The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-10-10
lPhiladslpbiA Catholic Record.
THE TRUTH OF 1T.

1t was hard matter to get at it: 81 cannot
really vonch for it, my dear" said MIS-; rs; Granay th
something wrong under the surface OF that
postponed marriage. Postponement was not
ALL"
class--"Ah, yes, understand. And tell me,
now. the lady or the gentleman r
"The lady, on dit. We must be careful, not
of the story, bnt of ourselves. We must stand
So society, standing aloof was so careless Of
the story, in the case Of itself, that the story
broke loose from truth altogether under It's
needless guidance. Society, however. kept one
main fact in sight, via, that it had been de-
prived Of Constance Houghtons wedding;
(which would have been perfectly splendid"
that brace of qualifying words equally to
Niagara Falls and new bonnet), and 1t came
to the Just conclusion that she could not expect
to be held blameless in the matter, but must
bear the burden apart from its charmed circle.
Because you know, there must be "something
wrong" no one could tell what; but the per-
sons called "my dear" by Mrs. Grundy are 80
even SO indefinite . style of wrong as that
characterized by the title of something"
that they are willing to detach themselves
from it on the slightest suspicion OF danger
he was free again, that was all Free! with
nIinceIy figure and fine manly face, and pros
porous bank account! My dear reader, will
tell you beforehand, society never got at the
truth Of it. You can do so in this wise.
"Constance have you no meroyH'
| "Mercy! Dear, you forget how-how-" n
] note of the voice breaking softly here over u
heart sob, 1 lore you"
my manhood, the life of my life, all for a
| visionary duty"
at is not my will, but the will of God. It
is not my decision, but the call of a Master; :;
no " the voice reasserted itself-rose pure aud
olear-"it must not remain unheeded."
"Do not be SO perfect, Constance; do not
raise yourself 80 entirely above earthly feeling.
Listen to me q little"
"Dear, when had listened, if Should say,
Bruce, yield to you, l give up this duty:
which is hard and which 1 never dreamed of
till now, for your love, which is heaven to me, },
tell me- would you then deem me worthy OF
| that love Would you have your-your-" the
| tone sofCly shrunk within itself" wife q
| craven who had laid aside all generosity and
ali sepse of honor Ah! believe me, am
wortbier of your love, in this moment OF re-
nunciation, than ever before" But the brave
| words ended in hush of tears
| He who listened, bowed his head, was silent
| for a time when thought was unBpeaka able
Then in a voice, marked by tremor most
touching, because that voice was q mans
spoke: =. o ho,, ron lat ma nroteo,
You. That is my right"
| HIk ia impracticable, BrQce. You could not
help me, and might hinder. Let us say good
| bye DO not dear, do not wiring my heart by
irving il thus. Oh" That was the cry of a
heart that bled almost to very death, and it
| endad in q woful shower of tears.
al cannot bear it 1t shall not be y said the
! heart of the man VINO IoVeo neF' S"hs'"hCo
| you must not go"
All! she stood up then; how beautiful she
was, with woman's majesty Of truth crowning
NV af ,ronld not stay and have you love an in
crate. Bnt, keep it for farewell; ; will love
you forever ,, L.,;
His arms were around her, her head hiding
its majesty on the heart that loved her. All
nv reader, this is holy ground" we dare
| NOT stand on it longer. But yon have listened
now TO Bruce Aire and Constance Houghtor
| taking that farewell under which the world
40 decisvely settled there must be something
| Wronp" Even this, however, does not bring
| Won to the truth for which you and are seek
ing.
Now she stood looking at her bridal-dres'
| aJone-to her own mind how utterly alone
| conld be seen in the droop of the head, and
| ewes. and figure. She said no word, she dropped
no tear; bat, locking at it awhile in dqmt
grief, took it pP as We see d it to hen SSSTt
| a moment and then folded 1t away out o.
SIGHT. as people bury that which they love. II
vas not white silk, and pearls, and orange
blossoms were RoS "%Sa HHa iSSt' nS ,o ou Thsp hs
york was done, she knelt as beside grave. II
vas a room adorned with all OF the beRutltu
and costly that wealth could bring there, anC
the kneeling figure was robed in DAINTY @ enc
shimmering silk yet, in that hour, no poverty
in hoyel or garret could be more desolate thar
Constance Hougbton's. Ahl youth is bright
it's sunlight dazzling, bat al the deeper 10
that is any shadow cast upon IT,
Constance, is it possible you nave sen
Bruce awayP ...t.,. --o-,.
oofI tfo md