The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-24

nell treachery, and, without absolute break
ing trnsS: give them sach key TO Ireton's fears
and readiness to made concessions as would, he
hoped, lead to sn honorable capitalization, and
prevent the bloodshed which, from the shattered
state OF the town walls, and the additional
now judged to be inevitable, unless they came
to terms with Ireton. But not one of them ap-
peared; for the traitor had laid his plans
the clerical party, to which they faithfully ad-
hefed from anything like O compromise. He
wished that tine sole merit and reward of sur
rendering the city sAould be his own. And he
eucceeded. The conference ended fruitlessly /;
and Herbert returned to the camp well-nigh
broken hearted.
The plague continued its ravages meanwhile;
and, day after day, within the city the dying
were brought by their relatives to the tomb of
Cornelius ODea, where many, it was believed,
were restored to health through the intercession
cathedral. Its effects were visbly traced in
the ranks OF the besieging army. Still lfeton,
relying on treason within, pressed on the siege.
BY o bridge of pontooas be- succeeded in con-
Meeting the Thomond side of the river with
the Kings Island, whore be now planted a
formidable battery, to play on the eastern side
of the city. Herbert had fortunately escaped
witnessing the horrors of Drogheda and Wex-
ford but sight almost as appalling now met
his eyes. In the smo Ike of the canouade crowds
Of plaguestricken victins-principally women
and chiidren-ventured outside the city walls
to catch one pure breath of air from the Shan
non, on the Island" bank,-and there lie
down and die. But when this was discovered,
the heartless Waller forbade even this short
unhsppy beings. who could have no share in
protractng the siege, were mercilessly logged
back by the soldiery into the plague reeking
city-and such as refused to return were, by
the same pitiless mandate, hanged within sight
Of their fello ". townsmen!
The daily sight of this revolving hatchery
was sickening to the noble heart and refined
feelings of Herbert. But suffering for him had
not yet reached it's climax. AS he was seated
in his tent, one evening toward the close of
October, fatigued after long foraging ex-
sadly on the fate of her who was almost within
sight Of him, and yet whom, by what seemed
to him an almost supernatural combination OF
adverse circumstances, he had not seen for
years, his attention was arrested by the cries
of female who seemed struggling with her
captors. His manhood was aroused by suoh an
outrage-committed almost in his very pres
ence--and he rose at once to rescue the victim
from her assa1iants. Bat, horror of horrors at
the very door of his tent, and in the hands of
an armed rGffian, lay the fainting and all but
inanimate form of his wife To fell the wretch,
and clasp the beloved object to his bosom, WAS
but the work of a second. But, oh how sorrow
and sickness had changed that once beautiful
face, and wasted that once symmetrical form.
Death had already cluGched her in his bony
grippe, and selected her for his own. His kiss
was upon her lips, for they were livid and
plague stained. And her beautiful blue eyes
how they now wandered with the wild look of
q maniac All that remained of the beautiful
Ely he once knew were the long fair ringlets
that now fell down in dishevelled masses on
her heaving bosom. The sight almost drove
him mad. In vain he clasped her to his heart,
and called her by the dear fond name of wife.
She knew him not. yet, when she spoke, her
rawlings were all about him |; and he often won
dered afterward how his brain stood the shock,
when, without knowing him. she sttll called on
him " her own dear, dear Walter 10 save her,
to take her away from these terrible men-at
least to come to her-for, to come to him, che
had left her poor old father and little Gerald
behind"
Concluded next week