The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-26

whitest neck that ever mortal maluen was
lids only less beautiful than the dear earnest
eyes they cover. Fancy all this, and fancy,
too, if you can, the expression Of perfect good
of the slumber maiden with a beauty almost |
angelic, and you will see what the baron saw
that night: Not quite all, ever, Ior sne
him, but had passed on from the face OF the
sleeping maiden to another face as lovely, |
that of the young wife, Bertha's mother, VINO
had, years before, taken her angel beauty 10
The goblin spoke to the baron's thought,
"Wonderfully like her, is she not, baron r.
The baron slowly inclined his head. -,
The tone in which the goblin spoke was harsh
and mocking.'"A Eithful husband, tender and
truei She must have been q happy wife, eh,
baronW
The baron's head had sunk upon his bosom.
Old recollections were thronging into his
awakened memory. Solemn Vows to love ana
| of bitter words, and savage oaths, showered at
| q quiet uncomplaning agure, without one
in reply. And last, the memory OF hs e,, OF
a heavy hand /; and then of three months fa-
ding away and last, of her last Prayer-for
her baby and him.
ron. No wonder you are somewhat chary OF
rashly entrusting to q snitor the happiness OF
d sweet flower like this. Poor child 1t Is
hard, though, that che must think no more OF
him she loves dearly. See she is weeping
even in her dreams. But you have good rea-
sons, no doubt. Young Carl is wild. perhaps,
thesef Perhaps he is wayward and uncertain,
and you fear that the honied words OF court
ship might tnrn to bitter sayings In matri,
mony. They do, sometimes, eh, baron BY all
means guard her from such a fate that.
Poor tender flower! Or who knows, worse
than that, baron Hard words break no
bones, they say, but angry =, men are QUICK ana
The goblin had drawn nearer and nearer, and
laid his hand upon the baron's arm, and the
last words were literally hissed into his ear.
the violence of his emotions. At last, with a
cry of agony, he dashed his hands upon his
forehead. The veins were swollen up like
thick cords, and his voice was almost inarticu-
late in its unnatural boarseness.
"Torturer, release me! Let me go, let me
go and do something; to forget the past OF
shall go mad and dep
He rushed out of the room and paced wildly
down the corridor, the goblin following him
At last, as they came near the outer door Of
the castle, which opened of itself as they
reached it, the spirit spoke:
This way, baron, this way; told yoI
there was work for US to do before morning g
you know"
Work ~ exclaimed the baron, absently
passing his fingers through his tangled hair
oh yes, work! the harder and the roughe
3 the better; anything to make me forget"
8 The two stepped out into the courty ard, ant
:, the baron shivered, though, as it seemed, IN
consciously at the breath Of the frosty mid
!; night air. The snow lay deep on the ground
/ ahd the barons heavy boots sank into it wit
a crisp, crushing sound at every tread. FL
: was bareheaded. but seemed unconsclous @
Q the fact, and tramped on, if utterly inditfer
ent to anything but his own thoughts. A
d last, as blast Of the night wind, keener tha
ordinary, swept over him, he seemed for tn
t first time to feel the chill. His teeth chatteret
t and he muttered, Cold, very cold" o
o to us, who are healthy and strong, and warme
with wine. "Colder still, though, to thos
It who are hungry and half-naked, and have
u II Sleep! snoww said the baron. "Wh
n sleeps on the snowf Why, wouldn't let m
1t dogs be out on such night as this"
le &" Your dogs mol" said the goblin spoil
Of of neaper animals-your wretched tenant
Did you not order, yesterday, that Wilhelm al
's Friedrich, if they did not pay their rent
,g morrow, should be turned out to sleep on tt
/ snow' A snug bed for the. little ones, and
nice white coveret, chi Ha! ha! TWEEN
1T forins is great matter, is it! 1
. afrain their chance is small, nevertheless. Cor
ts and see"
y. The baron hung his head. A few minut
at brought them to the first of the poor dwelliHI
which they entered noiselessy. The frelt
is. CRATE, the carpetess floor, the broken windo
TO panes, all gave sufficient testimony to the wa
lst and misery of the occupants. In one corr
dren, and Nesting to each other for the warn
he which their ragged coverlet could not alto
In the man the baron recognized his tena
ley Wilhelm, one Of thoee who bad been W
lie, vious day. The keen features, and bones
led most starting through the pallid skim shoWw
re- how heavily the hand of hunger had been
ess upon all The cold night wind moaned q
lin whistled through the many flaws in the
glazed, ill-thathed tenement, and rustled o
ION the sleepers who shivered even in their sle
"Ha, baron," said the goblin, "death
mt breathing in their faces even now, you see
is hardly worth while to lay them to sleel
ing the snow, isitf They would sleep littlesou
You er, that's ALL"
The baron shuddered, aud then hastily p
the ing the warm coat from his own shoulders
spread it over the sleepers.
our "Ohow said the goblin, " bravely dc
Bot baron! By all means keep them warm to nil
hat they'll enjoy the snow more tomorrow,
ing, know"
Strange to say, the baron, instead of feel
ron, chilled when he had removed his coat, fe
9 he strange glow of warmth spread from the rel
Ated of the heart over his entire frame. The gobl
( of continual allusions to his former intent
which he had by this time totally relinq1is
'r of hurt him, and he said, rather pathetic'
tself "Don't talk of that again, good goblin
rather sleep on the snow myself"
'on't "Eh! WHAT" said the goblin, "you d
~ hat \