New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-26

trance OF the messenger, which procured
the removal of ths stately parsonage from
the paisway, and tie civility of a proffered
seat to the person who, but second before
had been 50 unceremoniously denied.
Mrs, Stanford instantly recognized Tony
the rag merchants son, and OWNED that
his coming must in come way relate to the
little cutcast who had SO strangely excited
her tender interest. He did not allow he.
to remain in suspense, hut pulling, by way
OF bow, at lock Of shaggy hair which he
had uncovered upon entering the door, he
said, without any preliminaries:
My mann Gays as how that Rag Baby's
granny come ali of sudd!nt Just as night
was closin' in, an she's powerful bad, an
wants to see you please right away
Mrs. Stanford was deeply agitated by this
singular message, and though Tar from
divining the truth, yet from its midst
sprung hope which nerved her, after as
suring the boy Of her speedy arrival at his
mothers house, to hasten to her husband
and share it with him.
Her impotence and anxiety did not al.
nit OF the delay necessary for convey
aaca to be made il readiness. but, orders
having been given for the carriage to fol
low, after having made hasty change of
toilet, she proceeded, accompanied by her
husband TO retrace her route of the fore.
noon. Arrived at the rough portal which
guarded the entrance to Mrs. Patch home
they were admitted with quickness which
showed their coming had been anxiously
awaited.
Notwithstanding the unusual hour Tony,
his mother and even little Leda were
awake and, apparently, as yet had neither
undressed nor slept
By the dim light of & couple of taliov
candles, which burned, che upon the un.
planned plank which constituted the mante.-
piece and the other upon table drawn to
the bedside, were discovered the presencs
of two individuals not included among the
inmates upon the occasion of Mrs. Stan
ford morning visit.
Oae OF these was Catholic priest of
emaciate1 and aacetic aspect, dressed in the
black robes of his office who, with his head
dropped upon his breast and apparently
closed eyes, muttered an audible prayer,
while from tina to time he made genuheX.
ions and the sign of the cross, apparently
as totally unobservant OF the entrance of
strangers as a female WHO lay stretched, in
a grim and ghastly slumber, beneath the
many-hued quilt of Aunty Patch's bed.
Tho paau'ia nd ~ l,e c
ancy with which the approach of death is
awaited would have sufficiently denoted the
state of affairs, had not the slow and la
bored breathing os the woman more surely
indicated that the few moments of life
which yet remained to her were fast pass.
ing away.
The lights were tlickering and uncertain,
but the outline Of the pillowed head stood
forth with the cold precision of marble, and
now when the cunning Of the mouth had
gone away, and the deceit of the eyes was
shut in, the impressions which arevengeful,
and crafty nature stamp upon
countenance were Enthusiastically revealed,
and indicated the possibility of crimes com
mitted whose snfulness would require all
the power typifed by the golden crucifx
lying on her breast to be wiped away and
forgiven. A glimpse of the face came to
Mr.. Stanford, like a horrid ghost out from
the shadow Of departed years, and caused
him to draw near his wife, as if to protect
her from threatened danger.
This Mrs, Stanford failed to note, as she
stood fondling little Leda, and listening TO
Aunty Patch's whispered and somewhat in.
explanat.ons-how having stepped
,ut for minute. she had returned to find
Iunlata sitting talking to herself for all the
world as though she had never been away,
IT had just come up from down below
which she could have done, seeing there
vas a hole in the floor just under her chair
low she had been struck all of heap by
he granny's saying she was dying woman,
tut her soul couldn't quit her until she got
o the little one and made it all right; how
he, Mrs Patch, had said, pooh, pooh
up of tea would set the old woman up
gain and had at last, while drawing the
.toresaid cup of tea, proceeded as the sub
ect most likely to be of interest, to narrate
he incident of Leda's meeting with Mrs.
stanford, upon the mention of whose name |
'uniata had sprung from her chair with
rantic violence, and clutching Mrs. Patch |
" the shoulder, had babe her repeat it, and
.iG7 fell down like body who was dead |
ure enough, but revived to implore that |
lrs. Stanford and a priest might be sent |
or, and charged to come without delay, |
or that her time was short; and how that |
he priest had first arrived and had already |
eceived her confessions.
Aunty Pateh's narrative was cut short by |
gurgled moan from the dying woman, who
TIRED, and suddenly opened her eyes. In
N instant she appeared conscious that the |
ersons she had SO hastily summoned we're |
resent and after few murmured words |
o the minister of God who replied in tones
f encouragement and approval, and pres
ure of the cross to her dry, paliid lips,
With sudden spasmodic energy she rose |
rom her pillow and motioned the two last |
omers to draw near,
Pushing back the long, coarse locks,
launched to silvery whiteness, which lay in
trong contrast against her yellow and |
vrinkled skin, she turned her small, black
yes, in which yet burned the hot fires of
Ter passionate nature, piercingly upon Mr..
and in voice harsh and discord.
mt, asked:
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