The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-07-25

moon shining on the psvements ana tne lrozen
earth, not at all such q night as that during |
which he had slept by her fathers steps, and
there was no fear that her fair head was
shelterless; but still it was very sad to think
of her, whose Christmas days had been such
pleasant once, in mourning for her mother,
and perhaps in troubles such as those which
men hear, but shudder to see, clouding the
girlish youth that is SO short, and should be 30
sunny.
with Gods help I'll find them oat before
to-morrow night if they are in this city" said
Dick to himself and then walked on more
rapidly.
And he kept his word, though not without
much trouble and within twenty-four hours
he stood in front of the wretched boarding
house to which poverty and sickness had al
ready reduced the family that, few months
before, had never dreamed of the meaning of
want.
But though he had found them ont and
stood before their door, Dick had done and
could do nothing to lessen their trouble. Mr..
Brandon had not seemed more unapproachable
when, . rich man, he scow]ed and said hard
words to the addressed Grand boy-than he
now did to the simple clerk, though Dick
himself was richer now than was the once rich
merchant. Miss Brandon was, in his eyes, now
no less q lady, belonging to sphere far above
him, than che had been when, in all the glory
of wealth, youth, and beauty, he had seen her
ride down to the Stofs cottage to buy flowers
| for her hair. 1t seemed to him greater pre-
| sumption for him to think of approaching her
| now than it would have been then, 80 he passed
and repassed her door, grieved for the trouble,
bnt more grieved if possible, that he, with his
youth and strength, should be powerless to
| give her one grain of comfort. How often and
often, as he had watched her-she all uncon-
F., scious of him and his grateful rev erence-in
her days of prosperity, had he dreamed of her
as like some damsel of olden romance in sore
distress, and thought tnat never had knight
rushed more joyouslY or more potently to the
| rescue than be would to hers. Now this dream
| had come to pass-she was a damsel in sore
distress; but where was his prancing steed, his
FURNISHED armor, his ready lance Then, as he
smiled in remembrance of his boyish fancy, he
suddenly thought of Mr.. Irving, the gentleman
Just boys ideal of gallant knight-whom
| he had seen so often with Miss Brandon in the
| country. He recollected we'll the manly bear
| ing of that "perfect gentleman" whom he and
Rose had looked upon As a veritable Sir
| Larncelot he had seen many an act of 'gentie
courtesy" shown in a grave, tender way, to
| the fair lady by whose side he always rode !;
and where was he now that that fair lady
needed her knight as never beforef
There was nothing morbid or bitter about
Dick. When he asked himself that question,
it was with no thought of the common judg
ment pronounced upon Summer friends" He
recognized Mr.. Irvings right to aid and COM
| fort the family of his former host. He knew
that he had wealth, position, character, and, of
| course, ample influence, and not for an instant
doubted that he would use every means in his
power to befriend Mr.. Brandon, if only for the
sake of that beautiful daughter whom he SO evil
IDENTIFY admired. Where, then, was Mr. Irving 7
If he had been here, all this could not have
happened. But ss Dick asked himself this, it
did not occur to him that Mary thought as he
thought: if Mr.. Irving had been here, all this
would not have Happened.
At last Dick, fully convinced that he would
be guilty of presumption in speaking his
mind to Mr.. Irving on this subject, cheerfully
turned his steps homeward, and resolved that
the first moment he had of his own should be
spent in seeking Mr. Irving, and informing hin,
of what he could not now be aware of, the
downfall of the Brandons. For the fall of the
Brandons, as he heard from one or two who
knew, had been very great, very rapid, and, it
was feared, was not yet completed. Mr.. Bran.
don had never held his head up since his
failure, but dragged around, shabbily dressed,
querulous and half sick, detected and clearly
r miserable. His two sons had been given very
poor situations, on very niggardly pay, by a
relative in another city, who, having alwsya
been cringing to Mr.. Brandon when he had
money, seemed to delight now in heaping hu.
Mutations upon his sons. So great a crime il
was in his eyes TO be better bred, better
educated, and more kindly cared for than were
his own rude, clustering, ignorant boys. Il
only Fred and Joe had been taught whence
come adversely and prosperity, doubtless these
humiliations would have been crowns Of glory
for them; but theirs had been only q vague
dreamy sort of faith, which they never sus
Pected had any application to their real life. ]