New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-23

i u0aEtSU uOrl6t anu c4peuucu Week
patrimony in flowers. That poor old man,
who had conce ived the grand idea being =
| genius in his way) of making an enormous
| wolf with the twin brothers imbl biDg at
fthat savage fountain the milk OF life II not
| of human kindness to celebrate the birth
| day of Rome, also with the wild hope that
some one would be patriotic enough to buy
| it at the celebration for fifteen francs, was
| now sorrowfully taking the flowers apart
! to make up into bouquets. Like many an
| other aspifant, he had achieved Deither
! fame nor fortune by his venture, and he
| now put the lot into Niers hands "pitlully
| cheap" he said
So the rooms really put ON their brightest
| aspects to welcome the party; and Mrs.
| Despard was so charmed with the violet
| seller that she ordered Cathie's picture for
| Paul, and, after that, Pani's Tor Cathie.
| There is so much character IL your POI
| traits" she said, with the air OF a connois-
| scar. .sthey are not like masks. / can al
| most read their thoughts in their eyes"
Cathie had gone about in delight. She
| really loved the art, and every Bit OF a
! sketch had d charm Tor her. Paul gaZet in
| his distracted way at them, and seemed to
| look beyond them at something painful.
Sc. Lawrence's gridirCn, perhaps, which
| fatally Swallowed forth sp ritual meaning
Of the torture endured by some souls.
| Ned felt like one IN dream when he saw
| that dainty figure tripping a5ont among his
poor belongings, touching this, saying a
| playful word about that, which cast a
| glamour over all. and lifted them ont OF the
commonplace. Then he was SO lonely after
she was gone, yet he had known her bat
| two days.
After that, during tie sittings, they grew
| very well acquainted. Mrs. Despard, beng
kind hearted # rather weak woman, and
seeing nc danger now, Cathie being dis
posed OF, would 81. mauudering gently Of
art and the old masters in the most
ridiculous style, but with such good nature
| that Mel could not lind il in his heart
| TO laugh al her. Then was shesnot Cath
| les mother! Paul seldom accompanied his
betrothed. and when he did was as grand,
gloomy and peculiar as ever. He haG d
worn and haggard air, as OF one who kept
| long vig:is and tasts. sometimes fixing on
Cattle an adoiing look. then tearing his
eyes away as if such looks were sin. Mel
felt al artipathy for the man, perhaps be-
cause he stood liz such d relation to Cathie,
| o: because he despised the trickeries OF
tina. religion which seemed te, be fasteEiG q
him in lis tolls. And there seemed some
| crisis Impending for which he watched and
half longed. What treasures people SONG
times pick up in wreck.
The crisis did come. One morning Cathe
missed her sitting. And that evening Mel,
somewhat anxiOusly, went to their apart
mero in tie Piazza di Spagna. Mrs. Des
pard only was visible, and she sat by the
window il such dropping way that Mel
read some catastrophe in her very attitude.
She frightened up little as she saw him
oh, Mi. Stanley ~ she cried; "I'm glad
20 see you. We are all in sad way here"
Il hope Miss Cathie is not H." Mel ex.
claimed. in some alarm.
'0h, she has a headache, poor child; she
has not left her room snce-since-- Well.
] may as well tell You all, Mr.. Stanley
You knew OF her engagement 20 her cousin
Paul!"
Yes. knew it," Mel answered.
We'll, the infatuated fellow came last
night to break it Oft. lie is going into the
komish priesthood, going to be one of those
tat fellows i'll brown with ropes around
their wa;sts--pity they weren't around their
necks, say l. Benedictinss Yes think
that's it"
Mel was astonished And yet there had
always been mysticism about Paul. This
explained all.
"Ot course the wretches Il ant his money
FOR the church, and they understand all
wiles. ] have seen the priests following
him up. but didn't know he was SO weak
minded; and / know he'll be miserable,
poor fellow, for he is so fond Of Cathie. She
thinks more aboat him than she does about
herself. She seys she ia sure that he will
wake up from this mad frenzy TO find ali
lost"
Fortune and bride" Mel suggested. lit
will be enough 20 make him Il real maniac
when that hour Comes"
We'll, here We are, all adriit, as you may
sag" sighed Mrs Despard; every plan DE-
strOyeG, Cathio with spirits for nothing.
For nv part, have decided to go home at
might spend a month or two at the Baths OF
LUcca, and then 60. Home is the best place
for the sorrowful. And, you see, IFS not as
If Paul was stranger; he's my own sisters
son. and been brought up most evan gelical
ly.7
Mel was horror struck at the idea OF their
going so soon.
"And Miss .Ca:h;e's Portrait lie sug-
gesteG.
''Ch, well, perhaps you can finish that
from memory said the mother. lin sure
l never could persuade poor dear Cathie to
SIT again, and It would always remind her
OF Paul Still, finish it, and ] can put it
away for happier days"
II know her face by heart, and will finish
it at once" said Mel. you viii be here
week or so, Isuppose!'
"Oh yes; we can not &c. ready before.
answered Mrs. Despard, with sigh. And
after time Mel found the social atmos
phere SO depressing that he left. His brain
throbbed with various thoughts, but one
required ontinualy-Cathie was tree.
1t was therefore a great Disappointment
that he did not see Cathe again. The pic
ture was finished and sent home, and in the
evening he called, but found only empty
rooms; and the servant handed him note
containing check from Mrs. Despard, ex
planning that the party for the baths of
Lucca had started day sooner than ex-
pected. and so they had been forced to
60. 1t was very kind. but it seemed to
drop him 80 completely out OF their lives
that Mel stood there in a sudden maze of
grief and surprise. And vet. he argued
lowed, what could he have done with that
lost opportunity? He would never have
dared to hint his love in re midst Of
Cathie's grief.
So Nitl, Who had begun 20 long for a
change, packed up his few effects the next
day, and left for Sorrento. There he
feasuerh his eyes on The wonderful bay with
its golden air and purple languors. he
wandered among groves of olives and leg,
but his heart was hungry stu.
Cattle, who had walked up suddenly II q
melancholy way to find her heart and hand
returned 10 her again, could not hel p Won
dering, after the first shock, at the gentle
thrill Of content that prevailed her IN the
thought As for Paul. poor fellow, his IL
fatuation was dreadful, and she thought OF
him with infinite pity: but for herself, q
gentle light seemed 10 shine through the
yissas OF the future-a 'ligh: that never
was on sea or land"
Mrs Despard's grief was even more per
manent, for she looked AZ the thing in a
worldly way. She had lived long enough
to know that fortune OF $50, 900 was not
to be picked up every day. 81 don't see
why he couldn't have been satisfied with
being a rituaIist." she said more than once
"they 20 lar crouch. ! should thinlZ. with