst dazxled. She came over and laid
is hand on my head--it was small, white hau
exquiSitely shsped&And said she, quite as
70 she had known me . long time, and been
ke the habit of petting me,
lie "Poor Gertie Dear little prisoner"
ak forgot her beauty and her stateliness, q
or that che was like queen Of old, and an anl
he ct once. took her for . tender-hearted v
he man, and it was to this I replied, when
ey said: 8e
lie "YouIare very good Will you kiss me :"
ay She did, not as If she were afraid to kiss
IN, crippled thing, that could not look Moe to q
gs one, but heartily, as If she would have IL
In, kiss do me good, and then she said:
it "Nora has been telling ne about you, q
les indeed, you were all she seemed to have
,n5 | give nm in coming to me-. Poor GeEtie I