The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-19

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E:i. Asa Pssaliss ssa9S,ing gsI. sssly I.
was, to say the miIdest Of it, not charming.
1t came slowly on, this figure Of the subject OF
their gossip, and, pa1si3g st tho entrance Of
group seated there. saying. very quietly. bnt
with q certain dignity OF manner not to be as
sumed by one of low birth or breeding:
"Exeuse me, ladies. unavoidably heard
what was not meant for my ear. All can do
in atonemeDt, 10 to mako this acknowledg-
ment," and, with q low bow, he withdrew, ap-
pearing to drag, as he went, an unusual load OF
"Heavens can almost hear them clank
ing !" cried beauty under her breath;
But, graciousi isn't it too awful that be
heard Us J" cried another.
''well, he never denied i'll" cried third.
$50 he must be, or have been q convict was
the universal conclusion.
Which conclusion echoed flom these pretty
lips to others equally pretty, but over which
no whisper holding n lofty thought was ever
finally was told as fact in all the places where
goasip called these prattling lips to ply their
fatal, but, oh SO cbarmingiy disguised work.
grew the First Story about Launcelot shawe.'
that he had been q convict across the water,
and came to America after travelling every
where else in vain to hide his identity. You
will say, it was not logicel to draw such q
conclusion from such premises, but you must
remembee that gossip knows not logic; and If
you further remonstrate that truth and Justice
were laid aside in such a story, need only
remind you that to these gossip 10 well
known and ancient enemy. Then, with your
permission, I will pass on ts the Second
Story
at sings! it singsm the little voice was
herself, and sat pearched upon the seat where
the dark beauty had held forth yesterday. The
pink shell was being pressed to her tiny ear,
ish delight. The crutches lay idle ON the floor
as something cast away, and the glory of the
sunshine stole tenderly through the lattice
work, defiant of the shadow of the vine, and
lit the brown of her bent head. Upon the pic
ture thus made of the little creature, caue the
awkward, shambling figure, which stood ga
zipg at it with look wherein pity almost di-
vine was blended with pleasure heartily
human.
at sings! it sings!' again sweetly broke
from the baby heart.
"What does it sing, Elsie :" the tone was SO
gentle, it scarcely startled her. Shelooked up,
| and the look was love unmistakable. The man,
who was such mystery, then came oyer to
| her up to his shoulder, seated her there.
Queen Elsies throne !" and he laughed as q
lighted hearted boy might laugh. Say from
"The story of the heart that sang, and some
one kept it."
Tell us while it sings"
|
softly again in tiny measures. "It sings, it
sings. The heart said Love- and ali the
world then sang, then sang, and then he stoop-
ed, to take, to take The heart that sang,
because its world all sang, all sang. Who was
he 7" stopping in her quaint little chant to de-
scend to- prose, "she didn't say any name,
only he"
"That was the name then," but his voice
spoke quiveriDg heart, o heart that was
thrilled to the core: Who told the story r. ~
course, Of course. He took the heart, but never
saw it in his hand, and never knew it was his
! own !" the sweet, sweet voice dropped softly
and e'er it Gang. Il am thy owp, thy own, thy
owu.' He heard the song; he heard the song,
but never knew it spoke to him, and never
knew the heart was his, and yet, and yet he
kept the heart. Ah me, ali me, he kept the
heart"
The shell was here held to his ear. "Listen,
did with the hearth and was he pripcef Bot
of course he was. And was the heart a heart
standing out by itself. or in a princess 7"
In a princess" said very, very mnfded
"And why didn't be know the heart was his
the heart was hisp
Because" promptly answered the mu fl &c
tone, "be was blind, let US say"
, "Oh! Yes, conldn't see, and didn't know il
was the heart be picked up"
"Precsely."
T But he wasn't deaf was he Didn't he hea
, , the songf"
LET Gs suppose" surmsed the muHa ID tone
! that the song was IN an unknoWn tongue
that's the only way to account for the fact o
; its being sung and at the same time of hi
freedom from deafness, yet his perfect waut o
: knowledge that 'he kept the heart, he Kept tn
. heart"
She stroked his brown, careless O
hair, and rppling laugh came from he
heart.
!, Wasn't he stupid, don't you think - sal
che.
"Yes, that certainly entered into his list o
;, intirmities, whatever may be said of his deai
; ness or blindness, either"
al think think" this was a very cor
fdential whisper, "his name wasn't he, prince
he wouldn't sound right, you know, and 1 be
?; leve Lutte could have told his name"
"Whyf'
"When asked her, she said, Oh! only til
q heart of all the world knows that and her fac
= got nice and red like roses; and then she ssiG
Yes of all the world > but che didn't say tha
, to me, you know; she said it to herself.
r love Lutte, don't youp
u atoppage of speech seemed to affect th
=, listener, for he made very wild effort {
II utterance, which resulted in nothing at all
| fha 0f