The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-01

blind old man, father, aud yet you CANNOT DO
the brother of Bellaf'
~ am her cousin, sir. Aunt Clara, the old
woman who has helped to nurse you IL Father
Stocks own sister. l married her daughter,
good woman, whom l loved devotedly. God,
alas took her from ME too soon. do not IKE
to speak of that. II ID sad 10 be alone n the
world. If had not Aunt Clara, l would have
no one to work for"
lyon might marry again." said N. de Milval.
mot go" replied the other. " The young
men and girls here marry very early; AZ soon
| as fshermsns son has collected ulnerent
kinds of nets, his father aids him in building
cabin, and in enriching mall portion of land;
be chooses wife and commences housekeep-
ing. i have indeed hoard that in cities very
Young girls Pometimes marry rich old men;
but here, the fishermen are all equally endowed
with this worlds goods. Were IL otherWlse'
know whom would marry. Bot at this late
day it wonld be folly for me to think of such
q thing. We are approaching the shore; yon-
der, between the hillocks notice that dark
green spot; it is the sea. A little farther on
we shall find pleasant spot, where you can
cit down and have view around oil seVerai
Leagues in extent"
The young gentleman seated himself on the
hillock indioAted to him, and regarded with
self. Long did he gaze in silence upon the
mpen etrable depth of the horizon beyond the
sea, which impressed him with 30 lively an
idea of the infinite. The wide expanse of
waters, of @ deep blue in the distance, became
paler until they changed to green, and near
the shore they appeared of q soft yellow This
eff ct of light and distance upon the vast liquid
plain formed zones bands of several miles in
length aud width, and in whatever direction
the eye turned it found DO spot to rest upon,
for the waves rose and fell and sparkled
in the sunlight, making fairy scene of
beauty.
When the tide WAS low, the beach itself ap
peared to be D continuation of the waters of
the sea- The heat of the sun made the moist
sand smoke, and the atmosphere above reflect
ed the images of the few objects which broke
the monotonous bsrrenness of the Shore and
msgnitied them to an enormous size.
NJ. dc Milval seemed to be intently gazing
upon some object in the distance.
what is that dark gray building whose
outline is rendered so indistinct by the misty
atmosphere 7" he asked, at length:
1T is the tower of Dunkirk," replied the
fisherman.
"The tower of Dunkirki Is Dunkirk 80
nearp
-Four leagues by the sea shore, sir"
The gentleman raised his eyes to heaven,
and said, with q sigh:
"Omy God! what terrible events are they
oonceAling from me Only few hours journey
distant; and for ten days have vain
sought for information"
Turning to Joseph with kind of feverish
agitation, he said imperiously
What dost the doctor know concerning the
| fate of my parents and my sisterf implore
| you to take pity on me and tell me-"
The fisherman turned pale. He had no doubt
| heard the fatal news from Bella and her
| father, but he replied, hesitatngly:
"Your sudden emotion terrIties me- sir. /
| have not seen the phi! stefan for four days"
| The young man bowed his head overpower-
ed by painful thoughts. He remained silent
| for long time, his eyes fixed upon the ground,
| evidently struggling to master his emotion
at last, glanciug again over the beach and sea,
| he asked:
Where is Bella You told me she had gone
| to catch shrmps.'
Joseph pointed down the shore.
| Look, cir" be replied; "a little way out
| at sea, opposite kaesboerhill; do you not see
lacE ks w lph TN Loaf nm he
| waters These wives and children
fishing for shrimps; they employ for this pur
pose net fastened to long stick, which they
push before them.
as Bella with themH'
Notice the second one on this side, who
wears q blue cap and light red jacket; that ii
my cousin. She nust have recognized you, 70
she is waving her hand"
Poor chtld, what bard work How lonI
do they remain ont tishng ~
About two three hours.
And do these women remain all that tim
exposed to the cold waters"
The weather is still pleasant, sir; We hav
many days much colder, bnt our women do n'
mind it; they are accustomed to it from thei
earliest childhood"
| III. de Milval looked sadly at Bella, and re
turned her repeated sautatlons by waving hi
5 Your cousin is a good and noble GIRL b
. said.
"GoodH" repeated the fisherman, enthus
astically; "she has the heart of an angel. Th
!
has found in his wife pearl without price
for you must have remarked, sir, that she is u
beautiful as she is good"
The gentleman looked at Joseph with Al
constituent.
. Yes indeed, sir, exclaimed Joseph, " l a.
1 knowledge it; il were fifteen years younge
Q none other but myself should marry m
cousin. But at my ge!-and, besides, uDdt
4 no circumstances would Bella ever marry DIT
o ring the lifetime of her father"
"She 10 truly devoted to her father. TIL
4 evidences of her tilial love have brought teal
. TO my eyes"
She has reason, sir. to be devoted to hin
:. Until his fftieth year, Simon Stocks life We
I as uneventful as that of the other fishermen
He had married good and managing woman
. and he had five children, four sons and or
y daughter. He had also q younger brothe
who lived with him,-that was Uncle Loui
whose hat you now wear. 1t has often bee
It said thu misfortunes never come singly to
II man whose life has previously been prosp
rous. Such was the case with Simon Stool
/, His wife died of pleurisy. His brother Lou
n went to the codhsheres on boat from Dur
q kirk-the boat was shipwrecked, and tt
crew had never been heard of. Que fsherms
J. did report that Louis Stock had escaped;