The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-13
MRS, MORTIMER'S TONGUE.
lphIlndalphla Catholie RECORD |

in.s1y beseechinR eycs no shadow of feline
cruelty betraying itself; mouth aud nose PINE
and clean as % roseleaf, capablity of tearin
to pieces, poor helpless prey, seeming to be
latent therein sleek mi mitably striped sides
and back, no suspicion of tendency to rise, and
swell and become terrible in deadly anger, ap-
nesrinr possible; a creature to lie on velvet
cushions and feed on milk, and dainty meats,
and be petted, ard admired, ard praised; o
creature purring, and rubbing his soft self
against you, and pleading for love with almost
human Intelligence in it's luminous, gentle in
sinuating eyes. so it is permitted, with foot
fall like touch of feather upon tuited carpet 70
peryade parlor, boudoir, and study; to sun it.
eelf in bay. windows, where flowers bloom 30
glide unsupported into the very heart OF the
material household And some day, when no
one is watching the petted and beautiful tiger
in miniature, with tiger nature pervading this
noiseless and winning and altogether velvety
presence, the golden sonRster which charmed
all hearts with its gushing melody, becomes its
prey. Poor, little, tender bird confined in
eilded cage, whose delicate wires could hold 1t
in relentless captivity, but could not guard it
from the claws protruding from the shallow
yelvet-simple as its tiny possession of life,
what pen or tongne oouid describe its over
towering terror, when 1t vainly strove TO escape
feather or two, stained with blood-these are
all that remain to tell the darling warblers
fate--these, and the empty cage
So in society went about Mrs Mortimer, with
fiRurative footstep of featherly lightness; 30
pervsded she the mental boudoirs, and studies,
and inner chambers of society; so purred she
sought her sweet glances entrance into uncor-
scious hearts ana go rubbed she the glossy
coat of her apparently gentle nature, against
pleased and unguarded onee. And 80, always,
always, came day when the tiger nature I'M
der all this asserted ITSELF and the cherished
possession sacrificed to its ruthless claws was q
reputation. Mrs. Mortmer's II would not like
to say" was the deadly thrust OF the hitherto
concealed claws, latent in velvet seolusion-
unspa1ingly, it entered the bright coge set
round, may hap, with golden wires of love, and
constructed for safety alone; quickly il
wrought out it's work never again could the
the slain bird lift its voice in song, never
plume its golden wing for flight, and love, the
empty cage, all that remained to thee.
Mrs. Mortimer was beautiful, of course. Her
face was fair as ease and freedom from
anxious thought of any kind Joined to success
full toilet art, could make it !; that is, the skin
was fair, with q soft touch OF rose revealing it.
self in proper places. Men called her hair
GLORIOUS" and her eyes "divine;" that is, the
men who gathered round the social shrine
where she was worshipped. 1eretics outside
had been heard to call her irreverently a
"Dutch DOLL" or q "PrattIing parrot;" but
then they were people who were not received"
or, indeed, known IL the circle of which she
was ornament.
Mrs. Mortimer was conversational that is,
she talked great deal without, after oil, say
ing very much. Eveu 10 her most enslaved
worshippeIs, it was often matter of profound
wonder, how for hours they had listened to her
facile tongue, and how they could really recall
nothing of what she had said, that would very
for, by the fact, that they were 50 charmed with
the bewitching smiles, and the altogether over
towering glances accompanying this fascina-
ting conversation, that they could not remem-
Der it's exact phases of fascination. The fault,
then, lay in their memories, not in, forbid it,
heaven her powers of mind.
But above and beyond this, Mrs. Mortimer
was charming. She even charmed her own
sex. Not in her beauty, nor yet in her CONVEX
sation, lay the charm it was softly held ready
for conquest in her manner. SO great was it's
L. bod
Mortimer, prepared TO hate her, and come out
of the ordeal confessed adorers of her perfeo-
tions. So great WINS it's influence that the per
son had Yet to be found " to bad not been won
over by 1t. so sure it's hold, that its victims
even when writhng under the wounds inflicted
by Mrs. MortmePs tongue, would not believe
che was the iunctor. This manner, which thus
won all hearts, was of the airy and radiant and
ecstatic kind. She met You on all occasions
with il ready TO disarm enchant, as the c ase
might be, and the true secret of its success lay
in the fact, that, by some curious spell entirely
her own, this manner was arranged as to
make you feel that all it's ecstasy and radiance
and inimirablo airness were due TO you that
goa called it into play, and that you made the
owner happy by the light 81 yonr presence.
Made Mrs. Mortimer happy! Could any human
heart help feeling battered An hattered to
"by thousandA,A did Mira Mortimer count the
vanquished in che social field. Who fell down
and adored" hefi
1t was Mrs. Mortimer's day for recei wing
calls-the day when, informally, her world was
made aware of the fact that che was Sat home ;"
the day of oil oshers when characters lay in
ruins at hor feet, and names precious to their
owners life itself we're sacrificed without
hesitation. Nothing could be more fnulElese
than the picture presented by the spectacle OF
Mrs. Mortimer seated in the recess of he1
boudoir, where birds sang and flowers bloomed
and fragrance rosted on the air, though outside
winter regned supreme. And persons entering
were inoited to compare the place to paradise
itself, and to consider its exquisitivoIy cos
tuned Mistress she personiication of un .Iloyet
and well-deserved bliss.
How charmed am to see you, dearest Mira
WhyJe wished 60 much for You to call to
day !! This ecstaticslly to IA visitor just ushereG
in.
THANK you, Mrs Mortimer; you are yer!
kind"
eyes, do you know l have been in sucl
anxiety about your sweet Cornclia since
heard the story going the rcnndsw
"Gracious! Ny COrneiia! What story can i
beT
"Oh, you have not heard it! Then ha,
better say nothing"
"On the contrary, you will relieve me yer!
much by saying all you know, since in You
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