The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-31

ssembled round the altar to deposit at
ls the weapons they bad so long and 80
Rallantly welded in the cause of one who was
afterward to despoil their children of their
lawful hereitage, and sanction its appropria-
tion by the murderers of his father. All no !
Irishman can ever forget the iDgratitude Of the
second Charles But Walter Herbert thought
little of the ceremony gone through that
morning in the old :church Of the O'Briens till
oil was over. As the disarmed garrison
marched down the long aisle Of the cathedral
many OF them dropped dead-lt might have
been of the plague, or it might have been Of
whose faces he had not looked on for years
Terence and Donat o'BrieD, his wifs's brothers.
The sight awakened q new thought within
seen-and but few moments elapsed ere he was
standing in front of the old corner house OPP
posite the church Of st. Nicholas. But its ap.
pearance was sadly changed since last he saw
it, Gable and chimney bore evident marks of
the enemy's cannon, while all around wore an
air of desolation and sorrow. He looked up
fragrant geraniums were now there, ne of old
no lark carolled the cheering song he 30 often
listened to, with pleasure, some nine years
before balcony, and shutter, and curtain had
disappeared. The whole house seemed iu
mourning. Even his knock rang through the
house as through o sepulchre--so he thought.
head peered cautiously through q dormer win
dow, and asked who was there. His answer
quickly brought down the old domestic bat
opened the door and admitted him. She had
| been the nurse of Ely and her brothers in
childhood, and partly his own in sickness
loved /; Of all, save one, a blue eyed. curley
| headed boy, who now hid behind her, evidently
| scared at the presence of visitor in that
desolate dwelling: ,y few words %; Of greeting
| him that he was known and welcome; and q
| few words of fondness addressed to the child
soon restored his confidence. He was even,
ere long, seated contentedly on his fathers
knee, playing with his sword buekle-for that
| fair headed, blue eyed boy was the only child
of Ely o'Bren and Walter Herbert. And as
he gazed with pride on his beautiful boy, new
hope and new sense of duty sprang up within
him. He felt that there was even yet some
thing to live for. To protect that half orphan
child and his sorrowing grandsire would from
that moment be the sole duty of his life, the
sole solace of existence; and to this he pledged
himself in Eily's little room, to which he
at his nurse's bidding, now called bim father,
and twined his little hands round his neck rs
he kissed him. The sudden roll of drums at
length announced to him that 1t was time to
depart, and fondly embracing his child once
more, he hurried out of the house. He would
never have left 1t did he then but know that
in 30 doing he was bidding his boy farewell
for ever.
The beating to arms announced the COM
mencement of the mock trial of two dozen
individuals, whom Ireton bad already virtually
sentenced to death, by excluding them from
the protection guaranteed to the remaining
citizens in the terms of capitulation. How
readily WOul1 HERBERT nave saved every one
of them, but his vote was only effective in one
case, that of the gallant Hugh ONei, the city
) governor. The rest were condemned, by O
majority to die and it. was not without tea.
men led forth to the scaffold. Priest and lay
man, soldier and citizen, were alike sacrificed
: and for no crime save that Of loving and de
Tending their native land. And what English
man, thought he, would not readily be guilty o.
/ the same offencei Ali passed silently from the
) death-chamber; ALI save one, venerabl:
in the lazar-house while administering the last
sacramento of the Church to its plague
, stricken inmates. soon to be deprived of al
, spiritual ministry. Herbert thought he recog
nized him, as he stood erect aud fearless in the
oouncl-hall, and with hand pointed toward
heaven, summoning lreton to meet him,S ere Q
l seen him before, but dreOseasin white serge
and. not, now, in purple. Nay, if he remem
q bered: rightly, he had been Eily's oonfessor
t aud r vaith the parish clergymen's permission
had married them privately in the church of st
:, Saviour, having first obtained q promise, freel!
y granted by Herbert, that the children of tina
f union, If such there we're, should be brought NJ
i in the religion of the mother. What would hi
n not have done to preserve the life of tina
8 venerable, heavenly -looking man! The last o
n Ireton's victims one whose presence amonj
J. the condemned he witnessed with astonish
!, ment. He bad seen him closeted for hour
i with that same lreton and knew him to hav
= been promised lands and money for cert Ri
$ services to be rendered to the general. Blu
/. treachery was met with treachery; and Fen
u nell, the traitor ended his days on the sam
d scsffold with Terence O'Brien, the bishop an
8 martyr.
. The last guard was relieved on the day c
- ! executiOu-it was the eve of All-Hallows-au
= the clock of the town-hal was just chimn
midnight as Herbert. whs was the officer of tn
., night, commenced lis rounds. AS he pnsse
y along, in silence and alone, by the Dean
- Close, on his way To the castle barracks, h
n was suddenly stopped, At the head of an archie
passage, over wbich,an OIL lamp feebly hickereC
q by an individual closely wrapped up in a larg,
n dark frteze ovor-coat. To draw his sword wa
!. his first impulse but single glance at tina
a wan face, whose gaze was sadly fixed upo
v him, changed his purpose in an instant. Aut
% though armed to the teeth, he trembled i
=, presence of that defenoeless old man, an
- stood in silence before him.
!, "Don't you know me- Walter 7" said tn
- stranger.
II ALIAS too we'll" was his reply. "But can
# hope that you will ever forgive me7'
" my creed tells to forgive even IN
d enemies-but l believe you never meant to b
n snch "-aud the old man extended his hand I
- Herbert.
- They stood alone-with no eve upon theI