The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-04
sTAR AND CATHOLIC MEssENGRk SUNDAY july a

,lC MESSENGER SUNDAY, JU
feel still, although know its ,usslessness and
absurdity that you might be, by some chance,
stripped of your fortune to the last cent, that
might lay my poor little pittance at your feet
and implore your acceptance of it.
"Oh! if could tell you what I endured
shellbeach became uubearable to me; all life
and interest seemed to have left me. How
missed you. You can never imagine it, and /
cannot describe is. The more thought of you
the more wretshed became, and after that
wedding felt tenfold worse went home to
my mother for q change; and then resolved to
put you completely ont of my cad, and, as an
assistance. resumed my study of Catholicity,
that had for time neglected. Then, though
l blush TO own it, and would not risk my
standing in your estimation by telling you Of
it except that it proves my love for you, the
only thing which deferred me FROM entering
the church was the thought that should lose
your esteem, and that il would completely cut
me Oh from any chance I might ever have
again of winning you for my wife. Your sec.
oud letter came, and seemed as IN answer from
heaven, why are ye fearful, o ye of little
faith p You know the rest-but cannot 90 on
Even supported by the blessed sympathy we
have in our faith, cannot ask for what nv
heart craves."
"Ds. James, you seem to feel as if you were
before me as criminal before his judge. Now
you have done only what was right and true
toward me, and yon owe me no apology for
any thing. You and ], believe have done
each other real good, and we have mutually
| helped each other into the church; we stand
Inn
position"
Dr.. James looked searchingly at her, and
said in a low voice:
" You do me good and make me feel like nv
self: Then, Margaret, though am not worthy
of you, will you be my wife :"
Margaret laid her hand in his:
! 81 will, if God allows me SO much happiness -
CHAPTER XIV.
| THE SEVENTH SACRAMENT.
! Margaret was unwilling to leave New York /;
bnt the doctor insisted, and a compromise was
effected. She was to stay through July, aud
complete the preparations for her marriage
for that was to take place in August, and they
would 60 for their wedding journey to visit
Mrs. James in Maine. Margaret expressed q
strong wish to be married at Sealing, and the
! plan was very pleasant to DR.. James; SO q
week before the day appointed, she went to
her aunt, Miss Spelmans. There she spent a
| happy week, visiting her friends among the
poor, and hearing from them about the good
ness and kind deeds of their favorite doctor,
whom they seemed to regard in the light of a
good angel. Martha Burney was also at Miss
Spelman's, and the doctor came two days be-
fore the fifteenth, so it was a very merry and
happy household
The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady was
as beautiful day as ever shone on a happy
bride; the bells rang as if for public celebra-
tion; for DR.. James was beloved by every one
and Margaret was very popular. The time as
nine O'Clock; for the bride and bridegroom
were fasting. Margaret's dress was white,
with veil, orange blossoms and every thing
as it sbonld be; she had inclined very much to
be married in her travelling dress but the
doctor wanted white, and she thought besides
that gay, SNOWY wedding would give pleasure
| to many of the guests.
Father Barry said that it was like the mar
! riage feast in the Gospel; for the deaf, the
halt, and the blind were we'll represen ted
Margaret's friends were many, and the more
aristocFatic inhabitants of Sealing and She'll
beach were rather surprised to find themselves
| III SioSO WIN gn6 NlCNalIyS,
ONeilis, and oFiahertys, who were put in the
best places, and were perfectly at home in
their own church.
The high altar, and those of the Blessed
Virgin and st. Joseph, were covered with
flowers; and fine new set of vestments aud
sacred vessels, presented by the bride and
| bridegroom elect, were used for the first time.
1t seemed to Margaret and to DR.. James a
beautiful circumstance, though q natural one,
that they had neither of them ever seen n
nuptual mass before tiis, their own. Nor had
they realized what marriage might be, until
they studied the wonderful Office of that
church that has elevated the natural union of
man and woman to the dignity of sacrament,
"hieh ST. Paul declares to be typical of the
t'dnIon of our Lord with his spouse, the church.
They we're profoundly impressed with the
thought that the holy of holies was to be
offered upon the altar on that day. the hap
piest of their lives-for them, for their bapni-